Obama continues to dither ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) June 14, 2012 - 12:00am Barack Obama has raised great hopes in the Middle East when he was one of only four American presidents to be awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples”. But now, almost four years later, he has yet to show any sign of achievement in ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. » Read more

Chronicle of a West Bank murder: Transcripts of the reenactment of Itamar murder revealed for first time ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chaim Levinson - June 15, 2012 - 12:00am A year and three months have passed since the murder of the Fogel family in the Itamar settlement near Nablus. Haaretz has obtained the transcripts of both the interrogation of those who were eventually convicted and their reenactment of the murder. On Friday night, March 11, 2011, at about 9 P.M., Amjad and Hakim Awad (the two are not related ) left their West Bank village of Awarta in the direction of nearby Itamar. They passed the settlement fence, broke into two empty houses, and afterward continued to the adjacent house, where the Fogels lived. » Read more

Life in British Mandate Palestine ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Jerome Chanes - (Book Review) June 15, 2012 - 12:00am Another book on “the making of Israel”? It was a scant few months ago that Gershom Gorenberg’s provocative and timely book, “The Unmaking of Israel,” was visited on the Jewish body politic. Now comes novelist Hadara Lazar’s book, “Out of Palestine,” whose subtitle, “The Making of Modern Israel,” may gull and lull many a reader, but this reader was coddled out of his sleep after only a few pages. » Read more

Israel arrests ex-soldier living in Bethlehem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency June 15, 2012 - 12:00am A former Israeli soldier was arrested recently by Palestinian Authority forces after living in a Bethlehem refugee camp for the past three weeks, Israeli daily Haaretz reported. "I wanted to prove that it’s possible to live with Palestinians, as long as you are not coming off as an enemy," Andrey Pshenichnikov, 24, was quoted as saying by Haaretz. Pshenichnikov moved to Bethlehem three months ago and was working as a waiter and construction worker. » Read more

The Prime Minister's Speech ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Huffington Post by Alon Ben-Meir - (Blog) June 11, 2012 - 12:00am Having been engaged in the Arab-Israeli conflict as an advocate for peace, interlocutor, a keen observer and a commentator for much of my adult life, I fantasize once in a while about the regional, if not the global, implications of an Arab-Israeli peace. I allow myself to dream what seems to be an impossible dream because I believe in the dynamism and wealth of the human resources and creativity that both Israelis and Palestinians bountifully enjoy. » Read more

Israeli gov't begins fortifying schools along Gaza border ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua June 14, 2012 - 12:00am The Israeli government announced a 90-million-shekel (almost 24 million U.S. dollars) project to shield all educational institutions in a 7-to-15 km radius from the Gaza Strip. Some schools beyond that range have already been strengthened against upwards of 10,000 rockets and mortars that have been fired out of the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave. Outgoing Home Front Defense Minister Matan Vilnai officially launched the project during a farewell visit to the area on Wednesday, sources at the Defense Ministry told Xinhua on Thursday. » Read more

The flotilla as metaphor ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon - (Opinion) June 14, 2012 - 12:00am Among the most telling aspects of the state comptroller’s report, published Wednesday, which chronicles a slapdash decision-making process inside the Prime Minister's Office in general, and with regard to the Mavi Marmara incident in particular, was Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s official response to it. In the final analysis, Netanyahu said in a statement issued by his office, "Israel's citizens are enjoying a level of security that they have not known for years.” » Read more

Jewish settlers won't go quietly as eviction looms ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Maayan Lubell - June 15, 2012 - 12:00am The clock is ticking for 30 Jewish settler families in the occupied West Bank. Israel's Supreme Court has said their homes sit on privately-owned Palestinian land and as an eviction deadline draws near, they say they will not go quietly. "They will have to drag me out of here," said Yoel Fattal, 28, who lives with his wife and three young children in one of the five apartment blocs the government must tear down by July 1, on the Ulpana hill in the settlement of Beit El. » Read more

Why don't we have a 'minister for peace'? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Dan Sagir - (Opinion) June 15, 2012 - 12:00am As part of the events this week to mark the 30th anniversary of the first Lebanon War, the film "Shtei Etzba'ot Metzidon" (titled "Ricochets" in English ) was screened at the Jerusalem Cinematheque. The 1986 feature film, which was produced by the Israel Defense Forces, faithfully reflects Israel's embroilment in Lebanon. I was pleased that my teenage son agreed to join me for the screening, and to learn a chapter in the contemporary history of Israel and its conflict with the Palestinians. » Read more

Erekat: Abbas to demand release of pre-Oslo prisoners ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency June 15, 2012 - 12:00am President Mahmoud Abbas will demand the release of 123 long-term prisoners before agreeing to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat said Friday. Abbas wants Israel to free 123 prisoners detained before the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993, Erekat told Ma'an. Erekat also said Abbas may meet with Israel's deputy prime minister Shaul Mofaz although no date has been set. On Thursday, Mofaz called on for the immediate renewal of peace talks between Abbas and Netanyahu, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported. » Read more