Merkel: Settlements endanger two-state deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters July 2, 2009 - 12:00am German Chancellor Angela Merkel demanded on Thursday that Israeli settlement building in the West Bank stop, saying it endangered efforts to achieve a two-state solution with the Palestinians. "I think it is now important to get commitments from all sides and that includes the issue of settlement building," Merkel said in a speech to the Bundestag lower house of parliament. "I am convinced that there must be a stop to this. Otherwise we will not come to the two-state solution that is urgently needed." » Read more

Without any tricks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Shaul Arieli - (Opinion) July 2, 2009 - 12:00am The repeated demands by Barack Obama and the Europeans for a freeze on settlement construction reveals that Benjamin Netanyahu's promise - that Israel will neither build new settlements nor expropriate land for the benefit of the settlements - is nothing more than an effort to throw sand in the public's eyes. » Read more

Some See Extended Olive Branch For Israel In Ross Appointment to NSC ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Nathan Guttman - July 2, 2009 - 12:00am The promotion of Middle East adviser Dennis Ross to a senior White House position may open the door to a more positive tone by the United States toward the Israeli government, experts believe. » Read more

'U.S. can't get Arabs to commit to normal Israel ties' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Matthew Lee, Cnaan Liphshiz - July 2, 2009 - 12:00am The U.S. administration has not been successful in securing commitments from Arab countries to take steps toward normalizing relations with Israel, a senior source in Jerusalem said Wednesday. The source said U.S. President Barack Obama's recent meeting with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia did not produce a commitment to encourage the other Arab states to begin normalization. "In such a situation, the Americans can't continue demanding gestures only from Israel, such as the demand that Israel freeze settlement construction," the source said. » Read more

Growing Gulf Between U.S. And Israeli Jews on Obama ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Nathan Jeffay - July 2, 2009 - 12:00am He swept to power with the support of 78% of American Jews. But has Barack Obama become the bane of Israeli Jews? A gulf between American and Israeli Jews was evident even before Obama moved into the White House. Just a third of Israelis would have endorsed him had they been allowed to vote, polling indicated, while almost half would have chosen John McCain. » Read more

Amnesty says Israel ‘wantonly’ destroyed Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National July 2, 2009 - 12:00am Amnesty International said today that Israel inflicted “wanton destruction” in the Gaza Strip in attacks that often targeted Palestinian civilians during an offensive in December and January in the Hamas-run enclave. The London-based rights group, in a 117-page report on the 22 days of fighting, also criticised movement Hamas for rocket attacks on Israel, which it called “war crimes”. » Read more