June 30th

With September looming, unity can't wait ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gary Ackerman - (Opinion) June 30, 2011 - 12:00am While many differences exist among Jewish parliamentarians, the concept of ahavat Yisrael – literally, “love of Israel” – is common to us all. It is for this reason that 55 Jewish parliamentarians from 22 countries have assembled in Jerusalem under the auspices of the World Jewish Congress. Ahavat Yisrael means not just love of the state, the country and the land, but a joint concern and affection that Jews have always shown for one another across the globe. » Read more

What does Abbas really want? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Douglas Bloomfield - (Opinion) June 29, 2011 - 12:00am Mahmoud Abbas inspired great hope that peace was finally possible when he succeeded Yasser Arafat as president of the Palestinian Authority. Because the gap between those expectations and his performance keeps growing, along with his penchant for finding excuses instead of opportunities, he is arguably an even bigger disappointment than the unrepentant old terrorist. Few expected Arafat would ever make a real peace, but not so Abbas, who earned respect as the only PLO leader to stand up to Arafat and oppose violence as a negotiating tool. » Read more

Bread and entertainment ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Nahum Barnea - (Opinion) June 30, 2011 - 12:00am Rabbi Dov Lior should have been interrogated in connection with affairs that are much graver than the praise he lavished on a book of incitement based on Jewish Law verses: Acts carried out by the Jewish terror underground; the Rabin murder; the Goldstein massacre – all these crimes, and others, came from a milieu where Rabbi Lior was, and still is, the spiritual authority. » Read more

Friends of Israel to PM: Accept Obama terms, restart talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gil Shefler - June 30, 2011 - 12:00am Members of the International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians gathered at the King David Hotel on Tuesday for a candid conversation closed to journalists dealing with the considerable challenges facing Israel in the international arena. During the event, speakers pledged support for Israel, vociferously defending it against its critics, but in between the words of praise some genuine concern could also heard. » Read more

Hysteria, ‘hasbara’ and the flotilla ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Larry Derfner - (Opinion) June 29, 2011 - 12:00am I just love Israel’s “hasbara” campaign against Freedom Flotilla 2. I mean, butter wouldn’t melt in these people’s mouths. “There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” says Ehud Barak. Gazans are “importing televisions and plasma screens, and exporting agricultural products to the entire Arab world,” says IDF chief Benny Gantz. Yes, Gaza is economically on the mend – but not because of Israel’s good intentions; rather, despite its bad intentions. » Read more

Report: Jordan to oppose PA statehood bid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Roee Nahmias - June 29, 2011 - 12:00am A senior Jordanian official says the Hashemite kingdom will vote against a Palestinian statehood bid scheduled to be put before the UN General Assembly in September. "Jordan's top national interests will be in danger if the Palestinian Authority declares statehood unilaterally – especially in everything related to the issue of refugees, water, Jerusalem, and the borders," the UAE-based al-Bayan quoted a Jordanian state official as saying. » Read more

This time, Israel can pass the test of the Gaza flotilla ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Bradley Burston - (Opinion) June 27, 2011 - 12:00am Friends of Israel, countries and individuals that sincerely wish Israelis well, should send a message this week: Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Barak, for your sake, for Israel's sake, let the flotilla sail to Gaza. Do the right thing this time. Let it go. Many other challenges are vying for your attention. You have yet to forge a coherent policy regarding the September Palestinian UN initiative. Five years to the week that Hamas captured Gilad Shalit in Israel and brought him to Gaza, the terms of a possible exchange deal deserve close attention. » Read more

Israel tries to strike deal with Europe, US ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Attila Somfalvi - June 30, 2011 - 12:00am Government sources on Wednesday confirmed that Israeli and American officials are continuing their efforts to jump-start negotiations with the Palestinians, while Jerusalem is hoping to secure France and Britain's objection at a United Nations vote on the declaration of a Palestinian state. Germany and Italy have already announced that they will object to a unilateral declaration of statehood, while France and Britain are eager to push Israel and the Palestinians back to the negotiations table. » Read more

'IDF has no way of stopping mass non-violent protest in West Bank' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Anshel Pfeffer - June 29, 2011 - 12:00am As September draws nearer, the Israel Defense Forces has been conducting drills in order to contend with the possibility of a mass civilian uprising in the West Bank in the wake of the Palestinian bid to seek unilateral recognition in the United Nations. "A non-violent protest of 4,000 people or more, even if they only march to a checkpoint or a settlement, and especially if the Palestinian police does not deter them, will be unstoppable," one IDF officer claims. "Such a great number of determined people cannot be stopped by tear gas and rubber bullets." » Read more

Palestinians slam U.S. resolution threatening aid suspension ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua June 30, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian officials on Thursday slammed a U.S. Senate resolution threatening to cut American aid if the Palestinian leadership continued to seek recognition of state from the United Nations. "This is a shameful decision," said Nabil Shaath, a Palestinian peace negotiator, such decision should not have come from a country that plays "an important role" in mediating between the Palestinians and Israel for peace. Resolution 185, passed Wednesday, called on the U.S. President Barack Obama to veto the UN vote on the Palestinian request for recognition of their state in September. » Read more