Israel's Civil Administration orders Palestinians to uproot 1,000 young olive trees in nature reserve
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Zafrir Rinat - (Opinion) May 1, 2012 - 12:00am

Israel's Civil Administration in the West Bank has ordered Palestinian villagers to uproot more than 1,000 olive trees because they were planted in a nature reserve. Residents of Deir Istiya said they would fight the order in court, arguing that it violates their right to work privately owned land within the Nahal Kana reserve.

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Abbas: I choose Netanyahu as my partner for peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Avi Issacharoff - May 1, 2012 - 12:00am

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told the Tunisian parliament on Monday, "I choose you [Benjamin] Netanyahu as my partner for peace. With whom else can I make peace?" He qualified the unusual statement, however, by adding that Netanyahu must "choose between settlements and peace." Speaking to Tunisia's interim parliament, Abbas reiterated his demands from Israel: halting construction in the settlements, recognition of the two-state solution and acceptance of the principle of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.

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Islamic groups give $65 million to support Gaza health sector
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
May 1, 2012 - 12:00am

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has collected $65 million support for the health sector in the Gaza Strip, a representative said on Monday. The funds will distributed among health service providers in Gaza to ease the crisis besetting the sector, deputy head of humanitarian affairs at the OIC Ataa al-Manane Bakhiti said at a Cairo press conference. Donated by several Islamic organizations, $15 million dollars will be delivered immediately in order to meet the basic needs of medical facilities, Bakhiti said.

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Poll: Majority blame Fatah, Hamas for unity impasse
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
May 2, 2012 - 12:00am

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Most Palestinians blame both Fatah and Hamas for the stalling of a deal to reconcile the parties, according to the results of a poll released on Tuesday. The study carried out by Near East Consulting found that 52 percent believe both parties are responsible for the failure to form an interim cabinet to unite the divided governments, as agreed by party leaders in February.

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4 injured at prisoners rally near Ramallah
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
May 1, 2012 - 12:00am

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Four Palestinians were injured during clashes with Israeli forces near Ofer jail at a demonstration in support of hunger-striking prisoners, medics told Ma'an. Activist Tayseer Arabsha was moderately wounded after being hit in the head by a rubber bullet, Palestinian Red Crescent officials said. Three others were lightly injured by rubber bullets, they added. Protesters gathered near the Ramallah-district military jail to show solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on hunger-strike in Israel jails.

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Israel renews administrative detention against Hamas member
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
May 1, 2012 - 12:00am

RAMALLAH, May 1 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli military court extended the administrative detention of a Hamas lawmaker for six more months, sources from the Islamic movement said Tuesday. The ruling against Hassan Yousef, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) from the West Bank, was made on the same day when his six-month term ended, the sources said.

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Israel says inclusion on UN list 'absurd'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
April 30, 2012 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM — Israel's Foreign Ministry has criticized a U.N. statement that places the country on a list of nations it says are moving to further restrict advocacy and rights groups. Spokesman Yigal Palmor on Monday called Israel's inclusion on the list "absurd." The office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights issued the statement last week. It criticized an Israeli law requiring groups to report more rigorously on funding from foreign governments.

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NEWS: The Israeli military has closed an investigation into the killing of 21 members of a family in Gaza in 2009 and says no charges will be filed regarding the tragedy. Hamas denies that Khaled Meshal and the Politburo have been stripped of control of the organization's budget and paramilitary operations. A “blame-game” is hampering a solution to the Gaza energy crisis. Palestinians say new Israeli settlement plans threaten the Palestinian tourism industry. The US is reportedly pressuring the UN Human Rights Commissioner to postpone an investigation into Israeli settlement activity. Speaker Rivlin says the Knesset is likely to be desolved next week. Arye Deri may return to a senior position in the ultra-Orthodox Shas party. Abbas and PM Fayyad separately send condolence letters to PM Netanyahu upon the death of his father. A Palestinian TV station is sued as the PA media crackdown continues. Hezbollah may be stockpiling drones in anticipation of possible conflict with Israel. COMMENTARY: Alon Ben-Meir says Israel's continued independence depends on Palestinian independence. Hadani Ditmars explains how traveling overseas can easily cost Palestinian Jerusalemites their residency permits. Attila Somfalvi says Tzipi Livni's career is not over. Bruce Acks says most Israelis and Palestinians could find a peace agreement if their leaders would permit them the chance. Susan Hattis Rolef says the epidemic of settlement outposts challenges both Israel's rule of law and the prospects for peace with the Palestinians. Tony Karon says Netanyahu's push for a war with Iran is losing momentum. The National says hunger striking Palestinian prisoners are losing world attention, but Osama Al Sharif says the Arab world and others should rally to their cause. Gershom Gorenberg looks at the legacy of Netanyahu's recently deceased extremist father. Hussein Ibish says the PA must stop censoring the Internet.

PA Must Stop Censoring Internet
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
by Hussein Ibish - (Opinion) May 2, 2012 - 12:00am

Last weekend, Palestinian Authority Attorney General Ahmad al-Mughni publicly defended the blocking of several websites critical of the PA government and especially President Mahmoud Abbas. It was the first effort by any official to explain or defend these extraordinary actions, which have garnered widespread condemnation in Palestinian society. 

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Benzion Netanyahu's Legacies
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
by Gershom Gorenberg - (Opinion) May 2, 2012 - 12:00am

Honesty is difficult, perhaps distasteful, in talking of man just now dead. Honesty nonetheless requires saying that Benzion Netanyahu would be briefly eulogized as a historian, and more briefly recalled as a footnote to forgotten Zionist rivalries, were it not for his other legacy: the son whose politics, view of history, and resentments he shaped.

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