Settlers use tourism to draw Israelis to West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Tia Goldenberg - May 6, 2011 - 12:00am Perched atop a West Bank hill, the Binyamin region visitors center invites travelers to look past the military jeeps patrolling the surrounding area and enjoy nature, archaeological sites and bucolic vineyards. Jewish settlers are promoting tourism to draw Israelis who might otherwise never set foot in the West Bank, an occupied area Palestinians want as part of a future state. Proponents hope that drawing visitors will help increase support for retaining the territory, while critics say the tourism campaign, like Jewish settlements, is a foothold that stands in the way of making peace. » Read more

Settlers use tourism to draw Israelis to West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Tia Goldenberg - May 6, 2011 - 12:00am Perched atop a West Bank hill, the Binyamin region visitors center invites travelers to look past the military jeeps patrolling the surrounding area and enjoy nature, archaeological sites and bucolic vineyards. Jewish settlers are promoting tourism to draw Israelis who might otherwise never set foot in the West Bank, an occupied area Palestinians want as part of a future state. Proponents hope that drawing visitors will help increase support for retaining the territory, while critics say the tourism campaign, like Jewish settlements, is a foothold that stands in the way of making peace. » Read more

Hamas leader calls to keep truce with Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Nidal al-Mughrabi - May 5, 2011 - 12:00am The Hamas leader in Gaza urged militant groups on Thursday to stick with a de facto truce with Israel, announced after fighting last month, so as to give a Palestinian reconciliation deal with Fatah rivals a chance. "I call for giving the coming government a chance by maintaining" the ceasefire deal, Ismail Haniyeh said in a speech, a day after Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement signed a unity pact in Cairo. "We do not fear threats. We do not fear the occupation," he added, referring to Israel. » Read more

Hamas leader calls to keep truce with Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Nidal al-Mughrabi - May 5, 2011 - 12:00am The Hamas leader in Gaza urged militant groups on Thursday to stick with a de facto truce with Israel, announced after fighting last month, so as to give a Palestinian reconciliation deal with Fatah rivals a chance. "I call for giving the coming government a chance by maintaining" the ceasefire deal, Ismail Haniyeh said in a speech, a day after Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement signed a unity pact in Cairo. "We do not fear threats. We do not fear the occupation," he added, referring to Israel. » Read more

Hamas chief criticizes way bin Laden killed, buried ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) May 5, 2011 - 12:00am Khalid Mash'al, head of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, on Thursday criticized the method used by US special forces to kill Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and his "burial at sea." Mash'al called on the West to "recognize the atrocity of the American raid and the burial of (bin Laden's body) at sea," in remarks to AFP in the Egyptian capital. "Arabs and Muslims are human beings and the West should treat them as such, regardless of whether they are partisans or opponents of Osama bin Laden." » Read more

Hamas chief criticizes way bin Laden killed, buried ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) May 5, 2011 - 12:00am Khalid Mash'al, head of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, on Thursday criticized the method used by US special forces to kill Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and his "burial at sea." Mash'al called on the West to "recognize the atrocity of the American raid and the burial of (bin Laden's body) at sea," in remarks to AFP in the Egyptian capital. "Arabs and Muslims are human beings and the West should treat them as such, regardless of whether they are partisans or opponents of Osama bin Laden." » Read more

5 Palestinians arrested in Jenin operation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency May 5, 2011 - 12:00am Israel's army arrested five Palestinians from the northern West Bank early Friday, residents said. An undercover unit raided Jenin refugee camp and seized Islamic Jihad leader Bassam As-Saadi, who had recently been released from Israeli prison after completing an eight-year jail term. Soldiers forced family members into one room while they searched the house and eventually departed with As-Saadi, who was bound before being taken to an unknown location, his wife told Ma'an. » Read more

Netanyahu: France says PA must OK Jewish state ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) May 6, 2011 - 12:00am Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday after talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy that France wants the new Palestinian government to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. "What I heard from President Sarkozy is that they must recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people," Netanyahu said outside the Elysee Palace in Paris, after a meeting he described as "good, far-ranging and friendly". » Read more

Netanyahu: France says PA must OK Jewish state ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) May 6, 2011 - 12:00am Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday after talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy that France wants the new Palestinian government to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. "What I heard from President Sarkozy is that they must recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people," Netanyahu said outside the Elysee Palace in Paris, after a meeting he described as "good, far-ranging and friendly". » Read more

Netanyahu: France says PA must OK Jewish state ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) May 6, 2011 - 12:00am Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday after talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy that France wants the new Palestinian government to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. "What I heard from President Sarkozy is that they must recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people," Netanyahu said outside the Elysee Palace in Paris, after a meeting he described as "good, far-ranging and friendly". » Read more