July 13th

Israeli bulldozers raze 4 east Jerusalem buildings
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Diaa Hadid - July 13, 2010 - 12:00am

Israeli bulldozers destroyed six buildings, including at least three homes, in contested east Jerusalem on Tuesday, resuming the demolition of Palestinian property after a halt aimed at encouraging peace talks. Jerusalem house demolitions are a volatile issue because of conflicting Israeli and Palestinian claims to the city's eastern sector. Israel sees it as part of its capital city, while Palestinians want it for their own future capital.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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‘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.

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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.

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July 12th

US Presbyterians call on US to suspend aid to Israel until all settlement activity ceases. Pressure builds for direct negotiations. Former Israeli and Palestinian negotiators agree talks should not start from scratch. Libya is the latest country to organize an aid flotilla for Gaza. Israeli society faces increasing challenges from ultra-Orthodox. Philip Smucker points out that the issue of Palestine is a major selling point for terrorists. Pres. Abbas says there must be progress on borders and security before direct talks can begin. Israel's initial investigation into the Gaza flotilla attack cites poor planning. A senior PLO official calls Jerusalem “a time bomb” between the parties. A Palestinian village is to be entirely encircled by the next phase of the West Bank separation barrier. The US asks Syria not to hinder direct negotiations. Israel orders an investigation into the death of a nonviolent Palestinian protester. The head of Israel's internal security visits the West Bank for security coordination talks. Salman Masalha says Gilad Shalit's family should be allowed to visit him. Ahmad Tibi says the situation is worsening for Palestinian citizens of Israel. The BBC profiles a Gaza smuggling millionaire. Palestinian refugees in Syria are talked about their homeland. Raghida Dergham says Pres. Obama needs new strategies in dealing with Israel. ATFP President Ziad Asali warns that if the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not resolved in the foreseeable future, it could lead to a holy war.

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