April 15th

Israel defies international law, again ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Michael Jansen - (Opinion) April 15, 2010 - 12:00am Israeli amendments to standing military orders that took effect last Tuesday were fresh punitive measures in a long line of destructive and illegal acts designed to deny Palestinians their basic human rights. The orders, signed by Major General Gadi Shamni, former commander of Israel's armed forces in the West Bank, broaden the interpretation of "infiltrator" to mean anyone who does not have a valid Israeli residence permit, and expand the powers of Israeli forces to deal with anyone they decide is a "security threat". » Read more

Obama's theological Israel mission ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Carlo Strenger - April 15, 2010 - 12:00am The press and the blogosphere keep stating that the Obama administration is considering launching its own peace initiative. The details mentioned are neither new nor surprising: Israel should live alongside a Palestinian state; the Arab parts of Jerusalem will be the Palestinian capital, and there will be a land swap to compensate the Palestinians for the major settlement blocs. » Read more

Pillar of Israeli government ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Daoud Kuttab - (Opinion) April 15, 2010 - 12:00am There is a reason for the fact that in modern times laws are written by representatives of the people to whom these laws are applied. Governments and parliaments come and go, but laws often outlive them. » Read more

Palestinians test out Gandhi-style protest ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News by Heather Sharp - April 15, 2010 - 12:00am It is strangely quiet. About 40 mainly Palestinian protesters face off with a line of armed Israeli soldiers over coils of razor wire. They calmly explain they want access to land Israel has confiscated to build its West Bank barrier. Chanting begins, followed by impassioned speeches in Hebrew, English and Arabic. "You soldiers standing here, blocking Palestinians from walking on their own land, you need to think about what you're doing," lectures one young woman. "What will you tell your children?" asks an older man. » Read more

More e. J'lem construction on agenda ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Abe Selig - April 15, 2010 - 12:00am Building projects over the Green Line, including a school and a synagogue in the Gilo neighborhood, and an extension to a synagogue in Pisgat Ze’ev, will be on the agenda when the Jerusalem Municipality’s Local Planning and Building Committee meets on Thursday. Despite reports that the Jerusalem Regional Planning and Building Commission is observing a de facto freeze with regard to east Jerusalem construction, the committee is set to meet on Thursday morning for back-to-back sessions dealing with building requests and permits for those and other potential projects. » Read more

IDF preps soldiers for settler violence ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Yaakov Katz, Tovah Lazaroff - April 15, 2010 - 12:00am The IDF Central Command has prepared a special crash course for soldiers in the Judea and Samaria Division amid concern about a possible escalation in settler violence should the government extend the moratorium on new settlement construction in the West Bank beyond the end of September, senior officers have told The Jerusalem Post. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu convened top cabinet ministers earlier this week to discuss the US’s demands to extend the freeze, which were presented during his visit to the White House in March. » Read more

Obama aide at Independence Day event: 2-state solution in Israel's interest ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yitzhak Benhorin - April 15, 2010 - 12:00am During a ceremony held at the Israeli Embassy Wednesday night to mark the Jewish state's 62nd Independence Day, a senior advisor to Barack Obama said the US president is committed to the alliance between the two countries. David Axelrod said that despite the disagreements, the bond between Israel and the US is unshakable, adding that Washington remains committed to Israel's security and to preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. » Read more

'Obama taking reins on policy towards Mideast conflict' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yitzhak Benhorin - April 15, 2010 - 12:00am US President Obama has taken control over US policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly since Israel announced the construction of 1,600 new housing units in Jerusalem's Ramat Shlomo neighborhood during Vice President Joe Biden's visit, according to an opinion piece published in the New York Times on Thursday. » Read more

No-one saw, no-one heard: 300 Palestinian olive trees uprooted ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff - April 15, 2010 - 12:00am Some 300 olive trees belonging to Palestinians were uprooted on the night between Monday and Tuesday in groves near the village of Mihmas, close to the illegal outpost of Migron. Mihmas residents blamed settlers for the attack and said this was the third time the settlers had uprooted trees in the area. » Read more

Obama to Sarkozy: I'll keep up pressure on Israel, Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - April 15, 2010 - 12:00am U.S. President Barack Obama has told French President Nicolas Sarkozy that he is determined to keep the pressure on Israel and the Palestinians to renew peace talks and implement confidence-building measures. Obama made his comments despite potential political damage at home ahead of the mid-term congressional elections in November. » Read more