June 22nd

Palestinian theatre stages first play without director Juliano Mer Khamis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Conal Urquhart - June 22, 2011 - 12:00am A pioneering community theatre that aimed to replace violence with drama in one of the most battle-scarred Palestinian towns has hosted its first performance since the murder of its director. Israeli and Palestinian police have not identified the gunman who shot and killed Juliano Mer Khamis in April, but on Tuesday students from Jenin's Freedom Theatre performed Shu Kamam, or What Else, as a defiant message that they will continue his work. » Read more

Ross: In changing ME, waiting things out is no option ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon - June 22, 2011 - 12:00am The greatest risk at a time of sweeping change in the Middle East is to think that this is the time to sit still and “do nothing," Dennis Ross, the White House's chief Middle East advisor said Wednesday. Ross, speaking at the Presidential Conference in Jerusalem, said that while he understands the impulse to “stand pat" and avoid taking risks, certain realities -- such as demographic trends that will present Israel with the dilemma of being either a Jewish or a democratic state - cannot be “wished away.” » Read more

Amos Oz slams West Bank 'occupation' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ronen Medzini - June 21, 2011 - 12:00am Author Amos Oz spoke Tuesday at the Presidential Conference in Jerusalem and criticized the peace process with the Palestinians. Oz said he believes the "ongoing occupation" of the Palestinian people in the West Bank and the construction in settlements is in general immoral, as well as bad for Israel's interests. The author, who received intermittent applause as well as a good deal of booing, added that the "expulsion of Palestinians" from their homes in Jerusalem and their "replacement" with settlers is also bad for Israel. "I am saying this as a man who loves the state," he added. » Read more

News Analysis: What's behind the delay in implementing reconciliation pact? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Osama Radi - June 21, 2011 - 12:00am GAZA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Although it has been already three weeks for signing the Egyptian-brokered reconciliation pact, rival Islamic Hamas movement and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party are still unable to overcome their differences and start the implementation of the deal. One of the significant events that showed the large gap between the two rival groups was the postponement of Tuesday's meeting between Abbas and Hamas politburo Khaled Meshaal, which was scheduled to be held in Cairo to agree on the formation of the unity technocrat government they agreed to form. » Read more

Fayyad Denounces Media Allegations Denying Saudi Support of Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from WAFA June 22, 2011 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, June 22, 2011 (WAFA) – Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in a statement Wednesday condemned the media allegations published Tuesday that denied Saudi Arabia’s support to the Palestinians. Fayyad considered these allegations an attempt to harm the Saudi brotherly relations with Palestinians. » Read more

Israel's deputy FM says ready to sit for talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency June 22, 2011 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israel's deputy foreign minister said Wednesday that "Israel has recognized a Palestinian state and is ready to sit with the Palestinians to reach an understanding on the condition that there will be no outside intervention by the UN." "The Israeli government is ready to discuss all of the details with the Palestinians as long as they don't go to the UN; this is a path that leads toward disaster and will put an end to Oslo Accords," Danny Ayalon said in an interview with Ma'an television. » Read more

A devil’s advocate view of ‘new’ Mideast ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Ely Karmon - (Opinion) June 22, 2011 - 12:00am In several recent articles I stated that if Egypt and Syria were to follow the “Turkish model,” as proposed by some Arab leaders and Western experts, the real beneficiary of the Arab uprisings would be Turkey, with its Ottoman heritage of control of the Levant and North Africa. If Islamist movements take power in major Arab states, we could witness the emergence of a Sunni Middle Eastern bloc dominated by Turkey – a strong Muslim revisionist state at the edge of Europe with aspirations to extend its influence toward the West. » Read more

Obama’s morally confused Mideast policies endanger Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Newt Gingrich - (Opinion) June 21, 2011 - 12:00am Israel and America are at a dangerous crossroads in which the survival of Israel and the safety of the United States both hang in the balance. Year after year, the forces of terrorism become stronger, and the claims of terrorists become more acceptable to our European allies and more powerful in the United Nations. Year after year the Iranian dictatorship, with its openly stated desire to annihilate Israel and defeat the United States, moves closer to having nuclear means to do so. Year after year, Hamas grows stronger in Gaza and Hezbollah grows stronger in Lebanon. » Read more

Obama’s path paves the way for a secure Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Stuart E. Eizenstat - (Opinion) June 12, 2011 - 12:00am A strong secure Jewish state of Israel, supported by the United States as a close ally, has been a central feature of my public and private careers. » Read more

The settler hoax has defeated realistic Zionism ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avirama Golan - (Opinion) June 22, 2011 - 12:00am The results of a telephone survey on the Jordan Valley among 500 Hebrew-speaking Israelis were quietly released recently. The survey revealed that more than anything, Israelis prefer discussing their cottage cheese, or their cottage, if they have one, than to be bothered too much by reality. That's how they can easily be sold any pseudo-political fantasy and can be marketed a desire that is cut off from all context - practical or moral. » Read more