January 21st

Obama must call Israeli settlements illegal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian (Opinion) January 20, 2011 - 1:00am "To veto or not to veto?" That is the agonising question that has President Barack Obama pacing the battlements of the White House waiting to dodge the slings and arrows of outraged Aipac. Provoked by the latest demolition in East Jerusalem, no fewer than 120 countries have sponsored a UN resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity. Hillary Clinton has also condemned it as "illegitimate", but the resolution introduces precision by terming the settlements as "illegal". » Read more

Student's answer on civics test: Death to Arabs ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Tomer Velmer - January 19, 2011 - 1:00am Three weeks after the publication of a petition calling on Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar to take action against racism spreading within schools and the general public, teachers told Ynet about the harsh reality they are forced to face daily. » Read more

Palestinian state looming ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Eitan Haber - (Opinion) January 20, 2011 - 1:00am In recent weeks, the Israeli and global media have been publishing a series of boring, repetitive stories: Ecuador has recognized the Palestinians state. Argentina has recognized the Palestinian state. And Brazil as well. And Bolivia too. And, ouch, also Uruguay. What’s going on here? It’s the same boring story every time, with only the country’s name changing. Big deal. Who cares about Uruguay anyway? And Bolivia, come on! As to Brazil – well, we overcame Pharaoh; we shall overcome Brazil as well. And what about Argentina? Did they even solve their own Maradona problems? » Read more

Settlement issue isn’t Israel's problem, it's Obama's ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Natasha Mozgovaya - (Opinion) January 21, 2011 - 1:00am Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday the U.S. administration doesn’t see the proposed resolution which demands an immediate freeze of all construction at the settlements, discussed at the UN Security Council on Wednesday, as helpful to the peace process. In fact, it’s mostly unhelpful to the Obama Administration. » Read more

Ex Blair aide: U.K. believed Netanyahu was untrustworthy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz January 20, 2011 - 1:00am Former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair did not trust then Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a former Blair aide was quoted as writing in his newly published diaries on Thursday, adding that the former premier also suspected he was being recorded by Israeli security during a visit to the country. In the second volume of his diaries, former Downing Street communications chief Alistair Campbell wrote candidly of the British view of then, and current, Prime Minister Netanyahu, saying Foreign Office officials had nicknamed Netanyahu "the armor-plated bullshitter." » Read more

U.S.: Possible UN censure of settlements 'not helpful' to peace process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz January 20, 2011 - 1:00am The Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be resolved through direct peace negotiations, not by submitting resolutions to the UN Security Council condemning Israeli settlements, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday. The United States has opposed a move by Arab countries to bring a resolution condemning the settlement, but has not said it would use its veto to block passage. » Read more

IOC hosts Israeli-Palestinian sports talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Graham Dunbar - January 20, 2011 - 1:00am Israeli and Palestinian Olympic officials met Thursday to begin building closer ties and help send stronger teams to the 2012 London Games. IOC President Jacques Rogge brokered a five-hour gathering at Olympic headquarters that addressed lifting Israeli travel restrictions to allow Palestinian athletes and coaches more access between the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Palestinian athletes were promised IOC funding and Israeli support to prepare for the London Olympics. » Read more

Palestinians defy US with Security Council request ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Karin Laub - January 20, 2011 - 1:00am The Palestinian request to have the U.N. Security Council condemn Israeli settlements looks at first like another declarative gambit that changes little on the ground. But much more is at stake. Palestinians hope their Security Council initiative will give them an idea of how much support they have for future moves. These include seeking international recognition of a Palestinian state as early as this fall. » Read more

Israeli soldiers kill Palestinian gunman - army ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters January 20, 2011 - 1:00am Palestinian gunman opened fire at Israeli soldiers, who shot back and killed him, near a Jewish settlement in the West Bank on Thursday, the military said. The incident seemed likely to fuel concern in Israel that Palestinian attacks against Israelis in the occupied West Bank, which have largely subsided in the past few years, could increase if peace talks remain frozen. Major Itamar Ashkenazi, a deputy battalion commander in the area where the shooting took place, said the attacker was on a donkey when he approached the guard post near the Jewish settlement of Mevo Dotan. » Read more

Who's Afraid of the Palestinians? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Hussein Agha, Robert Malley - (Book Review) January 10, 2011 - 1:00am During the last two years, the Israeli-Palestinian peace process has suffered serious setbacks. Other than for a brief, fleeting moment, Israelis and Palestinians have had no direct political contact and there is little hope, for now at least, that this will change. Any faith Israelis and Palestinians may have in the possibility of an agreement is collapsing. » Read more