May 17th

Chomsky Barred From West Bank by Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Robert Mackey - May 16, 2010 - 12:00am Noam Chomsky, an American linguist and political thinker who has been critical of Israel, was denied entry into the West Bank on Sunday by Israeli immigration officials when he tried to cross into the Palestinian territory from Jordan to deliver a lecture. Amira Hass of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported: » Read more

The Failure of the American Jewish Establishment ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Review Of Books by Peter Beinart - May 17, 2010 - 12:00am In 2003, several prominent Jewish philanthropists hired Republican pollster Frank Luntz to explain why American Jewish college students were not more vigorously rebutting campus criticism of Israel. In response, he unwittingly produced the most damning indictment of the organized American Jewish community that I have ever seen. » Read more

Palestinians turn to boycott of Israel in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Janine Zacharia - May 17, 2010 - 12:00am MAALEH ADUMIM, WEST BANK -- In Mishor Adumim, a bougainvillea-lined industrial zone inside this West Bank Jewish settlement, at least 17 businesses have closed since Palestinians began boycotting its products several months ago. For the Israelis, it's "an insufferable situation," according to Avi Elkayam, who represents the settlement's 300 factory owners. But for Palestinians, it might be the strategy they have been looking for. » Read more

May 14th

Gaza is a Victim Twice! ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat by Hassan Haidar - May 13, 2010 - 12:00am According to an ordinary piece of news, the Egyptian Supply Control members seized a truck loaded with 100 small power generators at a security checkpoint at the entrance of Al-Arish City. These were being smuggled into the Gaza Strip, so the load was confiscated and the person accompanying the driver arrested. » Read more

Israel's secret police targeting leaders of country's Arab minority, say Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Jonathan Cook - May 14, 2010 - 12:00am The recent arrest of two respected public figures from Israel’s Palestinian Arab minority in night-time raids on their homes by the Shin Bet secret police – brought to light this week when a gag order was partially lifted – has sent shock waves through the community. » Read more

Imposed solution can end Palestinian conflict ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Omar Rahman - May 14, 2010 - 12:00am It is a sign of how far the peace process has retrogressed that the Israelis and Palestinians have now entered into proximity talks, more than 16 years after having started direct negotiations. To make matters worse, nobody – including the actual participants – gives the latest round of talks the slightest chance of success. In fact, many fear that failure will only bolster critics of the peace process by further displaying the ineffectiveness of its methods. So why are they entering negotiations to begin with? » Read more

US to fund installation of Israeli rocket defence system ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News May 14, 2010 - 12:00am Barack Obama is to ask the US Congress for an extra $200m in military aid to help Israel get a short-range rocket defence system in place. The system is designed to shoot down mortars and rockets from Gaza or Southern Lebanon with guided missiles. The system, called Iron Dome, has gone through testing and installation will start later this year. According to US State Department figures, direct military aid to Israel was $2.55bn in 2009. This is set to increase to $3.15bn in 2018. Easing tensions » Read more

Human Rights Watch say destruction in Gaza 'unlawful' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News May 13, 2010 - 12:00am The Israeli army unlawfully destroyed civilian property in its 22-day offensive in Gaza in 2008 and 2009, a report by Human Rights Watch says. Israeli forces destroyed buildings that had "no military significance", a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Conventions, the report said. The New-York based group have documented 12 cases that they say must be investigated. The IDF denies the charges and says it has investigated the incursion already. » Read more

Desperately smearing Goldstone ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Larry Derfner - May 12, 2010 - 12:00am Inside the Israeli echo chamber, it’s now “case closed” on the war in Gaza. The country’s biggest newspaper, Yediot Aharonot, has “exposed” Judge Richard Goldstone as an apartheid-era hanging judge. This proves he’s a huge hypocrite whose word means nothing, which proves his report on the war in Gaza means nothing, which proves Operation Cast Lead was every bit the shining example of restraint and purity of arms Israel says it was. » Read more

Attorney seeks to bar Goldstone from US ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by E.B. Solomont - May 14, 2010 - 12:00am A well-known American Jewish attorney who worked to deport former Nazis from the US is urging American officials to bar former judge Richard Goldstone from entering the country over his rulings during South Africa’s apartheid regime. » Read more