June 13th

A window opens, but Egypt refuses responsibility for Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Mouin Rabbani - (Opinion) May 30, 2011 - 12:00am The Egyptian decision to permanently reopen the Rafah border crossing does not end the blockade of the Gaza Strip, but is nevertheless a highly significant development. According to the new regulations, Rafah will operate for 12 hours, six days a week as a passenger terminal only. Men aged 18 to 40 will require permits to use the crossing and trade - the passage of goods and materials in commercial quantities - continues to be prohibited. » Read more

As Bibi Slouches Toward September ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Forward by J.J. Goldberg - (Opinion) May 25, 2011 - 12:00am Benjamin Netanyahu had ample reason to congratulate himself on a job well done as he headed home from his five-day visit to Washington, D.C. He received thunderous hero’s welcomes from Congress and the pro-Israel lobby, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which greeted him with its biggest-ever display of muscle. All this will serve him well at home. True, he had an ugly head-butt with President Obama at the White House, but this just reinforces his street cred, solidifies his coalition and dispirits his critics. » Read more

J'lem unsure Obama moved EU against Palestinian UN bid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon - May 30, 2011 - 12:00am In Jerusalem’s post mortem evaluations of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s stormy visit to Washington, questions were raised about the wisdom of the US trying to prevent European support of a Palestinian state at the UN by first setting a return to the 1967 lines, with mutual land swaps, as the negotiation baseline. White House officials have said that one of the reasons why President Barack Obama unveiled this as the new US position in his May 19 speech on the Middle East was to better be able to convince the Europeans that there was no need to support a Palestinian state. » Read more

The limits of rhetoric ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Jeff Barak - (Opinion) May 29, 2011 - 12:00am It’s a sad commentary on the state of Israel’s opposition, but the best response to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s speech last week came not from opposition leader Tzipi Livni or from anybody on the Left, but from former prime minister Ehud Olmert. » Read more

Netanyahu's controversial plan to divide the Negev ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Attila Somfalvi - May 29, 2011 - 12:00am The government will discuss a wide-scale reform in Bedouin lands in the Negev next Sunday, Ynet learned. If the plan goes through, Bedouins will get extensive lands which will be recognized by the State. Ministers are slated to vote on the plan, which was first exposed by Ynet, before a special committee decides on the extent of lands the Bedouins will receive. » Read more

Obama is letting Netanyahu off the hook ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - (Opinion) May 30, 2011 - 12:00am Who said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hasn't changed? Who would have believed that the dear son of that combative family would utter indecent words like "Palestinian state" without spitting immediately after? Who would have dreamt that the prince of the right would even hint at the possibility that settlements would be evacuated? A veritable revolution. Instead of brandishing a thorn-filled club, Netanyahu is waving a fresh olive branch; he has learned that there is no better way to perpetuate the frozen peace process, expand settlements and increase his political longevity. » Read more

Hamas is good for Netanyahu's 'no-partner' strategy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Zvi Barel - (Opinion) May 29, 2011 - 12:00am President Barack Obama was deeply understanding of Israel's resistance to negotiating with Hamas. So much so that in the blaze of fiery words he unleashed on Benjanim Netanyahu, AIPAC and the Israeli public, Obama gave Hamas the status it always wanted: the tripwire for any and all negotiations with Israel. This status is now approved and sanctioned by the United States. » Read more

Netanyahu warns Egypt losing control of growing terror groups in Sinai ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Jack Khoury, Jonathan Lis - May 30, 2011 - 12:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Monday that Egypt's new military government was having a "hard time" controlling the rise of international terror organizations in the Sinai Peninsula. "Egypt is having a hard time realizing its sovereignty in Sinai," Netanyahu said during a meeting of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. "International terror organizations are stirring in Sinai and their presence is increasing due to Sinai's connection to Gaza." » Read more

Israeli, Palestinian presidents secretly meet to resume peace talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua May 29, 2011 - 12:00am JERUSALEM, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas allegedly held secret talks meant to reach a formula that would enable the stalled peace process to resume, and the Palestinians to abort efforts to unilaterally seek United Nations recognition of statehood in September. The negotiations between Peres and Abbas were "real, prolonged and confidential," Israeli daily Ma'ariv reported on Sunday. » Read more

Israel arrests eight in West Bank prior to clashes between Palestinians, settlers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua May 30, 2011 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army arrested eight Palestinians in the West Bank before clashes erupted between dozens of youths and Jewish settlers, witnesses and security sources said Monday. The Israeli forces demolished a store selling construction materials in Qalqilya city and leveled agricultural lands near the holy city of Bethlehem, which the Palestinians said was to expand roads leading to a Jewish settlement in the area. Israel Radio reported that the wanted Palestinians were arrested in several cities in the West Bank. » Read more