May 23rd

A Message to Khaled Mishal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Tariq al-Homayed - May 23, 2011 - 12:00am Khaled Mishal, the leader of the Hamas movement, demonstrated strong political pragmatism after the uprising witnessed by Syria, as the inter-Palestinian reconciliation agreement was completed quickly in Cairo after years of procrastination. The question today is: does Mishal demonstrate as much political intelligence as pragmatism? » Read more

Palestinians can take the initiative after Israel balks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National (Editorial) May 22, 2011 - 12:00am If the White House was trying to fire a warning shot at the United States' "unshakeable" ally in the Middle East, it hit its target. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, at the weekend responded defensively to President Barack Obama's suggestion that peace with the Palestinians depended on a return to pre-1967 borders. "Israel is prepared to make generous compromises for peace," Mr Netanyahu said in Washington, but "it cannot go back to the 1967 lines. These lines are indefensible". » Read more

UC Debates Free Speech Vs. Federal Protection ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Rex Weiner - May 18, 2011 - 12:00am Shlomo Dubnov, an associate professor at University of California, San Diego, had an unusually busy schedule the first week of May. » Read more

Palestinians plan fresh protests to mark war anniversary ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Harriet Sherwood - May 22, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian refugees are planning a fresh round of marches on Israel next month, amid signs that grassroots protests could gain momentum from deep disillusion over the prospects for peace talks and the impact of the Arab Spring. A committee behind demonstrations last weekend, in which 14 people were killed on the Lebanese and Syrian borders, have called for further protests on 5 June to mark the anniversary of the 1967 Six Day War, during which Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. » Read more

US 'would repeat Bin Laden raid' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC World News (Interview) May 21, 2011 - 12:00am Here is the full transcript of the BBC's interview with President Barack Obama. Andrew Marr: could I start by going back to that extraordinary moment a fortnight ago when you know that you had got Bin Laden. This was not simply presumably another difficult decision. As an American, never mind as president, there was something personal about it. » Read more

Israel approves 294 new W. Bank homes in Betar Illit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post May 22, 2011 - 12:00am The Defense Ministry has approved the construction of 294 new homes in Betar Illit, the second largest West Bank Jewish city, located near the Gush Etzion settlement bloc. Although the approval was granted at the end of April, it was first publicized in the last few days – including by Peace Now on Sunday – as part of an overall report on settlement activity. News of the Betar Illit units came as Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon traveled to another settlement bloc, Ma’aleh Adumim, and called for more building there, particularly in an area known as E-1. » Read more

When peace met partisanship ATFP World Press Roundup Article from by David Halperin, Peter Joseph - (Opinion) May 22, 2011 - 12:00am The criticism of President Obama’s speech this week, in particular the reaction to the statement that “the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps,” underscores the lamentable, polarized discourse in our nation – and in the Jewish community – when it comes to Israel and the pursuit of a lasting two-state solution. » Read more

Let’s sit and do nothing ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ahmad Tibi - (Opinion) May 23, 2011 - 12:00am Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished Congress members. Again we meet, while the world remains the same. Israel faces threats of extermination; we are being persecuted and are getting no rest. As your ally, I came here to draw encouragement for the “sit and do nothing” policy I’ve been leading with great skill. » Read more

The Israeli reality that Obama doesn't understand ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Merav Michaeli - (Opinion) May 23, 2011 - 12:00am "President Obama doesn't understand the reality," according to "associates" of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who spoke after the meeting between the two leaders. And when that is the headline of the daily Yisrael Hayom, it is clearly Netanyahu's headline: "President Obama doesn't understand the reality." » Read more

Netanyahu caught unprepared by Obama's stern message ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Adam Gonn - May 22, 2011 - 12:00am Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried on Sunday to smooth over speculation of a personal falling out with United States President Barack Obama. It was during a televised meeting between the two at the White House on Friday that Netanyahu, in unusually blunt words, criticized Obama for his Middle East policy speech delivered the previous day. » Read more