May 22nd

Talk on possible EU boycott of Israeli settlements stirs controversy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Arabiya May 20, 2012 - 12:00am Irish Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore’s recent statements that he may push for an EU wide boycott of products from Israeli settlements if Israel does not quickly change its settlements policy in Palestinian territories has stirred controversy. Gilmore, whose country will take over the rotating presidency of the European Union in January 2013, also said his government may seek to have certain extremist Israeli settlers banned from the EU if they do not stop their violence in settlement areas, according to a report by the Irish Times. » Read more

AJC official decries ‘one state’ proposals from both sides ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) May 22, 2012 - 12:00am WASHINGTON (JTA) -- A top American Jewish Committee official decried to an Arab audience advocacy of a "one state solution" from both the pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian perspectives. » Read more

Howard Berman Wins Pro-Israel Donors ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Nathan Guttman, Rex Weiner - May 22, 2012 - 12:00am It’s the battle that has confronted pro-Israel donors nationwide with a choice they hate: having to decide between two staunchly pro-Israel congressional incumbents with whom many have long, supportive relationships. But one way or another, pro-Israel donors have come down firmly on the side of Democratic Rep. Howard Berman in his death match against Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman in California’s San Fernando Valley. » Read more

Knesset passes bill granting tax benefits to settlement donations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Moran Azulay - May 21, 2012 - 12:00am The Knesset plenum on Monday passed in second and third reading a bill to amend the Income Tax Act, by which those who donate to settlements will enjoy tax benefits. » Read more

Austria condemns minister for attacking Liberman ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon, Benjamin Weinthal - May 22, 2012 - 12:00am Austria’s Foreign Ministry condemned Norbert Darabos, the country’s defense minister, on Monday for his sharp and undiplomatic criticism of Israel and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman. » Read more

Netanyahu: 'Fatal mistake' to concede sacred sites ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters May 22, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM (Reuters) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday it would be a "fatal mistake" ever to give up control over Jerusalem's holy sites. His remarks, in a parliamentary speech, went a little further than Israel's longtime policy of viewing Jerusalem, a city at the heart of Middle East conflict, as its "indivisible capital". » Read more

Fayyad: Water crisis due to Israel's control of resources ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency May 22, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Israel's control of Palestinian water resources in the West Bank is responsible for the water crisis, PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said Monday. Opening a conference on water and the prospects for agricultural development in Palestine, Fayyed said strategic vision and a long-term plan were needed to resolve the crisis. The two-day conference was organized by the Palestine Technical University, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Palestinian Water Authority. » Read more

Jerusalem expansion reaches point of no return ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Crispian Balmer - May 22, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM (Reuters) -- Named for the crash site of an airforce plane shot down during the Six Day War in 1967, Givat HaMatos may yet prove the place where Palestinian hopes of a creating a capital in Jerusalem also plunge to earth. 'Airplane Hill' lies on the southern fringes of Jerusalem's city limits -- rock-strewn land dotted with shabby, prefabricated bungalows and the occasional pine tree. » Read more

Israeli physicians: African infiltrators "ticking illness bomb" ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua May 22, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM, May 22 (Xinhua) -- African migrants residing in south Tel Aviv pose a severe health risk, warn senior Israeli physicians. Dozens of illegal migrants arrive each day at hospital emergency rooms in the greater Tel Aviv area, where they are diagnosed with tuberculosis, measles, chicken pox and other viral infections common in developing countries, the Yediot Aharonot daily reported on Tuesday. » 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