Quartet dispute delays statement on direct talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gil Hoffman - August 18, 2010 - 12:00am A statement by the Quartet that was expected to lead to long-awaited direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians has been delayed due to disputes between the United States and European Union, Israeli diplomatic sources revealed Tuesday. The Quartet, which is made up of the US, EU, UN, and Russia, was expected to bring Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to the negotiating table by releasing a statement early this week about the basis for direct talks. » Read more

The banality of occupation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Edna Canetti - August 18, 2010 - 12:00am Those who want to know what’s happening know it. The truth screams from all directions. The Breaking the Silence movement publishes detailed reports about the conduct of IDF soldiers in the territories. The same is true for B’Tselem, Machsom Watch, and journalists such as Gideon Levy and Amira Hass. » Read more

Ground Zero's wounds are still too deep to build upon ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Aaron David Miller - August 18, 2010 - 12:00am If there is one lesson to be learned from the controversy over the proposed mosque near Ground Zero, it is that messing with memory, particularly traumatic memory of the first order, is akin to messing with Mother Nature: It rarely ends well, no matter how good the intention. » Read more

Lebanon Gives Palestinians New Work Rights ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Nada Bakri - August 17, 2010 - 12:00am Lebanon passed a law on Tuesday granting Palestinian refugees here the same rights to work as other foreigners, a step in ending years of discrimination that had restricted them to the most menial of jobs. » Read more

4 Palestinians to be tried for violating settlement boycott ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ali Waked - August 17, 2010 - 12:00am The Palestinian Finance Ministry decided Tuesday to indict four merchants who violated the boycotted on products made in West Bank settlements. The four Palestinians are expected to face harsh penalties. Moreover, the law states that Palestinians caught selling settlement products may have their license revoked and vehicle impouned. Despite this, Fayyad's counterpart in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, said he believes the Palestinian Authority is not being firm enough with Israel. Hamas unimpressed » Read more

Palestinian minors held 3 weeks on suspicion of arson ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - August 18, 2010 - 12:00am Palestinian minors suspected of perpetrating even minor crimes against settlers are subject to extreme pressure during detention and interrogation in an effort to extract a confession, the Palestinian branch of Defense for Children International claims. » Read more