ATFP Senior Fellow Hussein Ibish is interviewed by All Things Considered. Israel rejects an international inquiry into the flotilla attack; Turkish activists release new photos; Iran offers to protect ships; PM Netanyahu may be forced to ease the blockade, and is fighting to keep control of Israel's internal inquiry away from the State Comptroller; released activists and Israel trade accusations; a Palestinian MK on the flotilla says a witchhunt has ensued in Israel. The US ponders its strategic relationship with Israel. Tom Friedman says Palestinian state building is “the ballgame.” Ross Douthat asks if Israel it is going the way of Crusader states. Daniel Kurtzer says Israel should care more about international opinion. The blockade has not weakened Hamas' grip on power. Alastair Crooke says Turkey has emerged as a new champion of Palestine, Raghida Dergham says it's vying for influence with Iran, and Tariq Alhomayed says so is Hezbollah. Most PLO factions will run a united list in upcoming municipal elections. France will partner with Palestinian banks to promote private sector growth in the West Bank. The Palestinian Chief Judge resigns. Israeli forces kill four divers off the coast of Gaza. The US demands an inquiry into how an American student lost an eye at a West Bank protest. Hussein Ibish says new Palestinian strategies are demanding clarity on the status of the occupied territories.

Israel must clarify Palestine's status
Media Mention of Hussein Ibish In - June 7, 2010 - 12:00am

While world attention has been heavily focused on efforts to break the siege of Gaza, Palestinians in the West Bank are pursuing a series of new, nonviolent, strategies challenging the Israeli occupation. What they are primarily seeking, and what the Israeli government is desperately trying to avoid, is clarity about the status of the occupied territories.


ATFP Senior Fellow on All Things Considered: Israeli Raid Presents Opportunity For Palestinians
Media Mention of Hussein Ibish In National Public Radio (NPR) - June 7, 2010 - 12:00am

GUY RAZ, host:Now, the pro-Israel lobby, AIPAC, is proud of its reputation as one of the most powerful advocacy groups in Washington, D.C. The question I asked Hussein Ibish, a senior fellow at the American Task Force on Palestine, is whether pro-Israel groups are losing influence under the Obama administration.


Flotilla raid fallout leaves Netanyahu battling on two fronts
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
(Blog) June 7, 2010 - 12:00am


A forum of seven ministers that advises Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, faced battle on two fronts when it met in Jerusalem on Sunday. Internationally, the government is struggling to frustrate calls for an international inquiry into an Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla last week, which left nine pro-Palestinian activists dead – while at the same time meeting American demands for a full investigation.


Photos from Turkish aid ship show blood and chaos
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Ayla Jean - June 6, 2010 - 12:00am


Turkish pro-Palestinian campaigners released photographs on Sunday showing terrified, bleeding Israeli soldiers cowering and surrounded by activists on the Turkish aid ship that they had stormed. Nine activists from Turkey were killed last Monday in the storming of the Mavi Marmara, part of a convoy trying to break Israel's blockade of Gaza and deliver some 10,000 tonnes of aid. The photographs were taken by a member of the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Aid, or IHH, which organised the convoy, said spokesman Salih Bilici.


Israeli patrol kills 4 militants in diving gear
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Ori Lewis - June 7, 2010 - 12:00am


An Israeli naval patrol killed at least four Palestinian militants in diving gear off the Gaza coast on Monday, Hamas security officials and the Israeli army said. "An Israeli naval patrol spotted a boat with four men in diving suits on their way to carry out a terror attack and fired at them," an Israeli army spokesman said, adding that the patrol had confirmed hitting its targets. The spokesman did not say what the army thought was the intended objective of the divers. Hamas security sources said four bodies had been found and a fifth man was missing and presumed dead.


Abbas forces Sheikh Tamimi into retirement
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
June 7, 2010 - 12:00am


President Mahmoud Abbas announced the end of Sheikh Tayseer Tamimi's career as Palestinian Chief Justice and Supreme Judge on Monday, with sources citing corruption charges brought forward by whistle-blower Fahmi Shabana months earlier. With Shabana's allegations principally focused on former presidential adviser Rafiq Al-Husseini, who was embroiled in a sex-tape scandal and accusations of selling land to Israel, the only mention of charges against Tamimi came in early May, when the sheikh made a public statement denying rumors that Abbas was charging him with corruption.


Iran Revolutionary Guards ready to escort Gaza ships
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Robin Pomeroy - June 6, 2010 - 12:00am


Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards are ready to provide a military escort to cargo ships trying to break Israel's blockade of Gaza, a representative of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday. "Iran's Revolutionary Guards naval forces are fully prepared to escort the peace and freedom convoys to Gaza with all their powers and capabilities," Ali Shirazi, Khamenei's representative inside the Revolutionary Guards, was quoted as saying by the semi-official Mehr news agency.


France, 5 Palestinian banks sign deals for private sector growth
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
June 7, 2010 - 12:00am


The French Bank Natixis signed agreements in Bethlehem with five Palestinian banks on the sidelines of the Palestine Investment Conference 2010, a statement from the French Consulate read.


Majority of PLO factions form elections coalition
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
June 7, 2010 - 12:00am


All factions represented within the PLO in Nablus will run for local elections on a combined list, except for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Palestinian People's Party (PPP), a statement from the body read Sunday. Following a series of meetings between PLO factions, an agreement was reached to unify a list for the Nablus municipal and council elections, the statement read, the first that will be held across the region, set for mid July.



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