July 5th

Palestine’s winter ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star (Editorial) July 4, 2012 - 12:00am Since the so-called Arab Spring began a year and a half ago, there has been one cause conspicuous by its absence: that of Palestine. This is a subject that was described as the central issue of Arab nationalism and was the inspiration given for revolutions and military movements that have taken place since the great catastrophe of 1948. » Read more

Report: Jordan biased over Palestinians from Syria ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press July 4, 2012 - 12:00am HRW's report could not be independently verified. The Palestinians are living in a heavily-guarded housing complex near the northern border, 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of the Jordanian capital. Jordan already hosts 2 million Palestinian refugees and their descendants who fled or were driven out of their homes in Arab-Israeli wars. » Read more

US sending the wrong signals ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) July 5, 2012 - 12:00am Although Syria seems on the verge of imploding, US President Barack Obama and his Republican rival Mitt Romney — both locked in a tight presidential campaign — are still distracted, focusing elsewhere in the Middle East — yes, on Israel and its inflated ambitions! » Read more

UN envoy: Elections commission must be allowed to work in Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 5, 2012 - 12:00am UN envoy Robert Serry on Thursday called on authorities in Gaza to allow the Central Elections Commission to operate, after Hamas suspended its work. Serry, the UN special coordinator for the peace process, visited the commission's headquarters in Gaza on Thursday, a statement from his office said. » Read more

Palestinians take anti-Oslo protest to Abbas HQ ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters July 3, 2012 - 12:00am Hundreds of demonstrators marched on the offices of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday to protest against diplomatic contacts with Israel and to denounce police violence at a previous rally. Chanting for an end to the Oslo accords, which were meant to pave the way to permanent peace with Israel, the flag-waving crowd cut through Ramallah's crammed city centre under the watchful eye of scores of plainclothes security officers. » Read more

The mystery of Arafat's death affects friend and foe alike ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Alan Philps - (Opinion) July 6, 2012 - 12:00am Followers of the career of Yasser Arafat, who died in Paris almost eight years ago, will not be surprised that his ghost has now returned to haunt his successors at the head of the Palestinian Authority. Al Jazeera dropped a bombshell this week with an investigation into the still-unexplained causes of his death: a Swiss laboratory has found traces of polonium, the radioactive isotope used to assassinate the former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006, on Arafat's toothbrush and clothing. » Read more

Israel rejects settlement university in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press July 4, 2012 - 12:00am Israel's council of higher education voted Wednesday not to grant a West Bank college coveted university status, vetoing a move that could have triggered international condemnations and enraged the Palestinians. Sharon Achdut, the council's spokesman, said five out of seven members of the committee voted against upgrading the status of the college in Ariel, one of the largest Jewish settlements in the West Bank. » Read more

Israel rejects settlement university in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press July 4, 2012 - 12:00am Israel's council of higher education voted Wednesday not to grant a West Bank college coveted university status, vetoing a move that could have triggered international condemnations and enraged the Palestinians. Sharon Achdut, the council's spokesman, said five out of seven members of the committee voted against upgrading the status of the college in Ariel, one of the largest Jewish settlements in the West Bank. » Read more

Israel rejects settlement university in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press July 4, 2012 - 12:00am Israel's council of higher education voted Wednesday not to grant a West Bank college coveted university status, vetoing a move that could have triggered international condemnations and enraged the Palestinians. Sharon Achdut, the council's spokesman, said five out of seven members of the committee voted against upgrading the status of the college in Ariel, one of the largest Jewish settlements in the West Bank. » Read more

Israel's Coalition With Potential ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Peter A. Joseph - (Opinion) July 5, 2012 - 12:00am The inclination by those in the peace camp, both in Israel and the United States, to react cynically to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s surprise announcement of a coalition agreement with Kadima party chairman Shaul Mofaz was not that shocking. But it is sorely misguided. Worse, it could be detrimental to Israel’s interests. » Read more