September 17th

Amira Hass / The one thing worse than denying the Gaza report ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - (Opinion) September 17, 2009 - 12:00am On Friday an Israel Defense Forces soldier called to protest the publication of another story in Haaretz which in his words, tainted not only the troops' image but also his Sabbath day. The soldier was referring to Gaza resident Zinat Samouni's account of how soldiers killed her 46-year-old husband and their 4-year-old son Ahmed - just two of the 29 people of the same family the army killed between January 4 and 5. » Read more

Toronto film fest calls Israeli PR strategy into question ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ben Harris - September 17, 2009 - 12:00am When Amir Gissin helped come up with an idea to remake Israel's international image several years ago, it's unlikely he imagined that the showcasing of Israeli films in Toronto would spark a star-studded Hollywood brouhaha over artistic expression and cultural boycotts. But that’s what happened as Israel became the major flashpoint at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. » Read more

Mideast Discord Thwarts A Palestinian Love Story ATFP World Press Roundup Article from National Public Radio (NPR) by Lourdes Garcia-Navarro - September 16, 2009 - 12:00am They are engaged — Amani, a Palestinian woman from the Gaza Strip, and Basheer, her fiance who lives in the West Bank. But even though they are both of the same religion and the same nationality, they cannot get married. The house he has built for her sits in an orchard filled with ripe pomegranates, figs and lemons. It's fully furnished, but everything is too neatly in its place. It's lifeless, a home waiting to be lived in. Basheer » Read more

Op-Ed: U.S. Jews, Muslims must look forward, not back ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Salam Al-Marayati - (Opinion) September 17, 2009 - 12:00am In the 25 years I have served as a leader in the Muslim American community, I have watched and sometimes participated as the pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian camps have put all their energy into trying to convert each other to their own ways of thinking -- ideologically, not theologically. The conclusion I have reached is that agreement cannot and should not be a pre-condition for engagement. As Muslims, Jews and Christians who believe in peacemaking as a social and religious responsibility, we must be the drivers of change at the grass-roots level. » Read more

Rattling the Cage: A wake-up call from Judge Goldstone ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Larry Derfner - (Opinion) September 16, 2009 - 12:00am Maybe this will do it. Maybe the Goldstone report on Operation Cast Lead will be the thing that finally puts the fear of God into Israeli society, that shocks this country into deciding once and for all that the occupation must come to an end - for our sake if no one else's. » Read more

Fayyad praises local comedy-soap "Homeland on a Thread" ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency September 15, 2009 - 12:00am Ramallah – Ma’an – Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad received the actors of the comedy series Homeland on a Thread (Watan Ala Watar) in his office on Tuesday, and praised what he called a "meaningful television achievement." The Ramadan soap opera, played every night of the holy month of fasting, is broadcast on Palestine TV and has made a splash in the Palestinian and international arenas. The satirical comedy pokes fun at all levels of government, and holds no punches when it comes to the Israeli occupation or Palestinian customs. » Read more

No Deal, but Middle East Envoy Sets Further Talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - September 16, 2009 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — The Obama administration’s special representative to the Middle East, George J. Mitchell, was set to leave Israel on Wednesday without agreement on a settlement freeze. But he was expected to return Friday to press his efforts to pave the way for resumed Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Over the past two days, Mr. Mitchell has held two private meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as talks with Palestinian leaders in the West Bank. Officials here indicated that he had not persuaded the two sides to restart the stalled talks. » Read more

Israel Rejects Call for Gaza Inquiry ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - September 16, 2009 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Israeli officials on Wednesday bluntly dismissed one of the main recommendations of the United Nations fact-finding mission’s report on the three-week war in Gaza last winter: a call for the Israeli government to begin an independent investigation of “serious violations” of international humanitarian and human rights law, including evidence of war crimes, during the military campaign. » Read more

Justice in Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Richard Goldstone - (Opinion) September 17, 2009 - 12:00am I ACCEPTED with hesitation my United Nations mandate to investigate alleged violations of the laws of war and international human rights during Israel’s three-week war in Gaza last winter. The issue is deeply charged and politically loaded. I accepted because the mandate of the mission was to look at all parties: Israel; Hamas, which controls Gaza; and other armed Palestinian groups. I accepted because my fellow commissioners are professionals committed to an objective, fact-based investigation. » Read more

September 16th

Goldstone's daughter: My father's participation softened UN Gaza report ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz September 16, 2009 - 12:00am Had Richard Goldstone not served as the head of the UN inquiry into the Gaza war, the accusations against Israel would have been harsher, Goldstone's daughter, Nicole, said in an interview conducted in Hebrew with Army Radio on Wednesday. "My father took on this job because he thought he is doing the best thing for peace, for everyone, and also for Israel," Nicole Goldstone told Army Radio. She added that her father wrestled with the decision to take on the task. "It wasn't easy [for him]," Nicole Goldstone said. "My father did not expect to see and hear what he saw and heard." » Read more