May 22nd

NEWS: An Israeli human rights group says armed settlers opened fire on Palestinian villagers in the full view of Israeli soldiers who did nothing to stop the attacks, as depicted clearly in video footage. PM Netanyahu again insists that Iran is determined to “destroy” Israel. The PA says Israel has already violated the prisoners' agreement brokered by Egypt. Israeli physicians describe African migrants as “a ticking illness bomb.” Israeli settlement expansion in Jerusalem is proceeding without respite. PM Fayyad says Israel's control of water resources in the occupied West Bank is the cause of a Palestinian water crisis. PM Netanyahu says it would be a “fatal mistake” to compromise over control of holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem. The Austrian FM criticizes his own DM for blunt statements about Israeli FM Lieberman. The Knesset passes a bill granting tax exemptions to donations to settlement activities. Rep. Howard Berman is making a surge in fundraising in his tightly-contested reelection campaign in California. An American Jewish Committee official decries both pro-Israeli right wing and pro-Palestinian left-wing one-state advocacy. Palestinian paralympians visit the al-Aqsa Mosque before the competition. European leaders are increasingly considering a settlements goods boycott. Released Palestinian prisoners struggle to make a new life in Gaza. COMMENTARY: ATFP expresses alarm at footage showing armed settlers opening fire on Palestinian villagers in the full view of Israeli soldiers. Gershon Baskin says it would not be that hard for Netanyahu and Pres. Abbas to reach a peace agreement if it were simultaneously their national priorities. Michael Kagan says Hussein Ibish is wrong that the search for creative alternatives to a two-state solution in finding a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is quixotic.Kathleen Peratis says that, under present circumstances, peace efforts are concentrated on finding any formula that is “good enough” to avoid disaster. Jonathan Schanzer says a new bill in Congress might completely revise the American, if not UN, definition of who constitutes a Palestinian refugee. David Shulman says Israel is pursuing “suicidal” policies because it is driven by irrational fear. Robert Wright says the recent scandal involving armed settlers shooting at Palestinian villagers in the full view of Israeli soldiers demonstrates exactly what the role of occupation forces in the Palestinian territories really is.

Why Israeli Settlers Shot an Unarmed Palestinian
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Atlantic
by Robert Wright - (Opinion) May 22, 2012 - 12:00am


When West Bank settlers shoot at unarmed Palestinians while Israeli soldiers look on without intervening, that's a story--especially when one of the Palestinians suffers a head wound.


Israel in Peril
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Review Of Books
by David Shulman - (Book Review) May 9, 2012 - 12:00am


On April 15 of this year I was returning to Israel on an Alitalia flight from Rome. About forty minutes before landing in Tel Aviv, the captain informed us that Israel had announced extraordinary security measures, constricting its air space in response to an unusual threat, and that from that moment on—we were still high above the Mediterranean—until we would be allowed to leave the terminal, all photography was strictly forbidden; beyond that, we were to follow the instructions of Israeli security personnel on the ground.


Status Update
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
by Jonathan Schanzer - (Opinion) May 22, 2012 - 12:00am


A war is brewing on Capitol Hill. And while wars tend to create refugees, this one may result in fewer of them.


Palestine Good Enough
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
by Kathleen Peratis - (Opinion) May 22, 2012 - 12:00am


Two-State-Solution activists have not given up on their faith-based belief that Obama will do in a second term what he has not done in his first: insert America aggressively, relentlessly and successfully into the (so-called) peace process and not allow Israeli and the Palestinians negotiators to leave the room without a full and final peace agreement.  They have not entirely given up hope that Obama may yet do so in what remains of his first term.


When Peace Seems Impossible: A Response to Hussein Ibish
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
by Michael Kagan - (Opinion) May 21, 2012 - 12:00am


It is often said that in Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking, the two-state solution is the only game in town. And yet, despite the official commitment of the Israelis, the Palestinians, and nearly the entire international community, a two-state solution has failed to bear fruit.


Peace directive in the hands of leaders
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) May 21, 2012 - 12:00am


I challenge the leaders, Binyamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas – how long would it take to make real peace if making real peace was your primary governmental directive? If you said to yourselves: I will make peace with the other side – there is nothing more important for me to do in my position as leader of my people – how could your personal decision affect real change and make the difference in leading us to peace?


ATFP Expresses Alarm at Footage Showing Settlers Shooting at Palestinians in the Presence of Israeli Soldiers
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from ATFP
(Opinion) May 22, 2012 - 12:00am


Washington, DC, May 22 -- The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) expressed deep alarm about a video released by the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem that shows a group of armed settlers opening fire on Palestinian protesters in the occupied West Bank. Settlers, some of them masked and armed, reportedly entered the village of Asira al-Qibliya, near Nablus, on Saturday and began a confrontation by throwing rocks at the villagers. The Palestinians responded by throwing stones back at the settlers.


Freed Palestinians find Gaza exile a challenge
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
by Sakher Abu El Oun - May 22, 2012 - 12:00am


GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories — "Gaza is a big prison, but some prisons are better than others," admits Nihad Abu Kishk, a former detainee from the West Bank who was exiled by Israel to the Gaza Strip. "I feel uprooted and it is difficult to adapt," says the 34-year-old who was sentenced to life in an Israeli prison but freed and sent to Gaza under terms of a prisoner swap deal with Israel late last year.


Palestinian Paralympians visit Jerusalem holy site
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Harriet Sherwood - May 21, 2012 - 12:00am


In al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, Moussa Qadoom sank to the floor and wept into the gold and red carpet. As swallows swooped between the white marble columns of the vast edifice, the athletics coach from Gaza City surrendered to the emotion of the moment. "I'm 31 years old, and I have only ever seen this place in newspapers and on television," he said a few minutes later. "I never imagined in my whole life that I would come and pray in al-Aqsa."



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