July 18th

Abbas in Egypt to meet Mursi ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 18, 2012 - 12:00am President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Egypt on Tuesday evening to meet with newly elected Egyptian President Muhammad Mursi. The president will update Mursi, Egypt's first democratically elected leader and Islamist in power, on the situation of Israeli settlements, and other activities in the occupied territories, a Fatah statement said. He will tell Mursi of the pressure put on Palestinian leaders to return to negotiations without conditions. » Read more

PNA outraged by Israel's remarks about Al-Aqsa Mosque ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua July 17, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinian National Authority ( PNA) was outraged Tuesday by Israel's attorney general's remarks that Muslim's Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem is integral to Israeli territory and thus under Israeli Law. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat protested the comment, saying it went against UN Security Council resolutions and the Palestinian-Israeli agreements. Erekat stressed that East Jerusalem with its holy places and archaeological sites are part of an occupied territory. "All the Israeli attempts to annex them are illegal and unrecognized." » Read more

Was Yasser Arafat Poisoned? Media Mention of Hussein Ibish In Voice of America - July 18, 2012 - 12:00am Former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat died in 2004 of a sudden illness, which led to a fury of conspiracy theories that have never died down.  The rumors surrounding his death were revitalized recently after a the Lucerne-based Swiss Institute of Radiophysics found traces of the deadly radioactive agent polonium  on Arafat’s clothing and personal effects.  So what has prompted this investigation into Arafat’s death - and could an autopsy of his remains finally put a rest to this enduring mystery? » Read more

Was Yasser Arafat Poisoned? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Voice of America by Cecily Hilleary - July 17, 2012 - 12:00am Former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat died in 2004 of a sudden illness, which led to a fury of conspiracy theories that have never died down.  The rumors surrounding his death were revitalized recently after a the Lucerne-based Swiss Institute of Radiophysics found traces of the deadly radioactive agent polonium  on Arafat’s clothing and personal effects.  So what has prompted this investigation into Arafat’s death - and could an autopsy of his remains finally put a rest to this enduring mystery? » Read more

Arab League to form committee to probe Arafat's death ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua July 18, 2012 - 12:00am The Arab League (AL) decided on Tuesday to set up an independent committee to probe the death of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. The committee will work with the Palestinian side and Arab and international bodies to reveal the details behind Arafat's death, according to a statement issued after a meeting of the pan-Arab body's permanent delegates. The AL urged Palestinian investigators to provide all information available and other countries, especially France, to support the committee's work. » Read more

Israel nabs suspect in attack on activist's home ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press July 17, 2012 - 12:00am Israeli police say they have arrested a 21-year-old man for allegedly spraying hate graffiti on the home of a prominent anti-settlement activist. Activist Hagit Ofran said she found messages on the stairwell of her Jerusalem apartment building on Monday reading "Hagit — you're dead." Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says the suspect admitted to vandalizing the home, as well as the office of Ofran's employer, the Peace Now group. » Read more

Hamas now has monopoly on summer fun for Gaza kids ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Diaa Hadid - July 17, 2012 - 12:00am The Islamic militant Hamas has won a vital battle with the U.N. over the hearts of Gaza's children, moving unopposed into the summer camp sector this year after the world body ran out of money. That means Gaza kids who go to camp will have only the option of those that are heavy with lessons on Islam, political indoctrination and, in some cases, paramilitary training. » Read more

West Bank: Israel Authorizes University in Jewish Settlement ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - July 17, 2012 - 12:00am An Israeli education committee voted Tuesday to grant full university status to an academic center in Ariel, a large Jewish settlement, making it the first Israeli university in the West Bank. Most of the world views the areas that Israal conquered from Jordan in the 1967 war, and where the Palestinians want to establish a future state, as occupied territory, and the Israeli settlements there as a violation of international law. Critics denounced the decision as a political move aimed at bolstering the settlement project. » Read more

Lieberman foresees early elections ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Moran Azulay - July 18, 2012 - 12:00am With Kadima's withdrawl from the coalition final, all eyes are on Avigdor Leiberman's Yisrael Beiteinu which is now Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's senior coalition partner again. However, Lieberman is in no hurry to threaten resignation, despite the fact that his universal draft bill is not set to pass the Knesset vote on Wednesday. "We won't give anyone that pleasure," he told Ynet and suggested there is a possibility elections will be held in early 2013. » Read more

Unity Government in Israel Disbanding Over Dispute on Draft ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Jodi Rudoren - July 17, 2012 - 12:00am The broadest unity coalition Israel has seen in many years broke apart Tuesday evening, rent by irreconcilable differences over how to integrate ultra-Orthodox men and Arab citizens into the military » Read more