Arab authorities threaten state-wide strike ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews August 4, 2010 - 12:00am Arab authority heads protested Wednesday in front of the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem, against what they claim are discriminatory budget cuts. Union of Local Authorities chairman Shlomo Buhbut warned that if the government did not transfer more funds to the Arab authorities, he would start a general strike of all local authorities, including the Jewish ones, as well as the schools. » Read more

Is Bibi becoming a dove? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by D. Bloomfield - August 5, 2010 - 12:00am Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has done what Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu could never do for himself – transform the Israeli leader’s image from hawk to dove. And he had help from American, European and even Arab leaders who are urging Abbas to quit dawdling and meet the Israeli prime minister at the peace table. The Obama administration weighed in Monday with State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley publicly warning Abbas “there are consequences to failing to take advantage of this opportunity.” » Read more

Report: Arab children shortchanged by social services ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Ruth Eglash - August 5, 2010 - 12:00am Children at risk in the Arab sector are less likely to get assistance from social welfare services than Jewish children in similar situations, according to a study published on Wednesday by Sikkuy – The Association for the Advancement of Civic Equality in Israel. “The Ministry of Welfare and Social Services operates an unequal policy in caring for Jewish and Arab children at risk,” according to the study, which was presented at the organization’s annual conference in Haifa. » Read more

Shin Bet: Suspected Jewish terrorist Pearlman didn't work alone ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Liel Kyzer - August 5, 2010 - 12:00am The Shin Bet security service and the police believe that Chaim Pearlman, suspected of murdering four Palestinians and wounding several others, committed the acts attributed to him with the help of accomplices. The suspicions emerged at Pearlman's remand in a Petach Tikvah court. Pearlman's remand was extended by six days. Sources close to Pearlman said "There has been no progress in the investigation ever since he was arrested. The Shin Bet insists on holding him for no reason." » Read more

Israel Fights Isolation With New Measures ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Gal Beckerman - August 4, 2010 - 12:00am Israel is taking significant new steps to relieve its international isolation following the fatal raid on a humanitarian flotilla and the accusatory Goldstone Report. » Read more

Netanyahu: Hamas responsible for rockets on Eilat; we will retaliate ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz August 5, 2010 - 12:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Israeli television Wednesday that Hamas was responsible for the deadly rocket fire on Israel's and Jordan's Red Sea ports on Monday, and that Israel would retaliate. Earlier Wednesday, Egyptian officials also confirmed that the rocket attacks, which had killed a Jordanian taxi driver in Aqaba, had been carried out by the militant Palestinian group operating from Egypt, after days of denials. » Read more

Contacts underway to set peace reference: Palestinian official ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua August 5, 2010 - 12:00am A Palestinian official revealed on Tuesday that international and Arab contacts are underway to set the terms of reference for the peace process. "There are many contacts between the Palestinian leadership and international and Arab peace players to ensure that the Palestinian demands to start direct talks will be met," Fatah official Jamal Mohaisen told Xinhua following a meeting of the party's central committee that was chaired by President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. » Read more

Obama Administration Presses Palestinians To Enter Direct Talks With Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Nathan Guttman - August 4, 2010 - 12:00am State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley strove hard to hit the right note August 2 in describing the Obama administration’s recent effort to push the Palestinians into direct peace talks with Israel. » Read more

Mubarak, Obama tackle over phone requirements of launching direct peace talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua August 5, 2010 - 12:00am Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak received Wednesday a phone call from U.S. President Barack Obama during which they discussed the requirements for starting direct peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel, Egypt's official MENA news agency reported. Mubarak underlined during the conversation Egypt's appreciation of the commitment of U.S. president to establish peace and create a propitious atmosphere for launching peace talks in line with clear terms of reference and a specific time frame. » Read more

Hamas urges Fatah not to go to direct talks with Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua August 5, 2010 - 12:00am Islamic Hamas movement warned on Thursday Fatah party of going to direct negotiations with Israel after the latter declined holding a tripartite meeting to set terms of reference for the stalled peace process. Salah al-Badawil, Gaza-based spokesman for Hamas, in a press release, demanded Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party not to return to "absurd talks" with Israel, urging the West Bank- ruling movement to give the priority for achieving national unity and isolating Israel. » Read more