Israel's AG mulling charges against 'Jenin, Jenin' director ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Tomer Zarchin - May 9, 2012 - 12:00am The attorney general will soon decide whether to file charges against Mohammed Bakri, director of the controversial film "Jenin, Jenin," which implies that Israel Defense Forces soldiers committed war crimes in a 2002 military operation in the Palestinian refugee camp. » Read more

Abbas says ready to engage with Netanyahu on Middle East peace process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters May 9, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Tuesday he was ready to engage with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a Middle East peace agreement if he proposes "anything promising or positive." Abbas, speaking to Reuters after Netanyahu announced a grand coalition that will strengthen the Israeli leader's hand, said Netanyahu had to realize that Israeli settlements in the West Bank were destroying hopes of peace and must cease. » Read more

Abbas warns of disaster if hunger-striker dies ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Ali Sawafta - May 9, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (Reuters) -- President Mahmoud Abbas warned on Tuesday that the death of any one of the hundreds of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israel would be a "disaster" and could trigger a backlash that might slip out of control. "It is very dangerous," Abbas told Reuters on a day when the Red Cross urged Israel to transfer to hospital six detainees who it said were close to death after not eating for two months. » Read more

Second Palestinian on hunger strike hospitalized ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press May 9, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — A spokeswoman for Israel's prison service says a Palestinian prisoner refusing to eat food for the past 71 days has been transferred to a civilian hospital. Sivan Weizman says Thaer Halahleh was hospitalized early Tuesday after he refused to drink water. Halahleh is the second hunger striker to be transferred. Bilal Diab, also on a 71-day hunger strike, was hospitalized last week. » Read more

How Netanyahu's 'unity' government may affect Palestinians, Iran ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Joshua Mitnick - May 8, 2012 - 12:00am A stunning overhaul in the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could produce progress on the peace process with the Palestinians but also enhance Israeli threats to attack Iran’s nuclear program. » Read more

First rifts emerge in new Israeli coalition ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Josef Federman - May 9, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — The first rifts in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's expanded coalition emerged just a day after the Israeli leader brought the main opposition party into his government, with religious and secular parties exchanging threats Wednesday over draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews. » Read more

New Israel Partner Offers Moderate Voice on Iran ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - May 8, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Less than two weeks ago, Yuval Diskin, the recently retired chief of Israel’s internal security agency, carried out a blistering verbal assault on Prime Minister » Read more

Master Tactician in Israel Adds Power in a Coalition Deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Jodi Rudoren - May 8, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Striking a secret deal with the leader of the opposition in the small morning hours, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel significantly expanded his power on Tuesday, creating the largest and broadest c » Read more