Most Palestinians believe proximity talks to fail: poll ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua July 12, 2010 - 12:00am Most Palestinians believe the U.S. -led indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) would fail, a poll showed on Monday. The survey, conducted by the West Bank-based Palestinian Center for Public Opinion (PCPO), said 53 percent of the surveyed expected the negotiations that started in May would fail, 37 percent said the proximity talks would be successful and 10 percent refused to answer the question. » Read more

Israel razes inhabited Palestinian home in Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Jeffrey Heller - July 13, 2010 - 12:00am Israel razed an inhabited Palestinian home in East Jerusalem for the first time in eight months on Tuesday, effectively ending an unofficial freeze of such internationally-condemned demolitions. A Reuters photographer witnessed a Palestinian family removing its belongings from the house in East Jerusalem's Beit Hanina neighbourhood before an Israeli excavator tore into the dwelling.

Erekat: Conditions must be fulfilled before talks proceed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 13, 2010 - 12:00am Reaffirming the PA stance on conditions ahead of direct talks, PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat said Tuesday that Israel must realize a halt to settlement construction. "Israel must fulfill the terms of the peace process," Erekat said, hours after media reports announced the construction of 32 new settlement homes in East Jerusalem. » Read more

Israel considers restricting citizenship for some who convert to Judaism ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Janine Zacharia - July 13, 2010 - 12:00am An Israeli parliamentary committee on Monday advanced a bill that could lead to lack of recognition for conversions to Judaism performed by rabbis from the Reform and Conservative movements. The bill could give the chief rabbinate, the religious authority in Israel run by ultra-Orthodox Jews, the power to decide which conversions are accepted, overturning an Israeli Supreme Court decision that ensures eligibility for Israeli citizenship for Jews converted by rabbis from all branches of Judaism. » Read more

Israeli Military Finds Flotilla Killings Justified ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner - July 13, 2010 - 12:00am An Israeli military investigation into its naval takeover of a Gaza-bound flotilla six weeks ago found that it was plagued by errors of planning, intelligence and coordination but that the killings of nine Turks on board were justified, according to an official summary of the findings released Monday. » Read more

Only the Palestinians have been serious ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Ghassan Khatib - (Opinion) July 13, 2010 - 12:00am Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has just finished another trip to the US, this time including an important meeting with US President Barack Obama. » Read more

‘Cultural intifada’ as Costello, Meg Ryan and others cancel Israel plans ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Marcy Oster - July 13, 2010 - 12:00am JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Actress Meg Ryan's decision to cancel her appearance at this week’s Jerusalem Film Festival didn’t garner the same attention in Israel as British rocker Elvis Costello when he nixed his Israel concert this spring. Both, however, were a reminder to Israelis that in the eyes of much of the world, Israel’s politics and culture are inseparable. » Read more

East J'lem building approved ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Benjamin L. Hartman - July 13, 2010 - 12:00am The Jerusalem building and planning committee on Monday approved plans for 32 new housing units in the northeast Jerusalem neighborhood of Pisgat Ze’ev. Kobi Kahalon, chairman of the building and planning committee, had postponed a hearing on the building plan set for last week, so that it would not coincide with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House. » Read more