Declare Independence. Free Israel. End the Occupation. ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Bradley Burston - (Opinion) April 21, 2010 - 12:00am It's taken us years and years, but we've finally realized the dream of every Israeli. It was my wife who noticed. "I really like this," she said one Friday as we left the house, "getting out and going to a foreign country every weekend." Our fellow Israeli Jews, inveterate world travelers that they are, literally go out of their way to avoid this place, which is called East Jerusalem. Some steer clear because it scares them, others simply because it feels so, well, foreign. » Read more

U.S. officials slam pro-Israel Jerusalem ad ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - April 21, 2010 - 12:00am United States administration officials have voiced harsh criticism over advertisements in favor of Israel's position on Jerusalem that appeared in the U.S. press with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's encouragement. The authors of the most recent such advertisements were president of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel. "All these advertisements are not a wise move," one senior American official told Haaretz. » Read more

Indyk: If Israel manages alone, it can decide alone ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz April 21, 2010 - 12:00am Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk said on Wednesday that if Israel is a superpower that manages alone, then it can make decisions alone. In an interview with Army Radio, Indyk said that if Israel sees itself as a superpower that does not need any aid from the United States, then it can make its own decisions. However "if you need the United States, then you need to take into account America's interests," said Indyk. » Read more

PNA denies upcoming summit on Middle East talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua April 21, 2010 - 12:00am A Palestinian official on Tuesday denied reports that Washington had suggested a summit meeting on stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians in Egypt. "This is untrue at all," said Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator. "From time to time, Israel releases trial balloons to evade obligations the international community wants it to meet," he told Voice of Palestine radio. » Read more

U.S. piles pressure on Netanyahu ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by David Harris - April 21, 2010 - 12:00am As Israelis marked the 62nd anniversary of the nation's independence on Tuesday, the country's Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned them that in all probability much of the land currently held by the Jewish state will have to be ceded to the Palestinians. Barak made the comment on Monday, the Israeli Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day. It was the headline maker from an interview he granted to the country's Army Radio to mark the most introspective of days on the Israeli calendar. » Read more

Hamas burns recreational drugs, taxes cigarettes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by RIZEK ABDEL JAWAD - April 21, 2010 - 12:00am Gaza's Hamas rulers on Tuesday burned nearly 2 million pills of a painkiller many Gazans take recreationally because they say it relaxes them and provides temporary relief from the territory's hardships. The disposal of the drugs comes days after the Islamic militant group confiscated cigarettes from Gaza shops to collect taxes on them. Both moves are part of Hamas' efforts to strengthen its grip on Gaza and impose its strict interpretation of Islam on the impoverished seaside territory's 1.5 million Palestinian residents. » Read more

"Imposed" Mideast solution would stoke violence - Israel FM ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters April 21, 2010 - 12:00am In a veiled warning to U.S. President Barack Obama, Israel's foreign minister said on Tuesday that any move to impose a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians would lead to greater conflict. "Any attempt to force a solution on the parties without establishing the foundation of mutual trust will only deepen the conflict," Avigdor Lieberman told the assembled diplomatic corps at an event marking Israel's Independence Day. » Read more

When Your Best Friend Gets Angry ATFP World Press Roundup Article from International Herald Tribune by Martin Indyk - (Opinion) April 19, 2010 - 12:00am How do you know when there’s a real crisis in U.S.-Israel relations? It’s when the president of the United States convenes a nuclear security summit to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and the Israeli prime minister declines the invitation. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has made Iran’s nuclear threat to Israel’s existence the central organizing principle of his second term. Yet at the nuclear summit in Washington last week, President Obama was the one to do the heavy lifting, persuading China to join in a new round of U.N. sanctions against Iran. » Read more