Palestinian businessmen searching for new markets ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Abdullah Omar - July 9, 2012 - 12:00am From furniture to cosmetics to food, dozens of Palestinian companies are seeking new markets in Jordan. Fifty seven Palestinian companies, including seven from Gaza, were in Amman this week for the first-ever exhibition in Jordan to find local partners and boost investment in the Palestinian territories. » Read more

If there are no Palestinians, there's no Israeli occupation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Eyal Gross - (Analysis) July 10, 2012 - 12:00am The Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits occupying powers from settling their own populations in occupied lands. But that's not a problem for Israel, according to the committee set up by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman to examine construction in the West Bank, because Israel is not a "military occupier" in the territories. » Read more

Gaza govt begins demolition of homes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 8, 2012 - 12:00am The Gaza government on Sunday began the demolition of several homes in Gaza City, saying they are built on government land. Abu Al-Abed Abu Omra, whose house is threatened with demolition, told Ma'an that police officers arrived late Saturday night and told residents to evacuate their homes in order to facilitate the demolition. He said that there are more than 120 families living in the 15-dunams area under threat, near Gaza's Al-Azhar University, and they have been there since 1948. » Read more

Israeli jets strike south Gaza, no injuries ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 10, 2012 - 12:00am Israeli fighter jets on Tuesday morning bombarded several sites in the southern Gaza Strip, without causing injuries. Three missiles landed in a militant base of the Al-Ansar Brigades, the military wing of Al-Ahrar movement, in Khan Younis, witnesses said. The airstrike caused material damage, but no injuries were reported. Another unidentified site was bombed in Rafah. An Israeli military statement said the forces targeted "two Hamas terror activity sites," confirming direct hits. » Read more

US displeased with Levy Report ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yitzhak Benhorin - July 10, 2012 - 12:00am The American Administration vehemently disagrees with the findings of the Levy Report, which states that the Israeli government must promote the legitimization of all West Bank settlements and outposts. Speaking at a press briefing on Monday evening, State Department Spokesman Patrick Ventrell said that, "The US position on settlements is clear. » Read more

Netanyahu to discuss legal status of West Bank settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua July 10, 2012 - 12:00am Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said he will discuss a recent report stating that settlements in the West Bank are not illegal. "This report, in my opinion, discusses the question of the legality and legitimacy of the settlement movement in Judea and Samaria on the basis of the facts and claims that merit serious examination," said a statement sent by the prime minister's office. "I will submit this report to the Ministerial Committee on Settlement Affairs I established and we will discuss it and make a decision," Netanyahu said. » Read more

Abbas hurting himself ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Alex Fishman - (Opinion) July 9, 2012 - 12:00am Mahmoud Abbas misses no Mideastern opportunity to fall into a pothole. What can you say, the man simply has no luck. He had a terrible year: Every international, regional or domestic initiative he touched has collapsed. » Read more

Israeli settler population surges under Netanyahu ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Amy Teibel - July 9, 2012 - 12:00am Since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was elected more than three years ago, the Jewish population in the West Bank has ballooned by 18 percent, drawing tens of thousands of Israelis to the territory the Palestinians claim as the heartland of a future state, according to figures obtained by The Associated Press. » Read more

Abbas' Iran visit to explore options, not appease Ahmadinejad ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Adam Gonn - (Analysis) July 10, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will make his first-ever visit to Iran next month, when he attends the Non-Aligned Movement Summit to be held in Tehran. "Historically speaking, this forum and its meetings have been extremely important for the Palestinians during the last 30-40 years," Prof. Bassem Zbeidi of Birzeit University told Xinhua on Monday. "We have plenty of supporters in this organization and Palestinians have a very good record in attending its meeting," he added. » Read more

Former Israeli Premier Is Cleared of Most Corruption Charges ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - July 10, 2012 - 12:00am Ehud Olmert, a former prime minister of Israel, was acquitted of corruption charges in two matters by a Jerusalem court on Tuesday, but convicted in a third, in a high-profile corruption prosecution that cut short his term in office and changed the course of Israeli politics and diplomacy. Mr. Olmert was convicted of breach of trust, the least serious of the charges he faced, and will be sentenced in September, according to court documents. » Read more