October 8th

Israel's democracy rings hollow ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by Faisal J. Abbas - (Opinion) October 8, 2010 - 12:00am Within hours, the YouTube video showing an Israeli soldier belly-dancing around Ehsan Al Dababsi, a Palestinian detainee who was bound and blindfolded, became headline news all around the Middle East. » Read more

Abbas has to make tough decisions ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by Osama Al-Sharif - (Opinion) October 8, 2010 - 12:00am Several days ago the leader of the Israeli opposition Tzipi Livni said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "must choose the real long-term interests of Israel rather than his own personal political interests." She was commenting on Netanyahu's refusal to extend the colony freeze moratorium which prompted the Palestinians to carry out their threat to walk away from direct talks barely a month after they were ceremoniously resumed in Washington. » Read more

How Will Jews React to ‘Budrus’? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Josh Nathan-Kazis - October 6, 2010 - 12:00am Protesters in the Palestinian town of Budrus were growing frustrated. After months of nonviolently demonstrating against the Israeli separation barrier being built through their olive groves, the demonstrators faced increased force from Israeli border police who were firing tear gas and swinging batons. Young Palestinians began tossing rocks at the soldiers despite pleas from protest organizers, and Israeli forces occupied the town, sending live ammunition down the narrow streets. » Read more

Gaza burns as Hamas declares war on drugs ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Donald MacIntyre - October 8, 2010 - 12:00am They made an incongruous sight, piled on to trestle tables in the car park outside a government office. Long bundles of dried marijuana branches – known as Bango here – the chocolate bar-shaped slabs of hashish, a few still half-covered with the blue Action cheese wrapping used to smuggle them in, and the smaller grubby blocks of off-white cocaine. » Read more

Gaza burns as Hamas declares war on drugs ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Donald MacIntyre - October 8, 2010 - 12:00am They made an incongruous sight, piled on to trestle tables in the car park outside a government office. Long bundles of dried marijuana branches – known as Bango here – the chocolate bar-shaped slabs of hashish, a few still half-covered with the blue Action cheese wrapping used to smuggle them in, and the smaller grubby blocks of off-white cocaine. » Read more

Washington Watch: Israel needs a real foreign minister ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by D. Bloomfield - (Opinion) October 6, 2010 - 12:00am It appears that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will once more be dragged kicking and screaming to the peace table. In exchange for briefly extending the settlement moratorium, he is expected to get a generous package of American military aid, weapons systems, security guarantees, and political backing for years. » Read more

Israel, U.S. finalize F-35 stealth fighter purchase ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Shlomo Shamir - October 7, 2010 - 12:00am The purchase of U.S.-made F-35 stealth fighters ushers in a new era in Israel's ability to face security challenges, both near and far, a top Israeli security official said at a ceremony Thursday which finalized Israel's purchase of its first batch of advanced fighter jets. Under the contract signed in New York on Thursday by Ehud Shani, director general of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, Israel will get 20 of the warplanes for nearly $3 billion and will receive the jets in 2016. It has an option for 75 more. » Read more

Abbas to Mitchell: I will resign if settlement construction continues ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - October 8, 2010 - 12:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas informed U.S. envoy George Mitchell last week that the renewal of settlement construction will not only bring about the collapse of peace talks but it will also induce his resignation from the post of Palestinian Authority president. According to Palestinian sources close to the PA leadership, Abbas told Mitchell of his plans during their last meeting together. » Read more

Palestinians open to US proposal on settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman by Josef Federman - October 7, 2010 - 12:00am The Palestinians said Thursday they have accepted a U.S. proposal calling on Israel to extend a West Bank settlement slowdown for two months, the latest indication that a deal is emerging to keep peace talks from collapsing. Israel has so far declined to extend the slowdown, despite American pressure and pledges. Negotiator Nabil Shaath said the period would be used to try to hammer out an agreement on a border between Israel and a future Palestinian state and another extension would be required if the sides failed to reach agreement. » Read more

No easing of Palestinian demand seen at Arab League ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Douglas Hamilton - October 7, 2010 - 12:00am Arab League foreign ministers meet in Libya on Friday to hear Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's case for suspending peace talks with Israel until it extends a moratorium on settlement building in the West Bank. Launched in Washington just five weeks ago, the talks veered into a cul-de-sac on Sept. 26, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Nentayhu refused to extend a halt to construction of Jewish settlements, which he had said would last 10 months. » Read more