Israeli housing protests spotlight government priorities, including settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Americans For Peace Now by Lara Friedman - (Blog) August 2, 2011 - 12:00am Thousands of Israelis are in the streets protesting high housing costs. It is an amazing, indeed, stunning development. Israelis from all walks of life are fed up with Israel's wealth gap as it continues to widen. These protests are not about Netanyahu's policies regarding the Palestinians or the settlements. But let no one be confused: these protests shine a bright spotlight on policies of the Netanyahu government regarding settlements. » Read more

Military officials warn of 'arson intifada' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Akiva Novick - August 2, 2011 - 12:00am Residents of various West Bank settlements have found themselves under a new threat recently – arson. According to a report published by Yedioth Ahronoth Tuesday, more than 20 fires have been maliciously set in West Bank settlements and outposts in the past few weeks. Police investigators determined that all of the fires were the result of arson and evidence in all cases led to surrounding Arab villages. The Judea and Samaria District Police have recently arrested six suspects. » Read more

How Israel's left is missing the point ATFP World Press Roundup Article from New Statesman by Ben White - (Blog) July 31, 2011 - 12:00am While Israeli PM Netanyahu's coalition seems steady, recent events like the response to the new anti-boycott law, the march for Palestinian independence, and the housing protests have some claiming a resurgent "peace camp". Yet the rhetoric by Israel's "left" has merely highlighted how much remains to be done to realise equality and basic Palestinian rights. » Read more

Netanyahu's trump card against Israeli protests: Peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Bradley Burston - (Blog) August 2, 2011 - 12:00am Early Monday, when the news broke of the IDF trading fire with the Lebanese army, everyone in this house, and undoubtedly many others in Israel, had the same thought: That's it. Netanyahu's decided to solve the protest crisis by going to war. In fact, even before the Lebanon tension began, journalist Yossi Gurvitz outlined exactly such a scenario. In the face of the mushrooming protests over social welfare issues, "Netanyahu's magic hat is emptying quickly," Gurvitz wrote last week, adding that the prime minister might choose a war as the way out of his troubles. » Read more

Palestinians plan mass demonstrations against Israel on eve of UN vote ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz August 1, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian officials said Monday they plan to begin mass marches against Israel's occupation of the West Bank on September 20, the eve of a largely symbolic UN vote expected to recognize their independence. Palestinian official Yasser Abed Rabbo said leaders hope to attract millions, and the protest will be the first of a prolonged effort. He said the campaign would be called "Palestine 194," since the Palestinians hope to become the 194th member of the United Nations. » Read more

Encountering Peace: I should be a millionaire! ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) August 1, 2011 - 12:00am ‘The people demand social justice” – I can hear the rhythm of the chant of the masses along the route from the tent encampment on King George Street in Jerusalem to the prime minister’s house. The beat, the words – “the people demand….” so reminiscent of the sounds of Tahrir square in Cairo or Tunis a few months before. The Arab spring has arrived in Israel – unbelievable! » Read more

Encountering Peace: I should be a millionaire! ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) August 1, 2011 - 12:00am ‘The people demand social justice” – I can hear the rhythm of the chant of the masses along the route from the tent encampment on King George Street in Jerusalem to the prime minister’s house. The beat, the words – “the people demand….” so reminiscent of the sounds of Tahrir square in Cairo or Tunis a few months before. The Arab spring has arrived in Israel – unbelievable! » Read more

Encountering Peace: I should be a millionaire! ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) August 1, 2011 - 12:00am ‘The people demand social justice” – I can hear the rhythm of the chant of the masses along the route from the tent encampment on King George Street in Jerusalem to the prime minister’s house. The beat, the words – “the people demand….” so reminiscent of the sounds of Tahrir square in Cairo or Tunis a few months before. The Arab spring has arrived in Israel – unbelievable! » Read more

Settlers served restraining orders from West Bank over planned attacks on Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chaim Levinson - August 2, 2011 - 12:00am Judea and Samaria District Police and Shin Bet security services served 12 West Bank settlers with administrative restraining orders overnight on Monday. The orders were served in the wake of intelligence gathered by the Shin Bet, according to which a group of extremists have been involved in leading, planning and carrying out widespread secret, violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank over the last two years. » Read more

Israeli museum showing Muslim-world artists ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Amy Teibel - August 2, 2011 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — A museum on the road separating Jewish west Jerusalem from the Arab neighborhoods in the city's east is attracting a daring group of artists from Middle Eastern nations that shun contact with Israel, trying to erode political barriers through art. It's been a years-long process for the Museum on the Seam, which is one of the few art museums in Israel that aggressively tries to convince Arab and Muslim artists to show in its galleries. » Read more