Palestinian writer describes Syrian prisons as 'slaughterhouses' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press May 23, 2012 - 12:00am AMMAN // A prominent Palestinian writer who spent nearly three weeks in jail in Syria described the prisons as "human slaughterhouses", saying security agents beat detainees with batons, crammed them into stinking cells and tied them to beds at night. » Read more

A PALESTINIAN VIEW: Israel's 'bunker government' 2012 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Mahdi Abdul Hadi - (Opinion) May 21, 2012 - 12:00am Most recently, we have witnessed Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in four different spheres. Simultaneously, he was architect of the coalition deal with Israeli opposition party Kadima; negotiations (with Egypt) and the subsequent compromise ending the Palestinian prisoners' hunger strike; the response of "words and not deeds" to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' letter; and the continuation of military operations against Palestinians in Gaza and settlement expansion in the West Bank, including Jerusalem. » Read more

Knesset to hold reading of outpost bill ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Tovah Lazaroff - May 23, 2012 - 12:00am The Knesset is poised to hold a preliminary reading of an outpost bill which would legalize many unauthorized West Bank Jewish homes in both outposts and settlements. Ahead of Wednesday’s vote, National Union Party leader Ya’acov Katz, who proposed the bill, and MK Zevulun Orlev (Habayit Hayehudi) met Tuesday with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who has opposed efforts to legislate the issue of unauthorized Jewish building in the West Bank. » Read more

78 percent of Jerusalem Palestinians living in poverty ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency May 23, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- A report released this week by an Israeli human rights organization reveals that 78 percent of Palestinians in Jerusalem live below the poverty line. According to the report by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, extreme poverty and high unemployment rates in East Jerusalem are a direct result of decades of Israeli policies which have stifled the economy in Palestinian areas. » Read more

Nothing is “inevitable” ATFP World Press Roundup Article from NOW Lebanon by Hussein Ibish - (Opinion) May 22, 2012 - 12:00am One of the most important political principles is that history is not deterministic in any sense. It is, rather, a genealogy of human choices. It is shaped by agency, intentionality and decisions that are both individual and collective.  » Read more

Settlers 'attack village' near Bethlehem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency May 23, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli settlers on Tuesday attacked several homes during a march through a village near Bethlehem, witnesses said. Dozens of settlers threw rocks at homes and shops in Tuqu and shut down the main road, preventing cars from entering the village, locals told Ma'an. Israeli soldiers were stationed at the entrances to Tuqu and were protecting the settlers, witnesses added. An Israeli military spokeswoman said settlers had lined up about a dozen cars in a procession through the area. She said the army was unaware of any incident.

Israel: South Africa's desire to label West Bank goods is 'racist' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Joshua Mitnick - May 21, 2012 - 12:00am In the 45 years since gaining control of the West Bank, Israel has refrained from formally annexing the territory claimed by the Palestinians, in part out of fear of an international uproar. In trade, however, Israel has been labeling goods from Jewish settlements there as “Made in Israel” for years. » Read more

Israel violates Egypt-brokered prisoner deal: PNA ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua May 22, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) said on Tuesday that Israel has violated an Egypt-brokered prisoner deal that demands the transfer of 18 Palestinians it jailed from solitary confinement to regular cells. Palestinian Minister of Prisoners Affairs Eissa Qaraqe' said Israel is still holding one prisoner in solitary confinement, pointing to its "intention to evade the articles of the agreement. " » Read more

Resuming Palestinian Airlines flights sign of future state sovereignty ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Emad Drimly, Osama Radi - (Analysis) May 22, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, May 22 (Xinhua) -- At his office in Ramallah, captain Zeyad al-Badda, director of the Palestinian Airlines "al- Falastinia" runs coordination of flights with officials at the airports of al-Arish in the Egyptian Peninsula of Sinai and Marka Airport in Jordan for Palestinian passengers. » Read more

EU 'concerned' over conviction of Palestinian ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Diaa Hadid - May 23, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — The European Union says it is "concerned" over Israel's conviction of a prominent Palestinian protest leader. An Israeli military court on Sunday convicted Bassem al-Tamimi, 45, of urging youths to throw rocks at security forces and of leading illegal demonstrations, based on the testimony of a 15-year-old. Al-Tamimi led protests in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh for years against Israeli policies. The protests often turn into clashes between rock-throwing youths and Israeli forces firing tear gas. » Read more