June 21st

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

PA fines date traders for selling settlement produce ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency June 21, 2012 - 12:00am JERICHO (Ma'an) -- PA consumer protection officials fined two traders in the West Bank for selling dates from Israeli settlements in violation of the government's boycott, a press statement said Wednesday. The dealers, from Jericho and Tulkarem, were ordered to pay $11,900 shekels ($3,000) and sign a commitment not to sell settlement goods, the consumer protection unit of the national economy ministry said. » Read more

Olympic Spirit Calls for Memorial ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Jessica Apple - (Opinion) June 20, 2012 - 12:00am Recently, I sat with my sons in our Tel Aviv apartment and watched a documentary about the massacre at the Munich Olympic Games in 1972. Five days before the end of the games, eight Palestinian terrorists from the group Black September broke into the Olympic Village, killing two Israelis and taking nine others hostage. The Palestinians demanded the release of more than 200 prisoners from Israel. In an ensuing battle, all nine Israeli hostages were killed. » Read more

Palestinian refugees with dream of returning home after 64 years ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua June 21, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian refugee Abdel Majid al- Mabhouh, 81, does not understand the ongoing complexities in politics, but only keeps in mind his right to return to his house and his village that he was forced to leave during the 1948 Arab- Israeli war with his family. » Read more

Principle and pragmatism demand an end to Gaza blockade ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Diab - (Opinion) June 20, 2012 - 12:00am Thursday marked the fifth anniversary of Israel’s imposition of a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. Although the land, sea and air blockade has not made Israelis any safer or enhanced Israel’s security, it has had a clear humanitarian and economic impact on Gazans. » Read more