May 13th

Arab homes in East Jerusalem to be demolished: Israeli minister ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua May 13, 2010 - 12:00am "Illegally built" Arab homes in East Jerusalem will be razed "in the coming days," Israeli Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch said Wednesday. Aharonovitch revealed the plan in response to an inquiry by a Likud legislator during a plenary session of the Knesset, or Israeli parliament. » Read more

PNA accuses Israel of putting obstacles before Mideast peace process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua May 13, 2010 - 12:00am A senior Palestinian official on Wednesday accused Israel for putting new obstacles before the Middle East peace process, saying that Israel is not serious in resuming peace talks. Nabil Abu Rdeina, spokesman of the Palestinian president, slammed the earlier statement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he said that Israel will go on with settlement activities in East Jerusalem. » Read more

Israelis: No halt to east Jerusalem construction ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman by Amy Teibel - May 13, 2010 - 12:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hawkish coalition partners vowed Thursday to keep building Jewish settlements and demolishing unauthorized Palestinian homes in contested east Jerusalem — despite indications the Israeli leader has put the brakes on both. The United States opposes both at this delicate time, when indirect talks between Israelis and Palestinians have just begun. The remarks by Netanyahu's partners show the thin tightrope he has to walk in trying to address the conflicting demands of his political allies at home and Israel's strongest ally abroad. » Read more

Barak: Ministers' provocations over Jerusalem harming Israel's interests ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz May 13, 2010 - 12:00am Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Thursday lambasted several cabinet ministers whose "provocative" comments he said were harming Israel's relations with the United States amid efforts to get the peace process going through indirect proximity talks with the Palestinians. "I recommend everyone, both we and the Palestinians, avoid rash and provocative statements," said Barak, responding to a slew of comments made by ministers over the last few days regarding the contentious issue of construction in Jerusalem. » Read more

Regulator says Gaza banking OK despite closures ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman by Karin Laub - May 12, 2010 - 12:00am The top Palestinian financial regulator sought to assure an anxious public Wednesday that the Gaza Strip is not facing a banking crisis after the Palestinian territories' largest lender closed two of its three Gaza branches last week. The decision by the Jordan-based Arab Bank to shutter the shops set off jitters among its Gaza customers. On Wednesday, dozens of clients lined up at the bank's sole remaining branch in Gaza City, some of them in order to close their accounts. » Read more

Gazan man says Hamas beat him for alleged affairs ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman by Diaa Hadid - May 12, 2010 - 12:00am A Gaza art gallery owner said Wednesday that Hamas police repeatedly beat and abused him over allegations that he had had sexual relations with women who are not his wife, which is forbidden by Islamic law. Gaza human rights activists say the rare admission by Jamal Abu Qumsan, who is unmarried, is the clearest evidence yet of a quiet but persistent Hamas morals crackdown in Gaza, as part of an attempt to implement strict Islamic law. » Read more

Limited construction goods to enter Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency May 13, 2010 - 12:00am Two of the Israel/Gaza terminals will open on Thursday, what will likely be the final day of crossings operations for the week, Palestinian liaison officials were informed early the same morning. Crossings officer Raed Fattouh said he was told to expect approximately 130 truckloads of goods, including 5 truckloads of plastic pipes for the coastal waters, one truckload of goods for the power authority, one truckload of cement for aid agencies and 2 truckloads of iron girders and gravels. » Read more

US raises issue of settler violence ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon - May 13, 2010 - 12:00am A senior US official expressed concern on Wednesday with the violence of some settlers, and – alluding to the recent burning of a West Bank mosque attributed to settlers – said the US would like to see better results in Israeli law enforcement and prevention of these types of activities. » Read more

May 12th

The lesser known settlement freeze deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy by Michael Sfard - May 10, 2010 - 12:00am Proximity talks between the Israeli government and the Palestinian leadership have just begun. It took Barack Obama's administration almost 15 months to obtain the consent of the parties to talk to each other indirectly, through George Mitchell's team. For the 19-year-old peace process (if counted from the Madrid summit) it is doubtful whether this new phase deserves even the modest "small step" label. » Read more

AN ISRAELI VIEW: The best of a bad lot? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Gilead Sher - May 10, 2010 - 12:00am The good news first: after more than a year wasted over trial and error in United States foreign policy, President Barack Obama has set the Israeli-Palestinian process back on track. The bad news is that for the first time in close to two decades, Israelis and Palestinians will be talking indirectly to one another. » Read more