'Celebrations' that miss the point ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yoel Marcus - (Opinion) June 8, 2012 - 12:00am The idea of demolishing the houses in Beit El's Ulpana neighborhood reminds me of a Jewish joke about the "wisdom" of the people of Chelm. Early in the morning the sexton used to walk through the streets of Chelm to remind people that it was time for the Shaharit morning prayer. One day the weatherman announced that snow was expected the following day. The locals didn't want the sexton's footprints to spoil the beauty of the blanket of snow, so the city's wise men convened for an urgent meeting to find a solution. » Read more

An ongoing addiction ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) June 8, 2012 - 12:00am At the beginning of every June, Israelis mark the anniversaries of the outbreaks of two major wars: the Six-Day War and the first Lebanon war. The 30th anniversary of the latter was marked this week. The three-decade mark shunts aside somewhat the memory of the earlier war, but the two - like the Yom Kippur War that fell between them - are intertwined. » Read more

Will the coming weeks spell the end of Lieberman's career? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Gidi Weitz - (Opinion) June 8, 2012 - 12:00am In the weeks ahead, barring unforeseen developments, the attorney general will file an indictment against Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. This will launch a new chapter in one of the most talked-about white-collar-crime investigations in recent years, about which Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein delayed making a decision for two and a half years. » Read more

West must recognize peaceful Palestinian resistance movement ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Sarah Marusek - (Opinion) June 8, 2012 - 12:00am Some ask why the Palestinians seem to have been left behind in the so-called Arab Spring. In fact, they have not. » Read more

Majority of Israeli Arabs Prefer to Live in Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Arieh O'Sullivan - June 8, 2012 - 12:00am The vast majority of Israeli Arabs are reconciled with the existence of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state and even exhibit a degree of patriotism, according to a poll released Thursday. The survey by Haifa University found that nearly one in seven (68.3%) preferred to live in Israel than anywhere else, even a future Palestinian state. It found that 57.7% are reconciled with Israel as a Jewish democratic state whose day of rest is the Sabbath on Saturday and Hebrew is the main language. » Read more

Rashid: Corruption conviction is political ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency June 8, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- A former aide to the late President Yasser Arafat convicted of corruption on Thursday dismissed the charge as politically-motivated. A Palestinian Authority corruption court on Thursday sentenced Mohammad Rashid and two other businessmen in absentia to 15 years in jail and ordered them to return $33.5 million in funds stolen during Arafat's rule. » Read more

UN envoy: All settlements contrary to international law ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency June 8, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process on Thursday reiterated the international community's view that settlements in occupied Palestinian territory are illegitimate. In a statement, Robert Serry said that Israel's settlements were contrary to international law "whether on private Palestinian land or elsewhere in occupied Palestinian territory." » Read more

UK, France, Germany condemn Israeli settlement plans ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency June 8, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The UK on Friday condemned Israel's decision to authorize 851 new housing units in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. Israel on Wednesday announced the new homes after upholding a High Court ruling to evacuate five families from the illegal Ulpana outpost. "The decision to move settlers from an illegal outpost by creating housing units in settlements elsewhere across the Green Line sets a dangerous precedent," UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a statement. » Read more

Israel court clears deporting South Sudan migrants ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Omri Efraim - June 8, 2012 - 12:00am The Administrative Court in Jerusalem rejected on Thursday an appeal filed by human rights groups against Interior Minister Eli Yishai's decision to lift the "collective protection" previously afforded to asylum seekers from South Sudan. » Read more

Israel offers cash to African migrants to leave ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Ian Deitch - June 8, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — African migrants who entered Israel illegally will be given cash incentives if they leave on their own soon, or they will face expulsion, the Interior Ministry said Friday. A tent city is being built to hold other migrants, the vast majority, who can stay for now, the ministry said. About 60,000 Africans have trekked through Egypt and other Muslim countries to reach Israel over the past few years. Many are looking for work, while others are seeking political asylum. » Read more