Zvi Shalit: Netanyahu uses us for PR ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ahiya Raved - April 21, 2011 - 12:00am Zvi Shalit, grandfather of captive soldier Gilad Shalit, has expressed protest over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's publicized meeting with the soldier's parents. "You, Mr, Netanyahu are using my son and daughter-in-law with cruel cynicism to convey a sense of action when in fact nothing has been done to save my grandson," he wrote in a letter to Netanyahu. » Read more

We have the right to know where Israel is going ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Gideon Levy - (Opinion) April 21, 2011 - 12:00am A word of warning: This article is being written without the slightest cynicism; this call on Benjamin Netanyahu is being written with due sincerity and seriousness. And I'm begging him to tell us and the world what he wants and where he is heading. » Read more

Indyk: UN likely to vote in favor of Palestinian state ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post April 21, 2011 - 12:00am Martin Indyk, former US ambassador to Israel and adviser to US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, said Thursday that if no changes are made between now and September, the UN will declare a Palestinian state. "Unless the US, Israel and the Palestinians have an alternative, the Palestinian plan can not be won," Indyk told Army Radio. "If there isn't anything else, then in September there will be a vote in the UN that will recognize a Palestinian state, just like the UN recognized Israel in 1948." » Read more

Rattling the Cage: Kids are innocent, settlements aren’t ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Larry Derfner - (Opinion) April 20, 2011 - 12:00am When settlers are suspected of murdering Palestinians, do the IDF, Shin Bet and police trash their settlements and beat up their neighbors until someone confesses, which is what just happened in the village next to Itamar? » Read more

Abbas seeks 'advice' from France on declaring Palestinian statehood ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Danna Harman - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas will travel to Paris on Thursday seeking support for the expected declaration of statehood this September. "We are friends, so he can be sincere with us and to talk to us openly," Abbas said to the AFP last week, talking about French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who he is expected to meet in the afternoon. Abbas said he was planning to ask Sarkozy for “advice,” on the best approach to seeking recognition for an independent Palestinian state. » Read more

JNF Challenged on Discrimination ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Forward by Josh Nathan-Kazis - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am A challenge to the tax-exempt status of Jewish National Fund’s American arm introduces a new wrinkle into an ongoing debate over how the Internal Revenue Service should treat charities whose foreign operations run counter to public policy of the United States. A coalition of anti-Zionist groups has claimed in its challenge that JNF ethnically discriminates by refusing to sell or lease its land in Israel to non-Jews. » Read more

One last chance for Israel to reaffirm its right to exist ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Ari Shavit - (Opinion) April 21, 2011 - 12:00am Just like the Palestinians, we never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. Time after time, we reject the complex diplomatic proposal that has been placed on the table. Time after time, the next proposal is more difficult than its predecessor. Although time is against us, we recklessly refuse to realize this. We refuse today what we will ask for tomorrow and what will cause us regret the day after tomorrow. » Read more

Palestinian PM supports non violence in struggle against Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua April 20, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Wednesday voiced his support for non-violent resistance against Israel. "The great power of our non-violence program gets us closer to the moment of freedom," Fayyad said during a conference to promote peaceful struggle in the West Bank village of Bilin. He reiterated that the non-violent struggle has become part of the Palestinian National Authority's plans to establish an independent state alongside Israel. » Read more

As the Palestinians Pursue Statehood, Israel Won’t Take ‘Yes’ for an Answer ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Forward by J.J. Goldberg - (Analysis) April 20, 2011 - 12:00am This is a bit complicated, but it’s very important, so try and keep up. We’ll take questions afterward. » Read more

EU role vital to resume Palestinian-Israeli talks: Jordan's king ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua April 20, 2011 - 12:00am Jordan's King Abdullah II on Wednesday said Romania and the EU play a fundamental role in supporting efforts to attain lasting peace and security in the Middle East, the state-run Petra news agency reported. The Jordanian leader underlined the need for intensified efforts to help the Palestinians and the Israelis resume peace talks that address all final status issues leading to the creation of an independent Palestinian state that lives in peace and security along with Israel. » Read more