June 24th

UN urges Israel to rethink East Jerusalem construction plans ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz June 24, 2010 - 12:00am The United Nations late Wednesday called Israel's plan to demolish Arab homes in East Jerusalem for the purpose of settlement construction "unhelpful" and "contrary to international law." "The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the decision by the Jerusalem municipality to advance planning for house demolitions and further settlement activity in the area of Silwan," UN Chief Ban Ki-moon's press office said in a statement. "The planned moves are contrary to international law, and to the wishes of Palestinian residents." » Read more

European MPs to Israel: Lift Gaza blockade completely ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA) June 24, 2010 - 12:00am The Council of Europe parliamentarians Thursday called on Israel to completely end its siege of the Gaza Strip, days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an ease of the land blockade. Israel should allow goods to be delivered to the coastal enclave by land and sea, "without prejudice to its own security," so Palestinians can enjoy "normal living conditions," said the resolution adopted by a large majority of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). » Read more

Hamas-run TV stops broadcast on French satellite ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua June 24, 2010 - 12:00am The Hamas-run al-Aqsa TV station in Gaza announced that its broadcast through the French-based satellite provider Eutelsat will be forced stop within six hours. "Talks with the French government to call off the ban decision have failed and the order will come into force tonight at 8:00 p.m. local time (1700 GMT)," a press release by the TV station said. France ordered last week that the al-Aqsa Channel not be broadcast through Eutelsat, claiming that the TV incites hatred and violence against Jews and Israel. » Read more

Abbas: Israeli practices in East Jerusalem endanger peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua June 24, 2010 - 12:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned on Thursday that the Israeli measures in East Jerusalem jeopardize the peace process. "The Israeli practices in East Jerusalem hinder peace talks," Abbas told a press conference here with the visiting Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann. The Palestinian president was apparently referring to Israel's recent plan to demolish Palestinian houses in East Jerusalem for the purpose of settlement construction. » Read more

Fearing expulsion, Palestinians stay home ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Diaa Hadid - June 24, 2010 - 12:00am The Helou family is so worried about getting expelled to Gaza by Israeli authorities that they're all but trapped in this West Bank town. They couldn't even leave to get their disabled son the best possible surgery to let him walk. Some 20,000 Palestinians in the West Bank live under the same fear, because they hold residency papers from the Gaza Strip and Israeli authorities refuse to allow their papers to be updated — though they have lived in the West Bank for years. » Read more

Abbas slams Israeli plan to expel 4 Hamas members ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Dalia Nammari - June 24, 2010 - 12:00am The Palestinian president warned Thursday that Israel's plan to expel four Hamas politicians from Jerusalem could pose a new obstacle to peace and set a dangerous precedent for expelling Arabs from the disputed city based on their political views. The expulsions of the three Palestinian lawmakers and a former Cabinet minister could start as early as Friday. » Read more

Israel to re-investigate shooting of American activist ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency June 24, 2010 - 12:00am Israel's District Attorney ordered an investigation into the incident that left an American protester in a persistent coma, now in its 15th month. US activist Tristan Anderson was shot in the head with a high-velocity tear-gas canister as he supported Palestinian protesters in the village of Ni'lin on 13 March 2009. A court found the investigation into the incident was wrought with "grave negligence" during an appeal session on Wednesday. » Read more

Family exhumes body of slain Jerusalem man ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency June 24, 2010 - 12:00am At the request of the Al-Julani family, the body of the man shot dead in Jerusalem last week was exhumed just after midnight on Thursday morning for autopsy. The body of the 38-year-old Zaid was taken from its place of internment at the Al-Asbat Gate cemetery near Al-Aqsa Mosque under the watch of doctors from the Abu Kabir Institute for forensic medicine and clerks from Israel's Magistrates Court and Ministry of Justice, and moved to a secure autopsy facility in Jerusalem. » Read more

Jerusalem City Council OKs demolition of 22 Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Edmund Sanders - June 24, 2010 - 12:00am The Jerusalem City Council on Monday approved a divisive redevelopment plan to demolish 22 Palestinian homes in Arab-dominated East Jerusalem, potentially reigniting a debate over Israeli construction on land it seized in 1967. The approval threatens to renew friction between Israel and the Obama administration just as the former is battling a surge of international pressure over its policies in the Gaza Strip. » Read more

June 23rd

Palestinians fear Israeli court ruling may set new grounds for banishment ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Maher Abukhater - (Blog) June 23, 2010 - 12:00am There’s a growing worry among Palestinians that an Israeli Supreme Court decision Sunday will make it easier for Israel to deport Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem because of their participation in the Palestinian Authority. The court upheld a move by Israeli police ordering three members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, which functions as the Palestinian Authority’s parliament, and a former member of the Palestinian Cabinet to leave the city within a month of the order. » Read more