'Flotilla passengers were tortured' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post July 1, 2010 - 12:00am The organization which sent the Gaza aid flotilla which was intercepted by the IDF earlier this month, released a report Thursday outlining the events of the raid. Describing the goal of the aid flotilla as "completely civilian in nature" and "carrying the conscience of the world," the report categorized the IDF interception as a terrorist attack carried out by the Israeli government in "international waters against civilians who had come together for peaceful purposes." » Read more

Palestinian leader gives interview to Israel media ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Matti Friedman - July 1, 2010 - 12:00am The Palestinian president has given a rare interview to Israeli media in an apparent effort to counter the claims in some circles that Israel has no partner for peace talks. Mahmoud Abbas spent three hours with Israeli reporters, discussing subjects from peacemaking efforts to the World Cup and his smoking habit. Abbas' top negotiator, Saeb Erekat, says the president is trying to "reach out" to the Israeli public and seek a partner for peace. The interview took place in his office in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Wednesday and was reported in Israeli newspapers on Thursday. » Read more

Rattling the Cage: Israelis don’t want peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Larry Derfner - (Opinion) July 1, 2010 - 12:00am Soon after I came to this country 25 years ago, I learned that among my relatives, “Tali” was the real Arab-hater, the most extreme right-winger in the family. “For Tali, the only good Arab is a dead Arab, right?” one of my cousins ribbed her one Friday night. “Wrong,” she said. “For me, dead isn’t good enough – he’s got to be buried 40 meters underground, too.” » Read more

Gaza blackouts down to 8 hours per day ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 1, 2010 - 12:00am A delivery of 250,000 liters of industrial fuel on Wednesday will allow the Gaza Power Plant to redistribute its electricity supply, providing central Gaza with 16 hours of power each day. With the infusion of fuel, the Gaza Energy Authority said in a statement, power production will once again reach 30 megawatts, bringing capacity back up to 50-60%. For the past week, blackout schedules had 12-16 hours of darkness for each area served by the power station, a schedule that will be reduced to eight hours per day as of Thursday morning. » Read more

Lessons from Camp David ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Ben White - July 1, 2010 - 12:00am Ten years ago this month, Israelis and Palestinians gathered at Camp David, under the guidance of President Bill Clinton, for negotiations aimed at reaching a final agreement. The talks ended in failure, and by the end of September, the second intifada had begun. » Read more

Israeli warplanes target 3 sites in Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 1, 2010 - 12:00am Israeli aircraft shelled two locations in the southern Gaza Strip and one in the north Thursday morning, damaging the already destroyed Yasser Arafat International Airport, a residential area, and an empty field. Eyewitnesses said at least two F16 warplanes were involved in the operation, and one Gaza City resident said a strike targeted the Abu Jerad area, damaging several homes. » Read more

Gaza lawyer challenges West Bank study ban ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Harriet Sherwood - July 1, 2010 - 12:00am A 29-year-old lawyer from Gaza has launched a legal challenge against Israel's refusal to allow her to travel to the West Bank to study human rights and democracy. Fatima Sharif must register for her masters degree at Birzeit University near Ramallah in two weeks' time or she will lose her place. The Israeli authorities have denied her permission to leave Gaza on the grounds that she does not meet Israel's criteria of "humanitarian and exceptional" need. » Read more

Tensions build in Palestinian neighborhood over plans to demolish 22 houses ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Joel Greenberg - July 1, 2010 - 12:00am In a warren of cramped alleys in the crowded Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan, a slogan scrawled on a wall warns: "Silwan is in danger." The danger, as residents see it, is a city development plan that calls for the demolition of 22 homes to make room for a park that would flank a promenade of restaurants, art studios and shops. Mayor Nir Barkat says the plan -- aimed at attracting visitors to the historic valley near Jerusalem's Old City where Silwan is located -- will improve services to residents, provide jobs and boost commerce. » Read more

U.S. envoy welcomes Israeli steps to relax Gaza blockade ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Joel Greenberg - July 1, 2010 - 12:00am Israel's first steps toward easing its blockade of the Gaza Strip were welcomed Wednesday by the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East as he visited this crossing where goods are transferred to the Palestinian territory. » Read more

Turkish and Israeli Officials Meet Secretly on Raid Crisis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Dina Kraft - July 1, 2010 - 12:00am The Turkish foreign minister and an Israeli cabinet member met secretly in Europe on Wednesday to try to defuse the crisis that erupted after Israel’s deadly raid on a Turkish aid boat bound for Gaza. According to Israeli news reports, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of Turkey and Industry Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer of Israel met in Zurich. » Read more