My mandate on Gaza was even-handed, my loyalty is to justice ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Richard Goldstone - May 6, 2010 - 12:00am At the outset let me say that I have taken no pleasure in seeing people around the world criticise the South African Jewish community and I commend the South African Jewish Board of Deputies and all responsible for bringing an end to the unfortunate public issues that had arisen relating to my grandson's bar mitzvah. My family and I are delighted that I was able to attend the bar mitzvah on Saturday and that it was such a joyous and meaningful occasion. I am deeply grateful to Rabbi Suchard, the members of the committee and the congregation at Sandton Synagogue for having made this possible. » Read more

Settlers wish destruction on Barak's home ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Shmulik Grossman - May 5, 2010 - 12:00am Settlers from Shavei Shomron scattered building bricks near the homes of the prime minister, defense minister, and Minister Moshe Ya'alon, a day after security forces demolished six structures in the Nablus-area settlement. The blocks were brought from the ruins of the illegal structures that the Civil Administration demolished in the settlement. Outside the defense minister's house in the Akirov Towers in Tel Aviv, a pile of stones was placed with a sign that read: "Barak, minister of destruction, may your home be destroyed soon as well." » Read more

The friend ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Gideon Levy - (Opinion) May 6, 2010 - 12:00am The settlers of Pisgat Ze'ev, the intruders of Sheikh Jarrah, the people who covet Silwan, the infiltrators into the Muslim Quarter and you, the mayor of the nationalist city, Nir Barkat, can stop worrying: (All of ) Jerusalem is yours, forever. Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel met at the White House with his friend, Barack Obama, on a mission from his other friend, Benjamin Netanyahu, and when he came out he said he had the impression that Obama respected his advice to postpone discussions on Jerusalem. » Read more

Abbas: Hamas is smuggling weapons into the West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Jack Khoury - May 6, 2010 - 12:00am Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday accused the rival Hamas movement of smuggling weapons into the West Bank territory under his control. "On the one hand, the organization is punishing those who launch rockets in Gaza, while at the same time it hoards weapons in the West Bank," the Palestinian leader said in an interview with the London-based A-Sharq al-Awsat. Palestinian security forces routinely discover these caches, Abbas told the newspaper. » Read more

Not taking listener requests ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) May 6, 2010 - 12:00am After an exhausting odyssey, it seems that the Obama administration has finally managed to get the peace process going again. Although the dispute over the construction freeze in East Jerusalem has precluded direct bilateral talks, the proximity talks will break the ice that has been clogging up the Israeli-Palestinian track for over a year. Regrettably, the good news was received in Jerusalem with a demonstrative chill and a lowering of the already modest expectations that the talks will bring peace any closer. » Read more

PNA to test U.S. credibility in proximity talks among criticism from opposition groups ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Saud Abu Ramadan, Fares Akram - May 6, 2010 - 12:00am A senior Palestinian National Authority (PNA) official said on Wednesday that the upcoming few weeks will show the U.S. administration's seriousness and credibility in pushing forward the four-month proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinians. "The coming weeks will be a test for the ability and credibility of the U.S. administration to push forward real and serious negotiations that lead to tangible results and not only negotiations without outcomes," Nabil Abu Rdineh, spokesman of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, told reporters. » Read more

PNA says Israel may thwart talks before starting ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua May 6, 2010 - 12:00am Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat accused on Thursday Israel of working to thwart the U.S.- sponsored proximity talks before they begin. "Nobody expects the failure of the negotiations before they begin except those who want it to fail," Erekat said, responding to Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor who on Wednesday said that the proximity talks "won't work" and "won't yield results." » Read more