September 24th

The government must stop funding zealotry in Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) September 24, 2010 - 12:00am The circumstances under which a private security guard fired at demonstrators in Silwan in East Jerusalem, killing a local man, Samar Sirhan, still need to be clarified. The police are investigating the guard's version of events, that he had to fire at people throwing stones who were endangering his life. Presumably the police will also look into the rules of engagement the security company gives its guards, and whether it properly trains them to deal with such situations. » Read more

Israeli leaders condemn Clinton immigrant comments ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman by Aron Heller - September 23, 2010 - 12:00am Israeli leaders have sharply criticized Bill Clinton over comments the former U.S. president made this week calling Russian immigrants in Israel an obstacle to peace. Clinton, who is generally a well-loved figure in Israel for his efforts to broker a Mideast peace deal in the 1990s, also said at a round-table group this week in New York that the most recent arrivals in Israel have the hardest time agreeing to share the land with the Palestinians. » Read more

Israeli navy kills Gaza fisherman - Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Dan Williams - September 24, 2010 - 12:00am The Israeli navy fired on a Palestinian boat off the northern Gaza Strip on Friday, killing a fisherman, the territory's Hamas administration said. An Israeli military spokeswoman confirmed that naval vessels shot at a fishing boat after it approached the limits of waters where Israel, which keeps Gaza under blockade, permits Palestinian maritime traffic. "We fired warning shots to turn them back, and when they did not respond, we fired at the boat," the spokeswoman said. "We are checking the claim that there was a casualty." » Read more

Palestinian-Americans reassured by Abbas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency September 24, 2010 - 12:00am President Mahmoud Abbas met with Palestinian-Americans from across the 50 states on Thursday, for an hour-long meeting where he reasserted his position on a resumption of settlement construction. "I will say this once in front of you, if they want negotiations, then they will continue with settlement freeze otherwise the negotiations will stop, and we are sorry to waste the opportunity," Abbas told assembled guests. » Read more

Israel's Palestinian partner is ready and waiting ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Libby Lenkinski Friedlander - (Opinion) September 24, 2010 - 12:00am For most Israelis, who have had little or no interaction with Palestinians for at least the past decade, the "Palestinian partner" remains an abstract concept. As a result, we spend a lot of time seeking a clear definition of what that ideal partner for ending the occupation would be: Who would be acceptable? What is the ideal profile? As a civil society worker, I have a face for the Palestinian partner that I want to see, in the abstract and in flesh and blood. I have met him. » Read more

Jerusalem remains on lockdown following clashes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency September 24, 2010 - 12:00am Checkpoints were erected at the entrances to several Jerusalem neighborhoods on Friday, with soldiers preventing residents from leaving the areas in several cases, witnesses said. Hundreds of police and border officers were deployed around the Old City, with 3,000 in total across East Jerusalem, officials estimated. Israeli Police Commander in Chief Dudi Cohen reportedly decided to maintain the state of alert declared Friday morning in the city, extending it through the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. » Read more

A Test of Israel’s Character ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Roger Cohen - (Opinion) September 23, 2010 - 12:00am At a dinner hosted by American Jewish leaders for the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, I was seated with a senior U.S. diplomat to my left, the secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization to my right, and Abbas opposite. It was like listening to a rousing peace overture as an ominous leitmotif of disaster keeps returning with ever greater insistence. » Read more

The Daily Show is listening to King Abdullah. Is anyone else? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Tom A. Peter - September 23, 2010 - 12:00am "hipness" points count in politics, the international standing of Jordan’s King Abdullah II is about to go through the roof: Tonight he'll be appearing on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” And King Abdullah is pretty cool to begin with. He’s married to Queen Rania, one of People Magazine’s 50 most beautiful people. Before becoming king, he appeared as an extra on Star Trek. An amateur race-car driver, he also personally drove President Barack Obama to the airport when he visited Jordan prior to being elected. Obama later joked: “I won't tell you how fast [Abdullah] was going.” » Read more

Survey: Palestinians Believe Peace Talks Are Best Strategy Media Mention of Hussein Ibish In Voice of America - September 24, 2010 - 12:00am A new survey shows a majority of Palestinians believe peace negotiations are the best way to achieve their goals. The survey released Thursday by the Jerusalem Media and Communications Center showed 53 percent of those polled said peace talks were the best strategy.  That compares with 26 percent who said violent resistance is the best method, and 16 percent who supported non-violent resistance. » Read more

Survey: Palestinians Believe Peace Talks Are Best Strategy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Voice of America (Analysis) September 23, 2010 - 12:00am A new survey shows a majority of Palestinians believe peace negotiations are the best way to achieve their goals. The survey released Thursday by the Jerusalem Media and Communications Center showed 53 percent of those polled said peace talks were the best strategy.  That compares with 26 percent who said violent resistance is the best method, and 16 percent who supported non-violent resistance. » Read more