July 23rd

U.S. upgrades diplomatic ties with Palestinians in bid to woo Abbas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff, Natasha Mozgovaya, Barak Ravid - July 23, 2010 - 12:00am The U.S. announced this week that it would upgrade its diplomatic relations with the PA by granting its mission in Washington - which is actually a PLO mission - the same status it enjoys in most European countries: that of a PLO "general delegation." This is still a lower status than an embassy - a status the PA mission does have in many African and Asian countries, as well as some European and South American states. But it is a major step above what the PA has had until now. » Read more

U.S. upgrades diplomatic ties with Palestinians in bid to woo Abbas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff, Natasha Mozgovaya, Barak Ravid - July 23, 2010 - 12:00am The U.S. announced this week that it would upgrade its diplomatic relations with the PA by granting its mission in Washington - which is actually a PLO mission - the same status it enjoys in most European countries: that of a PLO "general delegation." This is still a lower status than an embassy - a status the PA mission does have in many African and Asian countries, as well as some European and South American states. But it is a major step above what the PA has had until now. » Read more

U.S. upgrades diplomatic ties with Palestinians in bid to woo Abbas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from December 31, 1969 - 8:00pm The U.S. announced this week that it would upgrade its diplomatic relations with the PA by granting its mission in Washington - which is actually a PLO mission - the same status it enjoys in most European countries: that of a PLO "general delegation." This is still a lower status than an embassy - a status the PA mission does have in many African and Asian countries, as well as some European and South American states. But it is a major step above what the PA has had until now. » Read more

July 22nd

'Arab man attacked for talking to Jewish girl' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ahiya Raved - July 22, 2010 - 12:00am A 23-year-old Arab man sustained serious injuries after being attacked in Tiberias, allegedly for talking to a young Jewish woman. Police are still searching for the suspected assailant, a 19-year-old who fled the scene. According to police, it is not yet clear whether the attack was nationalistically motivated and whether there was any connection between the suspect and the young woman. » Read more

Caterpillar Caught in Web Of Middle East Politics ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Josh Nathan-Kazis - July 21, 2010 - 12:00am At first glance, the contention that a construction equipment company in Peoria, Ill., is implicated in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict seems strange. But earlier in July, the largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States adopted a resolution that strongly criticized Caterpillar Inc., the manufacturer whose tractors, bulldozers and mining equipment help build and farm America, for its role in Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands. » Read more

Abbas signals will resist U.S. pressure for talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters July 22, 2010 - 12:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has indicated he will resist U.S. pressure for face-to-face peace talks with Israel for now, saying indirect negotiations must make progress first. Abbas has said he wants the indirect negotiations to produce results on the issues of the security and borders of a future Palestinian state to be founded alongside Israel on land it occupied in 1967. » Read more

Iron Dome may not be as effective as the IDF thinks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yossi Melman - (Analysis) July 22, 2010 - 12:00am Everything about the last test of the Iron Dome missile defense system, created to intercept all manner of launched projectile within a 40 kilometer radius, came up smelling like roses. » Read more

Israeli forces demolish Palestinian homes, shops ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 22, 2010 - 12:00am Israeli authorities have demolished eight structures belonging to Palestinians in a residential area northwest of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Al-Gharbi mayor Ghassan Abu Salem said more than a dozen military vehicles carrying armed soldiers arrived mid-morning Wednesday with military equipment to carry out the demolitions. "They immediately began tearing down the structures," Abu Salem said. "They were homes and shops right on the main street, but the army said they were illegally built in 'Area C'," which falls under Israeli control. » Read more

Israel sentences popular struggle leader ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 22, 2010 - 12:00am A Palestinian protest organizer detained in 2005 and put on trial was sentenced Wednesday with a second trial pending, popular committee officials in Bil'in said. A statement said Abdallah Abu Rahmah was sentenced to two months of imprisonment and a six-month suspended sentence while a five-year trial on a litany of charges including "activity against the public order," "obstructing a soldier in the line of duty," and "incitement." A verdict in Abu Rahmah's main case for which he is already in jail since December is expected soon, organizers added. » Read more

MESS Report / Gaza war probes are changing Israel's defiant ways ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amos Harel - July 22, 2010 - 12:00am Israel's policy on how to deal with violations of the laws of war during Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip has undergone a radical change during the year and half since the fighting ended. In the meantime, it seems, Israel has paid the full price for its original position without managing to reap any significant profits from its turnabout. » Read more