Palestinians, Army try to contain fallout of clashes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Mohammed Zaatari - June 21, 2012 - 12:00am SIDON, Lebanon: As calm returned to the Ain al-Hilweh and Nahr al-Bared refugee camps, Palestinian factions across Lebanon worked to contain the repercussions of two days of clashes between residents and the Lebanese Army. In a letter to residents of refugee camps in Lebanon, Maj. Gen, Sobhi Abu Arab, the head of the Palestinian National Security Forces in Lebanon, said there is daily contact between Palestinian leaders in Lebanon and the Lebanese Army command. » Read more

A Palestinian plan to attract Muslims back to Al-Aqsa ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Tom Heneghan - June 21, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The grand mosques in Mecca and Medina, the two holiest in Islam, draw millions of pilgrims annually. Al-Aqsa, the last of the three sacred sites the Prophet Mohammad urged Muslims to visit, sees only a few thousand foreign worshippers a year. The difference is political, not religious. The first two mosques are in Saudi Arabia, a proudly Muslim kingdom, while Al-Aqsa stands on Israeli-controlled land that may be the most disputed religious spot on earth. » Read more

UN expert slams censorship by Israel, Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from CBS News June 20, 2012 - 12:00am GENEVA — The government of Israel, the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza are all unduly limiting free speech through restrictive laws, intimidation and censorship, a U.N. human rights expert said Tuesday. The global body's independent investigator on freedom of expression, Frank La Rue, said the measures have had a chilling effect on the work of journalists and peaceful activists, and urged Israel and the Palestinians to uphold international standards on free speech. » Read more

New Solar, Wind Energy Combo Promising for Israel and Palestine ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'ariv by Yael Darel - June 19, 2012 - 12:00am A new Israeli adaptation that integrates solar energy with wind energy is arousing interest in the Palestinian Authority — precisely in places where connection to electrical infrastructure is inadequate. The “solar turbine,” developed by the Shahar Energy Company, will be on display for the first time at the Clean Tech exhibition being organized by the Mashov Company, which will take place at the beginning of July in the Tel Aviv Exhibition Grounds. » Read more

Hamas-Controlled Gaza Celebrates Morsi Victory with Little Hope ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Omar Ghraieb - June 20, 2012 - 12:00am Loud speakers attached to mosques across the Gaza Strip rang out with happiness news of Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammad Morsi’s victory in Egypt’s presidential run-off election. Gazans appeared to be elated as word of the victory by the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party standard-bearer spread throughout Gaza.  » Read more

Obama administration keeps Israeli, Palestinian wheels spinning, hopes for traction on peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press June 20, 2012 - 12:00am WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is accelerating diplomatic efforts to get Israel and the Palestinians back to peace talks although there is little evidence the two sides are ready to resume direct negotiations. » Read more

Why Susya is "Illegal" ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Moriel Rothman - (Opinion) June 20, 2012 - 12:00am Israel plans to demolish the entire village of Susya.  Defending the proposed demolition, the "Defense/Security" section of the settler news site Arutz Sheva (they file anything relating to Arabs under "defense" or "security") calls Susya an "illegal Arab outpost in the southern Hevron Hills." Their arguments are lousy and typical apologetics for Israel’s unjust land policies in the West Bank.  » Read more

Mofaz: Peace talks with PA soon to be renewed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post June 21, 2012 - 12:00am Vice Premier Shaul Mofaz said Thursday morning that he believed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks would be renewed soon without preconditions. Speaking to Israel Radio from Washington, Mofaz said that "I believe that there is an opportunity to restart negotiations. I have a firm basis for believing this will happen in the near future." » Read more

Can the Palestinian Tech-Industry Catch Up to Its Neighbors? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Calcalist by Danny Rubenstein - (Opinion) June 19, 2012 - 12:00am The name of the Arab portal “Maktoob” is well-known in Palestinian high-tech centers in Ramallah. Two Jordanian entrepreneurs, both from families of Palestinian origin, sold Maktoob two years ago to search engine giant Yahoo for $150 million. Maktoob is the biggest portal in the Arab world. It sees some 17 million surfers every month, and it includes news, computerized services, telecommunications and various technologies. » Read more

Report: Just 6% of civil service is Arab ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Tali Heruti-Sover - June 21, 2012 - 12:00am The ad campaign to encourage hiring Arab employees has generated hundreds of requests by private businesses for Arab workers. But it turns out that government ministries, which are behind the campaign, have what to be embarrassed about. » Read more