April 20th

Abbas: We will head to the UN in September ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 20, 2011 - 12:00am President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated Tuesday his intention to seek UN recognition of a Palestinian state by September, saying he believed he would have the backing of the US administration. In an interview with the daily newspaper Al-Ayyam, the second in as many days, the president said he would shortly ask his American counterpart, "if he is capable of honoring his promise [for a Palestinian state in September] or not." » Read more

Palestinians counting on Obama for state ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Elior Levy - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am The Palestinians are signaling they are still planning to go ahead with efforts to declare an independent state with the backing of the United Nations. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said during a visit in Tunisia that the Palestinian Authority is ready to establish a state. "We are counting on the words of US President Barack Obama who said his vision is to see a Palestinian state this coming September according to a deadline set by the Quartet." » Read more

Palestinian president rejects new uprising against Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Bouazza Ben Bouazza - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am The Palestinian president said Wednesday he is opposed to another armed uprising against Israel, even if faltering peace efforts fail later this year. Mahmoud Abbas told reporters in Tunisia that he remains committed to the U.S.-backed target of reaching a negotiated peace agreement with Israel by September. But with talks stalled for months, he repeated his plan to unilaterally seek United Nations endorsement of Palestinian independence in the absence of a deal. » Read more

Activist sets sail to protect Gaza fishermen from IDF ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post (Editorial) April 20, 2011 - 12:00am A small boat with foreign and Gazan passengers sailed from Gaza Wednesday purporting to be "accompanying Palestinian fishermen to ensure the navy does not attack or abuse them." The vessel, Oliva, was organized by the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) organization of which Italian activist Vittorio Arrigoni, who was killed in Gaza earlier this month, was a member. One ISM member on the ship told Israeli media that passengers intended to record any potential IDF "attacks" on fishermen in the Mediterranean, as well as any "human rights violations." » Read more

Hamas Bides Its Time ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Danny Rubenstein - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS, THE PALESTINIAN Authority has been engaging in a media campaign of unprecedented scope. The campaign slogan is: “End the Schism” and organized demonstrations, sit-in strikes, conferences by public institutions, dozens (if not hundreds) of newspaper articles, posters and protest marches have all been thrown into the fray. » Read more

GAZA STRIP: Suspect in killing of Italian activist dies in standoff ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Ahmed al-Dabba - April 19, 2011 - 12:00am Hamas rulers in the Gaza Strip said Tuesday that a man suspected of killing an Italian pro-Palestinian activist in the territory committed suicide during a tense police standoff. The suspect, a Jordanian citizen, shot himself after he hurled a grenade at two of his partners, critically injuring one of them, the Hamas-run Interior Ministry said in a statement published on its website. Three policemen were injured during an exchange of fire, the statement added. » Read more

Hamas Captures Suspect in Italian’s Killing; 2 Others Dead ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Fares Akram - April 19, 2011 - 12:00am Two of the extremists suspected of killing an Italian activist died and a third was captured on Tuesday when Hamas security troops stormed a building in central Gaza where the men were hiding, according to the Gazan Interior Ministry. A ministry statement said that one of the hunted men, who had Jordanian citizenship, threw a grenade at the other two — both Palestinians — to prevent them from surrendering. One was fatally injured. The Jordanian then killed himself with a gunshot to the head, the statement said. The third man, who was injured, was taken into custody. » Read more

Past Holds Clue to Goldstone’s Shift on the Gaza War ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner, Jennifer Medina - April 19, 2011 - 12:00am Two decades ago, Richard Goldstone, a Jewish South African judge, played a vital role in reconciling his country’s white minority government and rising black majority movement by leading a fact-finding mission into black violence that offered a Solomonic conclusion. The violence, he found, was endemic, but a covert government campaign was sponsoring black killings to undermine the opposition. Heads rolled, hands were shaken and Mr. Goldstone was hailed as the most trusted man in the country, going on to a distinguished international career. » Read more

Israel and Palestine don't need more friends – but the peace process does ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Jonathan Freedland - (Opinion) April 20, 2011 - 12:00am I spent much of last week being a Palestinian. And not just any Palestinian. I was the man charged with negotiating their future. Over the course of two full days I was Saeb Erekat, longtime (and now caretaker) negotiations chief of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, facing off against an Israeli team led by one of Binyamin Netanyahu's closest confidants. » Read more

Palestinian refugees get new homes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Zoi Constantine - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am Muneeb al Sayed perched his young grandson on the table and accepted a manila envelope, as the crowd around him broke into applause. Inside the envelope yesterday were the keys to an apartment for Mr al Sayed, 54, and his family, in the Nahr el Bared Palestinian refugee camp in the north of Lebanon. "I'm very, very happy," he said, holding the hand of his four-year-old grandson, also called Muneeb, who was dressed up for the occasion in a suit and tie. "We have families and children and we need a place to live." » Read more