Abbas says France backs his reconciliation plan with Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua April 22, 2011 - 12:00am Visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday his reconciliation plan with Hamas has won support from French President Nicolas Sarkozy during their meeting at the Elysee Palace. Abbas said he told Sarkozy he would go to the Gaza Strip to meet Hamas leaders in a bid to establish a coalition government and choose a proper date for elections. The plans were backed by the French leader, he said. In March, Abbas had said he was willing to accept Hamas leader Ismail Haneya's invitation to visit Gaza. » Read more

UN urges bold steps to relaunch Mideast peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Patrick Worsnip - April 21, 2011 - 12:00am The United Nations called on Thursday for "bold and decisive steps" to relaunch the Israeli-Palestinian peace process as the region awaits a possible new initiative by U.S. President Barack Obama. U.N. political chief Lynn Pascoe and ambassadors of key Security Council countries said it was important to break the deadlock soon as a proclaimed September deadline for reaching an agreement draws closer. » Read more

Abbas to EU: lead Mideast peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Euronews (Interview) April 21, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has made clear that he intends to take the question of statehood to the United Nations this September, unless there is progress on the issue before then. Abbas spoke with euronews in Tunis, before arriving in Europe. Mohammed Shaikhibrahim, euronews: “President Abbas, the US has failed to bring about an end to Israel’s settlement-building policy in the West Bank. The Americans have brandished their veto when questions over censure of Israel came up in the UN Security Council. Do you still count on the US to advance the peace process?” » Read more

What Future for the Goldstone Report? Beyond the Name ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy by Richard Falk - (Opinion) April 22, 2011 - 12:00am Ever since it first struck the raw nerve of Israeli political consciousness, I thought it misleading to associate the Goldstone Report so exclusively with its chair, Judge Richard Goldstone. After all, despite his deserved prominence as an international jurist, he was the least qualified substantively of the four members of the mission. » Read more

Housing project aims to keep Christians in Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) by Majeda El Batch - April 22, 2011 - 12:00am If you build it, they will come -- or perhaps just stay. That's the hope of the Christian leadership in Jerusalem, which is building homes in a bid to stem an exodus of Christians. While the Holy City draws hundreds of thousands of Christian pilgrims, particularly over Easter when they come to retrace the steps Jesus took to his crucifixion, much of the city's small Christian population would rather leave. » Read more

Palestinian Authority threatens to block international mail ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by David Miller - April 21, 2011 - 12:00am The Palestinian Authority will stop sending and receiving international mail beginning next month, a Palestinian minister has warned, asserting that Israel has failed to implement a 2008 agreement that would let the PA have direct postal relations with the rest of the world. » Read more

Landau: Israel should annex W. Bank if PA get statehood ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Mordechai Twerksy - April 21, 2011 - 12:00am Dr. Uzi Landau, Israel's Minister of National Infrastructure, warns that in the event of a unilateral United Nations declaration of a Palestinian state, he will call upon Israel to annex the Jordan Valley and large, Jewish populated blocs in the West Bank: » Read more

3 UNRWA workers injured from Gaza projectile fire ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post April 22, 2011 - 12:00am Three UNWRA workers were injured Friday morning after a projectile fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel landed near the Karni border crossing and hit a UN building. Palestinians reported three injured from alleged IDF tank fire in the Sajaiye neighborhood east of Gaza City, according to a report by the Ma'an news agency. The IDF denied the report, saying that it was not operating in the area and that the three UN workers were injured due to an erroneously fired mortar or rocket. » Read more

US: Shelve Goldstone Report ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yitzhak Benhorin - April 21, 2011 - 12:00am America against Goldstone: US Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, urged the world body Thursday to end its preoccupation with a report accusing Israel of committing war crimes during the Gaza War. "The United States urges the United Nations to end, once and for all, its actions in relation to the Goldstone Report," she said. » Read more

US: Shelve Goldstone Report ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yitzhak Benhorin - April 21, 2011 - 12:00am America against Goldstone: US Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, urged the world body Thursday to end its preoccupation with a report accusing Israel of committing war crimes during the Gaza War. "The United States urges the United Nations to end, once and for all, its actions in relation to the Goldstone Report," she said. » Read more