Don't escape reality ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Dana Golan - (Opinion) July 16, 2009 - 12:00am The easiest thing is to claim that the testimonies of soldiers who took part in Operation Cast Lead are based on rumors, represent “rotten apples,” and were possibly even elicited from people posing as soldiers. Such response requires no more than recycling the previous reactions to such testimonials, which reflect the slippery slope our military establishment finds itself in. » Read more

Clinton doesn't rule out compromise with Israel on construction ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yitzhak Benhorin - July 15, 2009 - 12:00am US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton did not rule out the possibility of a US-Israeli compromise that will allow the construction of several thousand housing units to be completed in a number of West Bank settlements. » Read more

Netanyahu mulling UN speech ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Itamar Eichner - July 16, 2009 - 12:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering heading an Israeli delegation to the opening of the United Nation's General Assembly session scheduled for September, which world leaders including US President Barack Obama and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are scheduled to attend. The session will open on September 23, and the Prime Minister's Office has instructed the Foreign Ministry and Israel's delegation to the UN to prepare for the possibility of Netanyahu's arrival. » Read more

Man responsible for Israel's cruelest wars only attracts praise ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Gideon Levy - (Opinion) July 16, 2009 - 12:00am A huge weight has been lifted off our chests: Maj. Gen. Yoav Gallant will stay in the Israel Defense Forces. Although Gallant was not named deputy chief of staff, Defense Minister Ehud Barak publicly declared that he views him as a candidate to succeed Gabi Ashkenazi as chief of staff. The military correspondents, those who only spoke glowingly of Gallant during the entire appointments commotion, put their minds at ease. And the brainwashed public, which shows no interest in learning what our soldiers did in Gaza, were also put at ease. » Read more

Obama to set binding timetable for Israel-PA talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - July 16, 2009 - 12:00am U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to announce a diplomatic plan soon for renewal of the Middle East peace process. A central feature of the plan, which will be presented to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, will be a binding timetable for negotiations on the core issues involved in a final resolution of the conflict. It may also be precluded by an easing of pressure for a building freeze in the settlements on the part of the Unites States. » Read more

Advert 'implied Gaza in Israel' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News July 15, 2009 - 12:00am An Israeli tourism advert that showed the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as an undisputed part of Israel has been rejected by the advertising watchdog. The posters, on the London Underground, sparked hundreds of complaints from pro-Palestinian groups and members of the public. The Advertising Standards Authority said a map labelled Israel implied the occupied territories were in Israel. Israel's ministry of tourism said no political message was intended. It added that its aim was to give tourists an idea of the areas in and around Israel. » Read more

Editorial: Brazen testimony ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News (Editorial) July 16, 2009 - 12:00am The world saw for itself how — for 22 days — the densely populated Gaza ghetto was bombarded by Israeli forces killing 1,400 Palestinians and injuring thousands more. But the Israelis have always claimed that the stark images flashed around the world were Palestinian propaganda and did not represent what was really happening. On Wednesday, however, came a report drawing on testimony from some of the soldiers who took part in the Gaza operation — and it proves that the Israeli government statements are lies. » Read more

Yet more proof ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times July 16, 2009 - 12:00am Israeli soldiers have given testimony that in some cases the Israeli army made use of Palestinian human shields in its war on Gaza in January. The accounts, from an Israeli human rights group, provide yet more proof, if more is needed, that Israel stood in grave contravention of the laws regulating combat behaviour and should be charged with war crimes. » Read more

Obama must make a move ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) July 15, 2009 - 12:00am Some key European governments, unlike the Obama administration, have now come up with some tangible steps to start the ball rolling toward a peace settlement between an anxious Palestinian National Authority and a right-wing Israeli government which seems to be reluctant to reach a two-state solution. » Read more

Disagreements inside the Same Family ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat by Elias Harfoush - (Opinion) July 15, 2009 - 12:00am I don’t believe it would be an exaggeration to say that the meeting held between President Barak Obama and 15 of the most prominent leaders of the Jewish community in the United States on Monday will constitute a pivotal point that might restrain the momentum of the new president’s administration towards achieving a balanced settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. » Read more