Prominent Israelis call for the establishment of a Palestinian state. The New York Times looks at why Judge Goldstone reconsidered his views on the Gaza war. Hamas arrests suspects in the murder of an Italian activist, and kills one. Pres. Abbas and other PLO officials say Palestinians will approach the UN in September, but say they still have confidence in Pres. Obama. Abbas says he will not accept another armed uprising against Israel. Fatah say they are still open to a compromise with Hamas, but Danny Rubinstein says Hamas isn’t interested. A settler shoots a Palestinian near Nablus. Israel indicts an Australian man on accusations of working with Hamas, and arrests four Palestinian lawyers accused of passing messages to Islamic Jihad. Moth infestations threaten Gaza crops. PA officials say they face a “double fiscal crisis.” Shlomo Avineri says PM Netanyahu should give a speech to Israelis, not Americans, clarifying his vision for the future. Amira Hass says the murder of settlers doesn’t justify collective punishment against Palestinians. International activists seek to protect Palestinian fishermen from the Israeli Navy. Umm el-Fahm boasts a significant art gallery. Jonathan Freedland says peace needs more international supporters. Displaced Palestinian refugees in Lebanon finally get new homes.

Moth attacks threaten Gaza crops
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
April 20, 2011 - 12:00am

The Hamas authorities warned Wednesday that swarms of moth spreading in the Gaza Strip recently, would do harm to crops growing in the enclave if out of control. It is unknown where the insects came from, an official with the Hamas Agricultural Ministry said, however, he added that he believes Israel was the source, since the moths are largely found in the fields near Gaza-Israel borders. The insect, known as "Vine Hawk-Moth," feeds on leaves of trees and herbage crops, Ziad Hamada said, noting the ministry lacks proper means to control the swarms, blaming Israeli economic sanctions.

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Israel indicts Australian for alleged Hamas links
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Dan Williams - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am

Israel has arrested an Australian who tried to enter the country as a tourist, charging him with working for the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. The April 17 indictment of Eyad Abu Arga, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters on Wednesday, appeared to be part of a wide-ranging and sometimes covert campaign by Israel to curb Hamas, with which it has regularly clashed in the Gaza Strip.

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Palestinians determined to seek independence despite U.S. objection
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
April 20, 2011 - 12:00am

The Palestinian leadership on Wednesday reiterated that it will seek state's recognition from the United Nations despite U.S. opposition. Yasser Abed Rabbo, a Palestine Liberation Organization official, said the Palestinians want the world to recognize their state on the lands that Israel has occupied in 1967 because "the United States failed to resume serious peace negotiations" between Israel and the Palestinians. On Tuesday, the U.S. said it rejected the Palestinian plan for the recognition, saying that the Palestinian state must come through a negotiated agreement with Israel.

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PNA faces double fiscal crisis: officials
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
by Emad Drimly - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) faces a double fiscal crisis due to a lack of international funds, which affected its budget, as well as the ability of the staff unions to improve its employees' wages and pay their financial receivables, officials said on Tuesday. Ahmed Majdalani, the PNA labor minister told Xinhua that over the past few years, the PNA has been suffering from a real fiscal crisis due to the lack of international funds offered to the PNA by donor countries, adding that "this had left a large gap in the budget."

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Four Arab lawyers suspected of passing messages for Islamic Jihad
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Nir Hasson - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am

Four Arab lawyers working in Jerusalem have been arrested in recent weeks for allegedly passing information from prisoners from Islamic Jihad jailed in Israel to the group's officials in Gaza, according to details that emerged Wednesday after a gag order was lifted. Among the four is Suhir Ayoub, a 42-year-old female lawyer from Acre in northern Israel.

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PA official: Settler shoots Palestinian near Nablus
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
April 20, 2011 - 12:00am

A Palestinian man was moderately injured Tuesday after settlers opened fire south of Nablus, officials said. Ghassan Doughlas, a Palestinian Authority official who monitors settlements in the West Bank, told Ma'an that a group of settlers from the illegal Brakha settlement, near Burin village in the northern West Bank, fired at civilians and tried to break into a house. Other villagers intervened but one Palestinian was shot in the hand and stomach, the official said. The victim, who was not immediately identified, was taken to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, Doughlas said.

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Netanyahu owes speech to Israelis, not Americans
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Uri Avnery - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am

Here is a sensational news item: Next month, the prime minister will deliver a speech to the U.S. Congress. In all probability, this will be a polished, excellent address, one crafted in Benjamin Netanyahu's characteristic style and language.

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Fatah: Door remains open for Hamas
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
April 20, 2011 - 12:00am

The head of Fatah’s unity delegation said Tuesday that the party would "keep the door open" for Hamas to sign a unity deal, despite the expected announcement of a newly appointed Palestinian Authority cabinet next week. Speaking with Ma'an the day after President Mahmoud Abbas told reporters that a new PA cabinet would be formed, Azzam Al-Ahmad said the move would come on Abbas' return from Paris at the end of the week.

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Itamar murders don’t justify stripping Palestinians' rights
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amira Hass - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am

The Israeli settlement enterprise does not need the murder of Jewish families in order to strip Palestinian families of their land and endanger the future of both peoples. But when such a murder "falls into its hands," the settlement enterprise knows how to make the most out of it, by building new neighborhoods and outposts, blaming Palestinian nature and education, and dropping biblical terms like "bitter enemies" and "Amalek."

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