July 29th

The ex-spy who stepped into the cold ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Hussein Ibish, Michael Weiss - (Opinion) July 29, 2011 - 12:00am In 2007, an organization called Conflicts Forum, which at the time was being funded by the European Union, issued a report intended to promote a “positive assertion of Islamist values and thinking” in the West. It laid out a public relations campaign for rebranding “resistance movements” in the eyes of Westerners in terms of “social justice,” specifically promoting “Hamas’ and Hezbollah’s values, philosophy and wider political and social programmes.” » Read more

Palestinian 'ghosts' keep the Israeli economy moving ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Mona Issa - July 29, 2011 - 12:00am "We built Israel," says Abbas, a young migrant worker from Salem. A decade ago, he began travelling illegally from the northern West Bank to Tel Aviv to work in construction. "We have no jobs, so the only option is to work in Israel." » Read more

Rattling the Cage: The Breivik effect in Israel and abroad ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Larry Derfner - (Opinion) July 28, 2011 - 12:00am Jews that support multiculturalism today are as much of a threat to Israel and Zionism (Israeli nationalism) as they are to us. So let us fight together with Israel, with our Zionist brothers against all anti-Zionists, against all cultural Marxists/multi-culturalists. » Read more

Army seeking major intelligence collection boost ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Yaakov Katz - July 29, 2011 - 12:00am The IDF plans to dramatically boost its intelligence collection capabilities with a new multi-year plan aimed at upgrading its technological capabilities and the procurement of new systems. The plan is an integral part of Halamish – the new IDF multi-year plan that is currently under review and expected to go into effect in the beginning of 2012. » Read more

Peres holds secret talks with Palestinians in bid to restart negotiations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - July 29, 2011 - 12:00am President Shimon Peres has been holding intensive talks with Ramallah in an effort to resume negotiations and head off a unilateral Palestinian statehood bid at the UN in September. The meetings are being held in complete coordination with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. » Read more

Gov't financial crisis influences Ramadan's atmosphere in Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Emad Drimly - July 28, 2011 - 12:00am GAZA, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Although markets in the Gaza Strip have been full of goods three days before Ramadan, the fasting month, prosperity still seems absent in the coastal enclave as the goods prices are relatively lower than the previous years, merchants said Thursday. The limit purchasing in the markets comes as both the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) government in the West Bank and the deposed government of Islamic Hamas movement, which rules the Gaza Strip, are going through a severe financial crisis, which led them to delay the payment for their employees' salaries. » Read more

Worries Grow Over Palestinian U.N. Bid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from National Public Radio (NPR) by Michele Kelemen - July 28, 2011 - 12:00am Negotiating Palestinian statehood was an early priority for President Obama's administration. But these days, U.S. diplomats are spending much of their time trying to stop the Palestinians from going to the United Nations to try to win diplomatic recognition. Palestinians say they have no other choice, since negotiations are deadlocked. Some former Israeli officials came to Washington this week to urge the U.S. to help. Retired Maj. Gen. Shlomo Gazit says he understands that Washington has other priorities these days. And he says most Israelis are just fine with that. » Read more

PLO central council backs Abbas' determination to approach UN ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua July 28, 2011 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The Central Committee of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) announced on Thursday that it backs Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' attitude to approach the United Nations in September to gain a full membership of the state of Palestine. The central council, which marked the end of a two-day meeting chaired by Abbas in Ramallah is the semi-parliament of the Palestinians in exile and consists of 120 members. » Read more

Israel sees diluted apology to Turkey on ship raid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Dan Williams - July 29, 2011 - 12:00am JERUSALEM, July 29 (Reuters) - Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak floated a watered-down apology to Turkey on Friday for the killing of nine of its citizens aboard a pro-Palestinian activist ship that tried to run the Gaza Strip blockade. Barak's public proposal appeared aimed at testing the depth of Israel's 13-month impasse with Ankara, and winning over more hawkish members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition who say the onus should be on Turkey to make amends. » Read more

Peace group: Settlers attack international observers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 29, 2011 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli settlers from the illegal outpost of Havat Maon, south of Hebron, attacked two international observers on Wednesday, hitting one on the head with an iron bar, the Christian Peacemaker Teams said. "At approximately 9:15 AM on July 27, 2011, masked settlers from the Havat Maon outpost armed with stones and an iron bar harassed three Palestinian shepherds and attacked two international observers. The settlers threw stones at the internationals, and hit one of them in the head with an iron bar," a CPT statement said. » Read more