July 12th

Palestinians in Syria have to be taught about 'home' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Phil Sands - July 11, 2010 - 12:00am A year before Srur Ali’s father died, he gave his son a bundle of papers, wrapped in a pillowcase and a plastic bag, with instructions that they were a priceless inheritance and must never be lost. Aged 15 at the time, Srur, a Palestinian refugee living in Syria, gave little thought to the contents but promised to protect them. For the next half-century the documents were hidden away. » Read more

The other Israeli conflict: with itself ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Joshua Mitnick - July 12, 2010 - 12:00am With side curls tucked under wire-rimmed glasses, Mordechai Kry­bus has become an ultra-Orthodox celebrity virtually overnight. Israel's Supreme Court ruled that the Emmanuel elementary school, which his daughter attends, practices de facto ethnic segregation by separating students along religious lines. Mr. Kyrbus and 35 other parents went to jail rather than comply with what they considered religious coercion by the secular court. » Read more

The US Shift in Peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat by Raghida Dergham - July 9, 2010 - 12:00am It would be appropriate to resume direct negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government within “a few weeks” as long as President Barack Obama has a clear vision of what the role of the US should be in the negotiations, from the strategic perspective as well as from the perspective of the structure of opinions and how to implement them. » Read more

Libya's Qaddafi latest to challenge Israel's Gaza blockade ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Joshua Mitnick - July 12, 2010 - 12:00am Six weeks after Israeli commandos killed nine pro-Palestinian activists to prevent a Turkish aid ship from reaching the Gaza Strip, tensions are on the rise as a Libyan-sponsored vessel sets out to challenge Israel's naval blockade of the Hamas-controlled territory. Backed by a charity headed by the son of Libyan ruler Muammar Qaddafi, the ship Amalthea is carrying a cargo of 2,000 tons of food. Organizers say the plan is to reach Gaza within the coming days. » Read more

ISRAEL: Don't restart negotiations from scratch, former peace-table adversaries agree ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Edmund Sanders - July 12, 2010 - 12:00am Two years ago Tzipi Livni and Ahmed Qurei had a standing rendezvous at Jerusalem's King David Hotel, at least twice a week, to hash over hotly disputed issues such as borders, refugees and the future of Jerusalem. Back then meetings between the then-Israeli foreign minister and the former Palestinian Authority prime minister hardly drew notice. No reporters, no cameras and no fanfare. But their return engagement on the same stage Sunday caused a mini stir since direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have been stalled since 2008 and they hadn't seen each other since. » Read more

Pressure for direct Israeli-Palestinian builds ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Edmund Sanders - July 12, 2010 - 12:00am Pressure intensified for a resumption of direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority on Sunday, but Palestinian leaders continued to insist that Israel first freeze settlement construction in the West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would travel to Cairo this week to solicit help from Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in persuading the Palestinian Authority to resume direct talks. Get dispatches from Times correspondents around the globe delivered to your inbox with our daily World newsletter. Sign up » » Read more

Shin Bet visits West Bank cities to boost security ties with PA ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amos Harel, Avi Issacharoff - (Blog) July 12, 2010 - 12:00am Shin Bet security service head Yuval Diskin recently spent a day in the West Bank city of Jenin as a guest of the Palestinian Authority's security service. This is Diskin's second visit of this kind to Palestinian Authority territory in recent months, the aim of which is to coordinate security ties between Israel and the PA. The first visit was to Ramallah. The meetings have not been made public, in accordance with an agreement between the two sides. » Read more

Presbyterians Press U.S. on Aid to Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press July 12, 2010 - 12:00am Presbyterian leaders want the United States to end aid to Israel unless the country stops settlement expansions in disputed Palestinian territories. Delegates of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted Friday to support the move during the church’s general assembly in Minneapolis. The measure passed with 82 percent of the vote. Jewish groups have long taken issue with various Presbyterian statements on the Middle East. But at least one group offered qualified praise on Friday. » Read more

'Palestinian-Israeli situation could lead to a holy war if not resolved soon' Media Mention of Ziad Asali In Arab News - July 12, 2010 - 12:00am WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama assured Mahmoud Abbas by telephone on Friday of his commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state. The call followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's White House meeting with Obama on Tuesday, in which the two leaders discussed a number of issues including Israel's stalled peace talks with the Palestinians. Dr. Ziad Asali, the president and founder of the Washington-based American Task Force on Palestine, said it is important to keep focused on the efforts the president is making in outreach to both Palestinians and Israelis. » Read more

'Palestinian-Israeli situation could lead to a holy war if not resolved soon' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Barbara Ferguson - July 12, 2010 - 12:00am WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama assured Mahmoud Abbas by telephone on Friday of his commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state. The call followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's White House meeting with Obama on Tuesday, in which the two leaders discussed a number of issues including Israel's stalled peace talks with the Palestinians. Dr. Ziad Asali, the president and founder of the Washington-based American Task Force on Palestine, said it is important to keep focused on the efforts the president is making in outreach to both Palestinians and Israelis. » Read more