May 4th

A federated state for Israelis and Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Jay Bushinsky - (Opinion) May 3, 2012 - 12:00am If anyone gains from the national election likely to take place in early September, it probably will be incumbent Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. At least one major public opinion poll gives his right-wing Likud party a two-to-one edge over its closest rival, the Labor party. A reaffirmation of Netanyahu’s leadership for up to four more years will enable him to change the partisan and personal make-up of his next coalition government. In that case, the losers might include the Yisrael Beytenu party of Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman. » Read more

The Arab who saved my boy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Racheli Malek-Boda - (Opinion) May 3, 2012 - 12:00am I remember the first time I realized that as a religious/rightist/settler I was expected to hate Arabs, or at least treat them as second-class citizens. It happened in high school, during a trip to Jerusalem. We passed through the Muslim quarter's market and I wanted to purchase a small drum. I finalized a good deal with the peddler, when suddenly one teacher called me over, and quietly whispered: "We shouldn't support the Arabs." » Read more

IDF Removes Key West Bank Roadblocks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Yaakov Katz - May 4, 2012 - 12:00am   In an effort to improve Palestinian quality of life, the Civil Administration of Judea and Samaria removed a number of roadblocks on key roads throughout the West Bank in recent weeks. » Read more

IDF Hands Over Former West Bank Base to Israeli Settlers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Gili Cohen - May 3, 2012 - 12:00am   An abandoned Israel Defense Forces base in the West Bank has been handed over to the control of a nearby settlement council, Haaretz learned on Thursday. » Read more

Hamas: PA Detained 61 Members in April ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency May 4, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Hamas on Thursday accused the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority of detaining 61 party members in the West Bank in April. » Read more

In Ramallah, Clinton Tech Advisor Says US Backs Open Internet ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency May 3, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's top technology adviser told a group of Palestinian bloggers Wednesday that efforts to censor the Internet would ultimately backfire.  » Read more

Israel's deep-sea dominance ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Guy Bechor - (Opinion) May 4, 2012 - 12:00am Quietly, underwater, Israel is turning into a maritime power like the United States and Russia, with an armada of advanced submarines. Germany recently agreed to provide Israel with a sixth Dolphin submarine; the Jewish state already has three. Two more will be arriving this and next year, and then the sixth one will come. » Read more

Israel Takes Command of 4th Dolphin Class Sub ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua May 3, 2012 - 12:00am   JERUSALEM, May 3 (Xinhua) -- With a ceremonial smashing of a champagne bottle against the hull, Israel on Thursday took the helm of its fourth submarine at a German shipyard. » Read more

Rabin Killer’s Brother Released From Israel Prison ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Tia Goldenberg - May 4, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — The unrepentant brother of the man who killed Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was released from prison Friday after serving 16½ years for complicity in a murder that stunned Israel and according to some destroyed an opportunity for peace. » Read more

By winning the elections, Netanyahu can enact his vision – doing nothing ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yoel Marcus - (Opinion) May 4, 2012 - 12:00am The big riddle is what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was thinking when he decided to move up the elections. Why not elections at the scheduled time? After all, another year and a half in a safe government is nothing to sneeze at. In addition, he is running the country with a solid majority of 65 seats. Nobody can bring him down. If he wanted, he could even bring Kadima under Shaul Mofaz into the coalition. Bibi Netanyahu is admired by a large part of the public, unlike during his first term when he slipped on every banana peel. » Read more