Construction at Sheikh Jarrah begins ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ronen Medzini - June 28, 2010 - 12:00am Construction in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah began Sunday, just a few days before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to meet with the US president. The controversial construction plans, set at the site of the Shepherd Hotel, surfaced on the eve of Netanyahu's previous meeting with Barack Obama three months ago, embarrassing the Israeli government. Channel 10 reported Sunday that bulldozers had already arrived at the site, intended for 20 new Jewish homes. » Read more

UNRWA criticizes Palestinian infighting ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press June 28, 2010 - 12:00am The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) called on the different Palestinian factions Sunday to stop the infighting in order to solve a developing electricity crisis in Hamas-run Gaza. "It is such a tragedy that, on top of all the other crises that we have in the Gaza Strip, we now have a crisis of electricity," John Ging, director of UNRWA in Gaza, was quoted by AFP as saying. » Read more

Israeli Ambassador Oren denies statement of 'rift' with U.S., despite reports ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Glenn Kessler - June 28, 2010 - 12:00am Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren denied Sunday that he had told Israeli diplomats a "tectonic rift" was emerging between the United States and Israel -- incendiary words first reported in the Israeli press and then repeated in media outlets around the globe. » Read more

A Tel Aviv day-trip shouldn't be a crime ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Seth Freedman - (Opinion) June 28, 2010 - 12:00am Despite government claims to the contrary, Israel's borders are far from impenetrable to residents of the occupied Palestinian territories. The separation wall is only 60% complete, numerous ways to circumnavigate checkpoints exist throughout the West Bank, and poorly patrolled perimeters provide any would-be terrorist with ample opportunity for security breaches. » Read more

Leader of the Opposition ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Deborah Solomon - June 22, 2010 - 12:00am The Israeli security cabinet just voted to ease the three-year blockade on Gaza, in the wake of the tragic naval attack on the Mavi Marmara by Israeli commandos. What does that mean in practical terms? » Read more

Palestinian refugees demand dignity in Lebanon ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Abigail Fielding-Smith - June 28, 2010 - 12:00am Kamal Suleiman, an electrician from one of Lebanon’s poorest and most violent refugee camps, gestured towards the 5-year-old boy by his side. “I am here for him,” said. “Because of my son.” Mr Suleiman and his little boy were among the thousands who gathered across Lebanon yesterday to demand greater social and economic rights for Palestinians in the country. Organisers estimated that 6,000 attended yesterday’s demonstration in Beirut, and thousands more protested in Tripoli, Tyre and the Chouf mountain region. » Read more

Narrow Israeli agendas trump peace prospects ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National (Opinion) June 28, 2010 - 12:00am Likud wants its West Bank settlements: that was the message that Israel’s ruling party sent to their leader Benjamin Netanyahu when its central committee voted last week to resume settlement construction in September. Now, only the most wild-eyed optimist can hope for a breakthrough in the peace process. » Read more

The Freedom Flotilla or Other Something Else? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Diana Mukkaled - (Opinion) June 28, 2010 - 12:00am Initially I believed that the mechanisms used to publicize the Freedom Flotilla in support of the Palestinians in Gaza were justified because of the nobility of the cause of breaking the blockade. The cause deserves our efforts to be creative in mobilizing public opinion. However, I could not help but fall into the trap of comparing between the eye-catching advertisements run by travel agencies at the beginning of every summer and the propaganda campaigns launched by the sponsors of new voyages. » Read more

Something to hide ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News (Editorial) June 28, 2010 - 12:00am Why else is it asking the UN to suspend attempts to organize an international inquiry into the deadly raid on the Mavi Marmara that sought to break the blockade of Gaza? UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been trying to organize an international inquiry as called for by the Security Council. Israel won’t let him. » Read more

Family of Captured Israeli Soldier Press for Deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Dina Kraft - June 27, 2010 - 12:00am The family of Staff Sgt. Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier who has been held captive by Hamas in Gaza for four years, began a march to Jerusalem on Sunday aimed at pressing the government to make a deal for the soldier’s release. “We won’t wait any longer in our home,” said Noam Shalit, the soldier’s father, as the march began. He said Israel’s leaders “have to put an end to this sad saga.” The march began two days after the fourth anniversary of Sergeant Shalit’s capture and a week after Israel relaxed a blockade against Gaza that had been imposed in part to press for his release. » Read more