Budrus: A West Bank village's emblematic struggle for its land ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Harriet Sherwood - (Blog) May 9, 2011 - 12:00am I'm finally back in Jerusalem after almost two months away, much of it in Tripoli, which was weird and fascinating. But it's great to be back, and I intend to resume regular blogposts from this week, getting out and seeing what's happening on the ground in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. Today sees the DVD release of Budrus, a documentary film about a Palestinian village's struggle against the route of Israel's separation barrier. Budrus has deservedly won many awards and if you didn't get a chance to see it at the cinema, now's your chance to catch up. » Read more

Independence Day and the ‘Nakba Law’ ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Issa Boursheh - (Opinion) May 8, 2011 - 12:00am ‘We appeal – in the very midst of the onslaught launched against us now for months – to the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to preserve peace and participate in the upbuilding of the state on the basis of full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its provisional and permanent institutions.” This is what the founders of the State of Israel guaranteed to the family of nations and its own people. Full and equal citizenship; and this is what I, as a Palestinian-Israeli, am anticipating, with fairly low expectations. » Read more

Arab League chief: Hamas not a terror group ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yitzhak Benhorin - May 10, 2011 - 12:00am Arab League Secretary-General and one of Egypt's leading presidential candidates Amr Moussa does not believe Hamas is a terrorist organization. In an interview with the Washington Post, Moussa said: "The view that Hamas is a terrorist organization is a view that pertains to a minority of countries, not a majority. Being a terrorist is not a stigma forever." » Read more

Obama sends Israel Independence Day greetings ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yitzhak Benhorin - May 10, 2011 - 12:00am United States President Barack Obama sent his greetings Tuesday to the people of Israel as they celebrate their 63rd Independence Day. Obama congratulated the State of Israel on its "remarkable achievements over the past six decades." "Our two nations share a unique and unbreakable bond of friendship that is anchored in common interests and shared values, and the United States’ unwavering commitment to Israel’s security," he reaffirmed the American support of Israel. » Read more

Israel is a country evading reality ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) May 9, 2011 - 12:00am On the eve of the 63rd anniversary of its independence, more than ever Israel ostensibly appears like the "villa in the jungle" that Defense Minister Ehud Barak referred to. It enjoys stable governance, strong democracy, economic power and relative quiet on the security front. » Read more

U.S.: Israel's decision to withhold PA funds 'premature' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Natasha Mozgovaya - May 9, 2011 - 12:00am The United States slammed Monday Israel’s decision to withhold Palestinian Authority funds saying "any decision following the Hamas-Fatah agreement is premature.” U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner admitted that the Israelis “have their concerns,” but stressed that that the U.S. government's position is that “we believe that we need to wait and see. We believe it's premature to make any decisions. What's important now is that the Palestinians ensure implementation in a way that advances the prospects of peace." » Read more

An improbable leader’s unrelenting quest for a state of Palestine ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Globe and Mail by Patrick Martin - (Opinion) May 9, 2011 - 12:00am He is an unlikely man in a most unlikely setting, but Munib Rashid Masri, who, 10 years ago in the middle of a violent intifada, built a palatial mansion on the top of Mount Gerizim overlooking this Palestinian city, deserves much of the credit for the historic reconciliation between the antagonistic Hamas and Fatah organizations. » Read more

Talks with Hamas not impossible: Israeli president ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) May 10, 2011 - 12:00am The possibility of talks between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas should not be entirely ruled out, Israeli President Shimon Peres told Ynet news in an interview published Tuesday. Peres said it was important to remember that Palestinian former president Yasser Arafat was regarded with suspicion and even hatred by many Israelis when he was engaged in the negotiations that yielded the Oslo Accords. "Even when I began negotiation with Arafat, they said: 'There's no chance'," Peres told the Israeli website in an interview published on the Jewish state's Independence Day. » Read more

Abbas says Palestinians determined to get UN recognition ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua May 10, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinians are determined to seek recognition of a Palestinian state from the United Nations in September, a Ramallah-based newspaper reported Tuesday. "The issue of going to the UN is decisive and it doesn't endure any play or maneuvering," Abbas said during a meeting of the Revolutionary Council of his Fatah movement here on Monday night, according to the report. However, Abbas stressed that the negotiations with Israel remain the preferable choice for the Palestinians and that the Palestinians will continue efforts to resume the talks. » Read more

INTERVIEW-Israel must move on peace or lose out -lobbyist ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Allyn Fisher-Ilan - (Interview) May 8, 2011 - 12:00am Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must present a concrete plan for a two-state solution of the Palestinian conflict to the U.S. Congress this month or face the prospect of fresh violence, a U.S. lobbyist said. Jeremy Ben-Ami, director of J Street, touted as a left-wing version of the powerful pro-Israel AIPAC lobby group, said he was "trying to build a momentum" to stall a Palestinian plan to seek United Nations backing for statehood in September. » Read more