May 25th, 2012

Netanyahu condemns violence against African migrants, promises to solve problem
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - May 25, 2012 - 12:00am

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised on Thursday that his government would address the issue of African migrants in Israel, one day after a protest against them by residents of south Tel Aviv turned violent. "The infiltrator problem must be solved, and we will solve it," Netanyahu said on Thursday afternoon, speaking at an event in Tel Aviv.

»

U.S. report criticizes Israel's treatment of African migrants
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Natasha Mozgovaya - May 25, 2012 - 12:00am

Secretary of State Hilary Clinton presented on Thursday the State Department's 2011 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices that criticizes Israel for its treatment of African migrants, an issue vigorously debated in Israeli public discourse lately. The report states that Sudanese and Eritrean asylum seekers, which are about 85 percent of African migrants in Israel "were not allowed access to asylum procedures but were given renewable 'conditional release' documents that deferred deportation and had to be renewed every few months."

»

PA: Settlers torch farmland near Nablus
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
May 25, 2012 - 12:00am

NABLUS (Ma'an) -- Israeli settlers on Thursday torched farmland near Nablus in the northern West Bank, a PA official said. Ghassan Doughlas told Ma'an that residents of Yitzhar settlement set fire to large swathes of agricultural land in Madma village. Witnesses told Ma'an that villagers clashed with the settlers and that Israeli forces intervened and detained two Palestinians, Ahmad Nassar, 20, and Muhammad Nassar, 23. An Israeli army spokeswoman said soldiers and border police were called to the area but she said there were no detentions.

»

Abbas: Palestinians in Lebanon should disarm
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
May 25, 2012 - 12:00am

BEIRUT (Ma'an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that Palestinians in Lebanon should not arm themselves, as they are under the protection of the Lebanese state and its military, local media reported. “The weapons of Palestinians in Lebanon are illegitimate. We do not want them inside or outside camps. We respect the law and we are [under] the protection of the Lebanese state and army,” Abbas was quoted as saying.

»

U.S. to reaffirm commitment to Israel's security
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
May 25, 2012 - 12:00am

WASHINGTON, May 24 (Reuters) - A senior State Department official will travel to Tel Aviv on Friday to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to Israel's security following just-concluded talks between world powers and Iran over its nuclear program. Wendy Sherman, undersecretary of state for political affairs, will discuss bilateral and regional issues with senior Israeli officials during her visit, the State Department said in a statement on Thursday.

»

Israeli court: Reconsider Gaza student travel ban
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
May 25, 2012 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM — Israel's Supreme Court has ordered the military to reconsider its ban on Gaza residents studying in the West Bank. The court posted its decision Thursday, implying it would order a change. The Israeli military has 45 days to respond. Sari Bashi, head of the Israeli human rights group Gisha who was involved in petitioning the court, said this was the first time such a ruling has been made.

»

Israel steps up security ties with China
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Josef Federman - May 25, 2012 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM — After a prolonged chill, security ties between Israel and China are warming up. With Israel offering much-needed technical expertise and China representing a huge new market and influential voice in the international debate over Iran's nuclear program, the two nations have stepped up military cooperation as they patch up a rift caused by a pair of failed arms deals scuttled by the U.S.

»

May 24th

NEWS: Turkey says it may indict senior Israeli military officers regarding the deadly flotilla incident. Israeli peace activists launch an online university. Hamas leader Hanniyeh says the results of the Egyptian election will define the future of the Palestinian cause. PM Netanyahu postpones voting on a Knesset bill that would bypass a Supreme Court order to demolish a large settlement outposts built on privately-owned Palestinian land. Israeli authorities are preparing for more violent confrontations aimed at African migrants. Amnesty International says PA security forces “abuse detainees with impunity”, but also slams Israel for the Gaza blockade and settlement activity. An Israeli court rules that Palestinian towns in northern Israel are being discriminated against by not being given the same tax breaks as adjacent Jewish ones. Pres. Abbas reportedly says he's considering renewed UN initiatives. The Israeli occupation is increasingly the focus of “citizen journalism.” Palestinian fishermen in Gaza are being severely restricted by the Israeli blockade. The Senate Appropriations Committee will vote today on a bill that would redefine how the United States, but not the UN, defines who is a Palestinian refugee. COMMENTARY: Adam Ibrahim, an African migrant in Israel, pleads for decent treatment. Gideon Levy says a settlement goods boycott is fully justified. Tzipi Livni says Israel needs statesmanship, not crass politics. Douglas Bloomfield asks if Hamas and Fatah cannot make peace with each other, how can they make peace with Israel? Samia Hathroubi and Sarah Blum say people must take the lead in building peace. Abraham Rabinovich says Israel's conquest of occupied East Jerusalem was an "unintended consequence" of the 1967 war. Joyce Karam interviews Dennis Ross. Peter Beinart says it's ridiculous for Israelis to call South African demands to label settlement goods “racist.” David Makovsky and Olivia Holt-Ivry say Israeli military decisions regarding Iran will be made by politicians, not officers.

Command and Control
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
by Olivia Holt-Ivry, David Makovsky - (Opinion) May 23, 2012 - 12:00am

This week, the world's major powers resumed negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. Should they fail, the specter of a possible Israeli strike looms large, seeming to grow more likely as Tehran's nuclear program advances. 

»

Who's Racist?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
by Peter Beinart - (Opinion) May 23, 2012 - 12:00am

Even if you’re not a Zionist of South African parentage (not everyone can be so fortunate), it’s worth grabbing your biltong (don’t worry, it’s kosher now) and tuning into the political brawl currently underway between Israel and South Africa.

»


American Task Force on Palestine - 1634 Eye St. NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20006 - Telephone: 202-262-0017