Obama tried to convince Abbas to withdraw UN resolution up until last minute - Sources ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Ali El-saleh - February 19, 2011 - 1:00am As was expected, the US used its veto to put an end to a draft UN Security Council resolution condemning Israel's policy of settlement building on occupied Palestinian territory. This represents the 42nd time that the US has vetoed Arab resolutions condemning Israel. This resolution was voted in favor of by the other 14 UN Security Council members; however the US, as a permanent Security Council member, was able to veto it. » Read more

West Bank youth watch Egypt and wonder: could it happen here? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Harriet Sherwood - (Blog) February 18, 2011 - 1:00am I went to Nablus in the West Bank this week to try to find out whether young people there were in revolutionary mood similar to their counterparts across the Middle East. But before I even spoke to anyone, I was struck by the bustling and relaxed atmosphere in the city, famous not so long ago for its suicide bombers and nightly incursions by the Israeli military to round up militants and demolish the homes of their families. » Read more

Encountering Peace: Mirror, mirror on the wall ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gershon Baskin - (Editorial) February 21, 2011 - 1:00am While riding in a Jerusalem taxi recently I noticed that the name of the company was decorated with stars of David. I asked the driver about it. He replied: “Yes, our company only hires Jewish drivers, so our passengers can feel safe.” I remember moving trucks in Jerusalem with large signs reading “Jewish workers only.” » Read more

Palestinian Foreign Minister: Iran Controls Hamas; Statehood by September ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Felice Friedson - (Interview) February 20, 2011 - 1:00am The Media Line: Yasser Abed-Rabo said to me the other day that Mahmoud Abbas will not run for president. So, who will? » Read more

PM’s latest stance on Palestinian state likely a thank-you ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon - February 22, 2011 - 1:00am In what could be the initial repayment to the US for its Friday veto of the Palestinian anti-settlement resolution in the UN Security Council, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu went further toward embracing the idea of a Palestinian state in a statement he issued Saturday night than in any of his previous speeches or statements. » Read more

Plans to expand Har Homa rejected ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ronen Medzini - February 21, 2011 - 1:00am Jerusalem Municipality's local planning and construction committee announced Monday it would not approve plans to expand the Jewish Har Homa neighborhood in east Jerusalem. The announcement came just a few days after the US vetoed a UN vote to condemn construction in settlements, causing speculation that the plans were not approved due to political pressure. » Read more

Tear gas launcher hits Silwan home ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yair Altman - February 21, 2011 - 1:00am The occasional riots in Silwan have become a common phenomenon in east Jerusalem, but for 33-year-old resident Issam Qawasmeh, Friday's rally turned into a nightmare. When the riots began he and his wife and three small children decided to stay in the house so as not to get hurt, but at the end of the day Qawasmeh and his two-month baby found themselves in the hospital. On Friday evening young men began to stone houses in Silwan. Border Guard soldiers were called to the scene and tried to disperse the crowd using tear gas grenade launchers. » Read more

Settler gets community service for weapons theft ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Raanan Ben-Zur - February 21, 2011 - 1:00am A 19-year old settler was sentenced to just 100 hours of community service Monday, without a conviction, for stealing weapons and ammunition from IDF warehouses in the West Bank. The Kfar Saba Magistrates' Court accepted his attorney's claim that the theft, executed three years ago, was a matter of "youthful frivolity" and decided to punish him lightly. He was also fined NIS 1,000 ($277). In February of 2008 stun and gas grenades, ammunition for M-16 rifles, sniper rifles, and sub-machine guns, and a spike barrier were stolen from an IDF warehouse. » Read more

Accepting Jerusalem Prize, McEwan slams Israeli policies ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by David Green - February 19, 2011 - 1:00am British novelist Ian McEwan, this year's recipient of the prestigious Jerusalem Prize, used the opening of the the 25th Jerusalem International Book Fair last night to sharply criticize Israel's policies of "confiscation, land purchases, and expulsion in East Jerusalem," and a national policy that grants a "right of return to Jews but not to Arabs." » Read more

With settlement resolution veto, Obama has joined Likud ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Gideon Levy - (Editorial) February 20, 2011 - 1:00am This weekend, a new member enrolled in Likud - and not just in the ruling party, but in its most hawkish wing. Located somewhere between Tzipi Hotovely and Danny Danon, U.S. President Barack Obama bypassed Dan Meridor and Michael Eitan on the right and weakened their position. The first veto cast by the United States during Obama's term, a veto he promised in vain not to use as his predecessors did, was a veto against the chance and promise of change, a veto against hope. This is a veto that is not friendly to Israel; it supports the settlers and the Israeli right, and them alone. » Read more