At last, the Palestinians opt for auto-emancipation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Shlomo Avineri - (Opinion) June 16, 2010 - 12:00am Although the crisis over Israel’s naval interventions to defend its blockade of Gaza is gaining all the headlines around the world, something of far more historic importance is taking place in the Middle East. The Palestinian Authority is preparing to issue a unilateral declaration of independence, and it is taking concrete steps on the ground to make any such declaration viable. » Read more

U.S. and Israel agree on key issues—for now ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ron Kampeas - June 16, 2010 - 12:00am The relationship between the Obama administration, the Netanyahu government and the pro-Israel community is ensconced on all fronts in “agree, for now” mode. On isolating Iran, everyone agrees -- and is pleased -- that the new set of U.N. sanctions will make it easier for the United States to enhance its own unilateral sanctions. Differences are looming, however, on whether the U.S. sanctions should carve out exemptions for countries that helped push through the U.N. sanctions. » Read more

Ramat Shlomo building plan receives ‘technical’ nod ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Ron Friedman, Abe Selig - June 16, 2010 - 12:00am The Interior Ministry’s Jerusalem District Planning and Construction Committee on Tuesday ratified an existing plan to build 1,600 housing units in the city’s northeastern Ramat Shlomo neighborhood. When the plans were disclosed in March during a visit by US Vice President Joe Biden, they sparked a major row with the US regarding building rights in sections of the capital that are located over the Green Line. They were also seen as destabilizing the proximity talks now taking place between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. » Read more

'Mother shouted, then they shot her too' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ali Waked - June 16, 2010 - 12:00am Youssef Abu Hajaj will never forget the day he lost his mother and sister. In the early hours of January 4, 2009, his family's home near Gaza City was shelled. "My 13-year-old niece was injured so we rushed through the trees and bushes to the Safadi family's home. We were looking for a hiding place a little further from the tanks," he told Ynet. Then came the incident over which an Israel Defense Forces soldier is slated to stand trial for Operation Cast Lead's most severe violation, and is likely to face charges of manslaughter. » Read more

In a side room at the airport ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avirama Golan - (Opinion) June 16, 2010 - 12:00am Here is a story known to only some of the citizens of Israel. A few weeks ago a 43-year-old lecturer in sociology at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who serves as a member of the prestigious academic journal Sociology, packed a suitcase and went to Ben-Gurion International Airport. From there he was supposed to take off for the journal's annual editorial board meeting in London. He stood in line, showed his passport and his ticket and was immediately directed to a separate line. » Read more

Egypt: Israel wants to 'dump' Gaza on us ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA) June 16, 2010 - 12:00am Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak discussed efforts to lift the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, at a meeting with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas. Egypt reopened its border with the Gaza Strip following the deadly raid on a flotilla of Gaza-bound aid boats by Israeli forces in May. Mubarak's government on Tuesday rejected an Israeli proposal that would leave Gaza entirely dependent on Egypt for goods and access. » Read more

Israel braces for Iranian attempt to break Gaza blockade ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by David Harris - June 16, 2010 - 12:00am Three ships bound for the Gaza Strip, two from Iran and one from Lebanon, are expected to set sail in the next few days, and a confrontation with the Israeli navy is likely. These are the latest missions to break the blockade on Gaza, following an Israeli naval raid on an aid flotilla on May 31, killing nine people. Israel officially started an investigation into the raid after its cabinet approved on Monday the establishment of an inquiry panel including two foreign observers. » Read more

IDF to charge soldier with killing two Palestinian women during Gaza war ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amos Harel - June 16, 2010 - 12:00am A Israeli soldier is to face charges over the shooting of two Palestinian women during Operation Cast lead in Gaza a year and a half ago, the army said on Wednesday. The solider will be charged with opening fire on a 64-year-old Raya Salma Abu Hajjaj and her 35-year-old daughter Majda in disregard of the IDF's rules of engagement. Chief Army Prosecutor Avihai Mandelblit will on June 22 hold a hearing to determine the exact charges the soldier will face. » Read more

Hamas, UNRWA compete over entertaining Gaza children ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Saud Abu Ramadan - June 16, 2010 - 12:00am Mohamed Atallah, a teacher and one of the mentors in a major summer camp run by the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) on Gaza beachside insisted that mentors are not teaching school children any politics, but only entertaining them. On Sunday, UNRWA inaugurated its own summer camps in the Gaza Strip to entertain refugees' schoolchildren. Streets of Gaza City saw UNRWA vehicles and hundreds of UNRWA children holding summer camps flame. » Read more

Amnesty criticizes proposed flotilla inquiry ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency June 16, 2010 - 12:00am Amnesty International has criticized Israel’s proposed investigation into its military action against a Gaza aid flotilla on 31 May as lacking in transparency and unlikely to ensure accountability over the nine deaths of activists during the operation. The Israeli cabinet approved a three-man Israeli commission, with two international observers, to examine Israel’s military action off the Gaza coast in which nine international activists were killed by Israeli forces. » Read more