Israeli towns continue to rewrite bylaws to keep Arabs out ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Jack Khoury, Jonathan Lis - December 16, 2010 - 1:00am While the Knesset may not be in a rush to pass a bill on the powers of cooperative communities' admission committees, fearing criticism and a battle in the High Court of Justice, some of these communities are still rewriting admission regulations in order to "preserve their Jewish and Zionist character." Community members who oppose such changes to the regulations say they are designed to keep Arabs from joining. » Read more

PLO condemns U.S. congress resolution against Palestinian state recognition ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua December 16, 2010 - 1:00am The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Thursday condemned a United States congress resolution opposing the Palestinian quest to gain international recognition of their future state. The resolution of the U.S. house of representatives "is unjustified and doesn't help the U.S. administration's role as a sponsor of the peace process in the Middle East," said Ahmed Majdalani, a member of the PLO's Executive Committee. » Read more

Bethlehem mayor complains about Israeli limits ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman December 15, 2010 - 1:00am Bethlehem's mayor has lit up his town's main Christmas tree while complaining that Israel's limitations on access to his West Bank town are weighing heavily on holiday cheer. Mayor Victor Batarseh and a Palestinian official threw a switch to light white bulbs strung around a tall, star-topped fir tree in front of the Church of the Nativity, marking the traditional birthplace of Jesus. Part of Israel's West Bank separation barrier cuts through southern Bethlehem, blocking the road to Jerusalem, 3 miles (5 kilometers) away. » Read more

Arabs against peace talks without clear borders ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman by Sarah El Deeb - December 15, 2010 - 1:00am The Palestinians have asked European countries to recognize an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip — a new step in the campaign to pursue statehood outside the framework of a peace deal with Israel. Peace talks with Israel have been deadlocked since September, leaving Palestinians to start exploring alternative ways forward. The campaign by President Mahmoud Abbas and his West Bank government aims to pressure Israel, though it will likely change nothing on the ground as long as Israel remains opposed. » Read more

Palestinians ask Europe to recognize a state ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman by Ben Hubbard - December 16, 2010 - 1:00am The Palestinians have asked European countries to recognize an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip — a new step in the campaign to pursue statehood outside the framework of a peace deal with Israel. Peace talks with Israel have been deadlocked since September, leaving Palestinians to start exploring alternative ways forward. The campaign by President Mahmoud Abbas and his West Bank government aims to pressure Israel, though it will likely change nothing on the ground as long as Israel remains opposed. » Read more

Q&A-After Mitchell trip, what next for peace process? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Alertnet by Tom Perry - December 16, 2010 - 1:00am The U.S. Middle East envoy held separate talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders this week during his first trip to the region since the United States called off efforts to revive direct negotiations. What happened to those negotiations, what has U.S. envoy George Mitchell said and done this week and what are the prospects of success for another round of indirect talks Washington now says it will pursue? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NEGOTIATIONS? » Read more

Norway upgrades PLO mission, supports statehood ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency December 16, 2010 - 1:00am OSLO, Norway (Ma'an) -- Norway's foreign ministry announced Wednesday that the status of the Palestinian representative's office in Oslo would be upgraded to a diplomatic mission as part of an effort of the scandanavian nation to support Palestinian efforts toward building a state. The announcement came while Prime Minister Salam Fayyad was in Oslo, where officials announced the coming international donors conference to take place in the city in April 2011. During the announcement the official said he hoped a Palestinian state could be established within the year. » Read more

Israel approves construction for Jerusalem yeshiva ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency December 16, 2010 - 1:00am JERUSALEM (Ma’an) -- Israel's Jerusalem Municipality approved for construction an additional 24 housing units near the ultra-Orthodox center Beit Orot in occupied East Jerusalem, Israel Radio reported Thursday. The organization's website confirmed the report, but said there were only 18 units under construction, all designed as "housing for married students and to enhance the development of the educational complex." » Read more

Arab FMs want 'serious offer' on Israel peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency December 16, 2010 - 1:00am CAIRO (AFP) - Arab foreign ministers on Wednesday rejected more Palestinian-Israeli peace talks without a "serious offer" and said they will seek a UN Security Council resolution against Israeli settlement building. They announced their decision after meeting Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo and US Middle East envoy George Mitchell vowing "substantive" talks with Israel and the Palestinians to rescue the battered peace process. » Read more

Palestinian Authority cracks down on mosques to promote moderate Islam ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Janine Zacharia - December 15, 2010 - 1:00am EL BIREH, WEST BANK - Each week, Mahmoud Habbash, the Palestinian Authority's minister of religious affairs, sends an e-mail to mosques across the West Bank. It contains what amounts to a script for the Friday sermon that every imam is required to deliver. The practice, part of a broader crackdown on Muslim preachers considered too radical, shows the extreme steps the Palestinian Authority is taking to weaken Hamas, its Islamist rival, as it seeks to cement power and meet Israel's preconditions for peace talks. » Read more