December 4th

Jewish West Bank settlers vow to defy Netanyahu's building freeze
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent
by Aron Heller - December 4, 2009 - 1:00am


Defiant West Bank settler leaders rejected a personal plea from the Prime Minister yesterday to respect a government-ordered residential construction freeze, vowing to keep confronting security forces sent to enforce the edict. In the West Bank, Jewish settlers blocked inspectors from entering a settlement to search for unauthorised construction, the third straight day of such confrontations. There has been no violence, but authorities have made at least four arrests. The Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, summoned settler leaders in a bid to defuse the tensions.


Israelis want Shalit home, despite the price
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
by Dina Kraft - (Analysis) December 4, 2009 - 1:00am


In promos for an upcoming Israeli television special on Gilad Shalit’s family, the captive soldier’s parents are seen viewing the Hamas-made video of their son for the first time. In the promo, Shalit's mother, Aviva, is seen wide-eyed, cupping her hands over her mouth. A small smile curls on the face of Shalit’s usually reserved father, Noam, the most public face of the family's 3 1/2-year struggle to bring home their son from the Gaza Strip.


Palestinians ought to seize the moment
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by Patrick Seale - (Opinion) December 4, 2009 - 1:00am


Israel's 10-month partial freeze on new colony building in occupied Palestinian territory, as announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on November 25, has been rejected by the Palestinians as a basis for peace negotiations. They want a total freeze. This is the stated position of Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority, and of his chief negotiator, Saeb Erekat. It must be hoped that this is not their last word.


Needed for Mideast peace: a sense of urgency
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
by Martin Indyk - (Opinion) December 4, 2009 - 1:00am


How can President Obama drag the Middle East peace wagon out of the mud? He can't -- at least not until the region's leaders feel enough of a sense of urgency to take the risks necessary to achieve breakthroughs. Right now, Arab and Israeli leaders are convinced that Obama is in more of a hurry than they are, so they are content to have him do the heavy lifting.


Counterproductive
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
(Editorial) December 4, 2009 - 1:00am


Hamas’ decision to declare the UN 1947 Partition Plan for Palestine null and void is a surrender of a right that could hurt the Palestinian cause more than serve it. To start with, whatever Hamas thinks of the partition plan is irrelevant. The legality of that resolution, adopted by the UN General Assembly more than 60 years ago, does not need Hamas’ or Israel’s seal of approval. It was voted and done with.


Israel illegally annexing East Jerusalem - EU report
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
December 4, 2009 - 1:00am


In a confidential report obtained by AFP on Thursday, the European Union accused Israel of actively pursuing the annexation of Arab East Jerusalem and undermining hopes for peace with Palestinians. The annual report drafted by the EU heads of missions in Jerusalem accused Israel of implementing in 2009 an intricate policy which includes expanding Jewish settlements and demolishing Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem.


Settlers protest Netanyahu plan
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Howard Schneider - (Analysis) December 4, 2009 - 1:00am


Mayor Malachi Levinger does not consider himself a lawbreaker, but when Israeli building inspectors arrived in his West Bank town Tuesday to check for compliance with a newly imposed moratorium on construction in Jewish settlements, he and several dozen local residents blocked their path to ensure that work continued.


December 3rd

Israeli police began arresting settlers resisting the building moratorium, and their leaders reject PM Netanyahu's plea to respect the order. Defense Minister Barak says settlers can continue to authorize minor construction projects. Middle East Progress interviews Special Envoy George Mitchell. The world financial crisis is spurring new Jewish immigration to Israel. The EU is likely reject a Swedish proposal to recognize occupied East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital. A Kuwaiti newspaper says captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit has been moved to a secret location in Cairo in preparation for prisoner swap. Israeli occupation forces raid the West Bank village of Jenin. YNet argues that Netanyahu cannot reverse course on the settlement moratorium. The Jerusalem Post looks at international moves to boycott Israel and Israeli military efforts to use new social media for propaganda purposes. A commentary in the Guardian says Israel's abuse of Bedouins in the Negev desert shatters the myth that Israeli democracy. Michael Young argues that critics of Pres. Abbas make little sense. The Jordan Times calls Israel's stripping of Jerusalem residency from Palestinians ethnic cleansing, and Daoud Kuttab says the future of peace talks will be determined in the next few weeks.

Settlers reject Netanyahu plea to respect settlement freeze
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Chaim Levinson, Barak Ravid - December 3, 2009 - 1:00am


Defiant West Bank settler leaders rejected on Thursday a personal plea from the prime minister to respect a construction freeze in the territories, vowing to keep confronting security forces sent to enforce the edict. In the West Bank, settlers blocked inspectors from entering a settlement to search for unauthorized construction, the third straight day of such confrontations. There has been no violence, but authorities have made at least six arrests.


Jenin: Israeli forces herd men into town square
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
December 3, 2009 - 1:00am


Jenin – Ma’an – Israeli forces carried out a wide-scale detention campaign east of Jenin overnight Wednesday, targeting young men in the village of Deir Abu Daif. Israel's military said 15 were detained from across the West Bank, but local sources said troops seized 20 men during the raid. Thirteen were released by Thursday morning, according to locals.



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