July 18th, 2012

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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July 17th

NEWS: Sec. Clinton says Israeli-Palestinian peace talks must resume, but this no longer seems to be a priority for American foreign policy. Palestinian journalists are angered by Israeli efforts to strip search them before attending a press conference with Clinton. Israel was reportedly hoping for guidance from Clinton regarding the new Egyptian government. PM Fayyad asks the US to help alleviate the PA financial crisis, as he meets with Clinton in Jerusalem. Israel is preventing Palestinian medical graduates from working in occupied East Jerusalem. Christians in Gaza stage a rare protest after what they claim are forced conversions to Islam. Hamas executes three Gaza residents for murder. PA police are launching a campaign against child labor in the West Bank. The Israeli military hires an architect to resume construction at an “unauthorized” settlement outpost. Settler leaders are expected to declare that a school in the settlement of Ariel is a “university.” Peace Now's Settlement Watch Director is again threatened by right-wing extremists. Israel claims it has thwarted more than 10 terrorist attacks emanating from the Sinai Peninsula. Israel's governing coalition may break up over the question of national service. Israel's “social justice” protest movement is divided over the question of the occupation. COMMENTARY: Christiane Amanpour interviews Fayyad. Aaron David Miller lists five reasons why the two-state solution "will never die." Bradley Burston says American politicians should understand that "pro-Israel" does not mean anti-peace. Mira Sucharov says BDS supporters need to decide what it is they are fighting for. David Newman says Israelis must understand the Palestinians are in the land to stay. Ethan Felson looks at the boycott vote recently taken by the US Presbyterian Church. Walid Khadduri says Palestinians must begin to develop their West Bank oilfields before Israel seizes them.

Occupation Divides Israeli Protest Movement
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
by Nathan Jeffay - July 15, 2012 - 12:00am

One year after Israel’s social protest movement was born, activists are battling over its soul. Throughout June, protestors once again started to flow into the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday nights. They all claimed to be reviving the demonstrations held weekly last summer, when tent cities proliferated all over the country. But it quickly became evident that this time, there were very different ideas among the protestors about what their demands should be.

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The Palestinian Authority under pressure
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from CNN
by Lucky Gold - (Opinion) July 16, 2012 - 12:00am

We have been facing serious financial difficulties for more than two years CNN – Can the stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority be revived by the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the region? On Monday, Christiane Amanpour sat down with Salam Fayyad, the Palestinian Prime Minister, in his Ramallah office on the West Bank, where he expressed serious doubts – not only about the peace talks but about the very existence of the Palestinian Authority he represents:

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'Mofaz mulling departure from coalition today'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Gil Hoffman - July 17, 2012 - 12:00am

Kadima leader Shaul Mofaz will remove his party from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s coalition as early as Tuesday if gaps between Likud and Kadima on how to equalize the burden of IDF service are not bridged, sources close to Mofaz said Monday.

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Gaza Christians protest 'forcible conversions'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Diaa Hadid - July 16, 2012 - 12:00am

Dozens of Gaza Christians staged a rare public protest Monday, claiming two congregants were forcibly converted to Islam and were being held against their will. The small but noisy demonstration showed the increasingly desperate situation facing the tiny minority. Protesters banged on a church bell and chanted, "With our spirit, with our blood we will sacrifice ourselves for you, Jesus."

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