NEWS: Hamas leaders in Gaza say they will allow the Central Election Committee to begin working in the territory. Turkey indicts four Israeli military officials for the deadly flotilla incident. An Israeli court sentences a Palestinian protest leader to 13 months in jail, counting as time served. Two Israeli police officers are convicted of negligent homicide for allowing a Palestinian to die from injuries on a roadside. Israeli schools are accused of systematically discriminating against Palestinian medical students. Israeli officials believe they may have discovered significant energy reserves immediately offshore. The UN warns against an emerging “one-state” reality between Israel and the Palestinians. Qatar supplies much-needed diesel fuel to Gaza. The UN criticizes Israel over the Gaza blockade. Even after a deal with prisoners, Israel is allegedly still jailing Palestinians in “administrative detention.” The Palestinian national airline has resumed flights after a seven-year hiatus. COMMENTARY: Saliba Sarsar and Hussein Ibish say nonviolent "people power" is needed for peace. Vered Lee says a new book casts grave doubt on the traditional Israeli narrative about “Operation Magic Carpet.” Akiva Eldar says Israel can only blame itself when the next Palestinian intifada erupts. Gershon Baskin says Israelis and Palestinians need to be imaginative about peace. James Klutznick says when Israeli leaders are being irresponsible, Jewish American friends should be critical. Nathan Brown says UNRWA should be supported. Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid looks at the Palestinian dimension in the recent Egyptian elections. Boyd Tonkin looks at the issue of a cultural boycott against Israelis.

'Artists should not boycott other artists'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent
by Boyd Tonkin - (Opinion) May 28, 2012 - 12:00am


As a fierce May sun scours Tel Aviv's Bauhaus-style "White City", it's cool down in the compact "cellar" theatre of Habima.


Palestinian Airlines resumes flights after 7 years
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Ibrahim Barzak, Karin Laub - May 29, 2012 - 12:00am


MARKA AIRBASE, Jordan – Palestinian Airlines is back in the skies after being grounded for seven years by the deepening enmities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Once hailed as a symbol of Palestinian statehood dreams, the carrier is a tiny operation, with just two 48-seat turboprop planes, two weekly flights and a borrowed hub in Egypt. But Palestinians say just being on the map again is what matters.


After deal, Israel still jailing Palestinians without charge
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Noah Browning - May 29, 2012 - 12:00am


RAMALLAH (Reuters) -- An Egyptian-brokered deal that ended a mass hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails has failed to meet hopes that Israel would change its policy of detention without trial. In the two weeks since some 2,000 inmates agreed to end their hunger strike, more than 25 prisoners have either been rearrested after their release or had their six-month "administrative detention" terms renewed, Palestinian officials said on Monday.


Palestinian dimension in Egypt's presidential poll
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
by Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed - (Opinion) May 22, 2012 - 12:00am


Khaled Ali, a lawyer and a candidate in the Egyptian presidential elections, has said that any settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, even one that would force Israel to pull back to its pre-1967 borders, will not satisfy him. Another candidate, Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, vowed to amend the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel if he were elected.


UN official criticizes Israel over ongoing Gaza blockade
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
May 29, 2012 - 12:00am


The UN official responsible for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that Israel has been too slow to relax its blockade of Gaza, which has devastated the isolated economy and failed to achieve its security goals.


U.N.'s Much-Reviled But Helpful Agency
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
by Nathan J. Brown - (Opinion) May 28, 2012 - 12:00am


On a recent Sunday morning, I paid a visit to a women’s community center in Zeitun, an outlying neighborhood in Gaza City that is run by United Nations Relief and Works Agency. It was packed. Behind one curtain, several middle school girls were getting an English lesson to supplement their formal instruction. In another room, women in their 20s were learning how to write a résumé and cover letter. Behind another door was a group of mothers getting assistance on how to help their children with homework.


Qatar-donated diesel to enter Gaza Sunday
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
May 29, 2012 - 12:00am


RAMALLAH, May 29 (Xinhua) -- A shipment of diesel donated by Qatar for Gaza's power plant will enter the Gaza Strip on Sunday, weeks after being stuck at Egyptian warehouses, a Palestinian official said Tuesday. Nazmi Muhana, the head of the Palestinian borders and crossings body, said that an agreement was reached between the Palestinian National Authority, Israel and Egypt on the delivery of the fuel.


UN envoy warns of 'one-state reality'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
May 29, 2012 - 12:00am


BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The United Nations envoy for the Middle East peace process warned a session of the UN Security Council on Tuesday of the continuing diplomatic impasse between Israel and the PLO. Robert Serry told the council “if the parties do not grasp the current opportunity, they should realize the implication is not merely slowing progress toward a two-state solution.


Israel gas finds launch navy into troubled waters
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Dan Williams - May 29, 2012 - 12:00am


TEL AVIV, May 29 (Reuters) - When Israeli economists contemplate their country's untapped natural gas finds far out in the Mediterranean, they dream of energy independence and lucrative export deals. Those charged with Israel's defence, however, worry that the navy - small and long a middling priority in budgets - may be hard put to protect the multinational drilling platforms and rigs out at sea.



American Task Force on Palestine - 1634 Eye St. NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20006 - Telephone: 202-262-0017