November 22nd

Hot-button issue: Performing in Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Edmund Sanders - (Analysis) November 21, 2010 - 1:00am When the Cape Town Opera's revival of "Porgy and Bess" toured Europe, its novel resetting of the American classic to apartheid-era Soweto won raves. When the touring production moved to Israel this month, attention turned sour. No less than Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu called it "unconscionable" for a South African opera company to perform in Israel, the target of an increasingly aggressive international cultural boycott organized by pro-Palestinian activists hoping to turn Tel Aviv into the new Sun City. » Read more

With settlement deal, U.S. will be rewarding Israel's bad behavior ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Daniel Kurtzer - (Opinion) November 21, 2010 - 1:00am It was only a little over a year and a half ago that the Obama administration demanded a freeze on Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, including even the "natural growth" of existing settlements. At the time, the administration called settlement activity "illegitimate" and appeared ready to go to the mat with Israel to show just how strongly the United States believed that settlements impede peace. » Read more

Palestinian Leader Insists on Halt to Settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - (Analysis) November 21, 2010 - 1:00am JERUSALEM — The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, said Sunday that any American proposal for restarting Israeli-Palestinian negotiations must include East Jerusalem as part of a complete halt in Israeli settlement building. It was not immediately clear whether Mr. Abbas’s position, which is consistent with Palestinian policy, would scuttle a proposed deal that the Americans hope will lead to resumption of the negotiations. In the past the sides have found ways to surmount such difficulties. » Read more

November 19th

Arafat: The Man We Now Miss ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed - (Opinion) November 19, 2010 - 1:00am If late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat was among us today, would the Palestinian situation be as it is? Gaza is in a state of secession, negotiations are at a stalemate, the Palestinian cause has dropped down the list of priorities, coming behind the issues of Iraq, Iran, the Shebaa farms, Darfur and al-Qaeda in Yemen. » Read more

Education students boycott Ariel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) November 19, 2010 - 1:00am Education students at a college in central Israel have refused to participate in their final project at a facility in Ariel. In refusing to join in the teaching project in the Jewish West Bank city, the students from Beit Berl College have joined theater professionals, authors and academics in boycotting institutions in Ariel. » Read more

Terror Expert Emerson Feels His Own Heat Over Finances ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Nathan Guttman - November 19, 2010 - 1:00am Steven Emerson has made his reputation by scrutinizing American Muslim organizations and individuals, trying to uncover their possible ties to terror groups. But lately he is being scrutinized himself, by a Nashville, Tenn., daily newspaper digging into the finances of his operation. Emerson: ‘All of this was approved by outside legal and accounting experts.’ » Read more

AIPAC Gets Down and Dirty in Pushback vs. Defamation Suit Read more: http://www.forward.com/articles/133172/#ixzz15kcvW9Fh ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Nathan Guttman - November 19, 2010 - 1:00am The espionage case against two senior officials of the pro-Israel lobby in Washington was dropped last year. But it has not been forgotten, and it’s now threatening to draw the lobby into new depths of mudslinging. » Read more

Palestine aid models must change ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Kieron Monks - November 19, 2010 - 1:00am "Peace Starts Here" is the slogan adopted by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to promote its work in the Palestinian territories. But why does peace "start here"? Why not 60 years ago when UNRWA began its work with Palestinian refugees? Or 60 years in the future, when we will still be debating the same problems if the aid models do not change. » Read more

Israelis insist they have US backing to build in East Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian November 19, 2010 - 1:00am Israel yesterday insisted it would keep building homes in the disputed East Jerusalem area, threatening to stall a US-proposed building moratorium aimed at reviving peace efforts. Despite Washington having agreed to exclude the eastern part of the city from the 90-day moratorium, according to Israeli officials, it had still not sent a detailed letter on the understanding. Palestinians want building to halt in the West Bank and in Jerusalem, which they claim as their state. The US hopes a renewed moratorium will let Israel and the Palestinians work towards a deal on their future borders. » Read more

Stealth Power ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Yaakov Katz - November 19, 2010 - 1:00am When the gray-haired man entered the Lockheed Martin aircraft assembly plant in Fort Worth, Texas, last May, the workers thought he was just another corporate executive. His suit, tie and slightly British accent seemed to fit the mold. The man was then given the opportunity to do something that most visitors do not have when visiting the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) assembly line – sign his name inside the cockpit of a plane. » Read more