July 27th

Lara Friedman Responds to Dani Dayan ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Lara Friedman - (Opinion) July 26, 2012 - 12:00am Today’s New York Times features an op-ed by Dani Dayan, the head of the Yesha Council (the group that represents settlers and their interests). » Read more

Give Palestinian Third Parties a Chance ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Michael Sharnoff - (Opinion) July 26, 2012 - 12:00am No, Dani Dayan, the status quo in the West Bank cannot continue.  » Read more

Latest Target For Palestinians' Protest? Their Leader ATFP World Press Roundup Article from National Public Radio (NPR) by Lourdes Garcia-Navarro - July 26, 2012 - 12:00am The Kalandia checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah in the West Bank is best known as a flashpoint between Palestinian protesters and Israeli security forces. Images of masked youths throwing rocks by the painted concrete wall here are ubiquitous. Protesters gathered at Kalandia again last week, but their focus wasn't Israeli soldiers: It was Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. » Read more

Gaza Christians, Hamas at Odds Over Conversions to Islam ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Saleh Jadallah - July 27, 2012 - 12:00am The recent conversion of Palestinian Christians to Islam has sparked tensions between Hamas, the Islamist group ruling the Gaza Strip, and the Christian minority here. Both publicly traded barbs for the first time since Hamas took over Gaza Strip from its rival, Fatah, after the 2006 parliamentary elections. » Read more

Birthright’s triumphs and flaws ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Rachel Cohen - (Opinion) July 25, 2012 - 12:00am After being privileged last year to go on a Taglit-Birthright trip with 40 students from Johns Hopkins University, last month I traveled with 12 other student leaders to Israel and the West Bank with J Street U. Since then I’ve been reflecting a great deal on these two very different experiences. » Read more

Adviser to Palestinian president Abbas visits Auschwitz memorial ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press July 27, 2012 - 12:00am An adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visited the memorial at the German Nazi death camp of Auschwitz to pay respect to camp victims on Friday. Ziad al-Bandak, who advises Abbas on Religious affairs, visited prisoner blocs, gas chambers and a crematorium in the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex that the Germans built and operated in southern Poland during their World War II occupation of the country. Some 1.5 million people, mostly Jews, were killed in the camp from 1940-45. » Read more

West Bank stalemate keeps the Right in power ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Jay Bushinsky - (Opinion) July 26, 2012 - 12:00am Under normal circumstances, the rash of suicides and attempted suicides by veteran Israelis unable to cope with their financial problems would be a powerful catalyst for change. » Read more

Israel bans 5 Gaza women from study in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 27, 2012 - 12:00am Israel's Defense Ministry said Thursday it would not allow five female students from Gaza to go to university in the West Bank, rights groups said. In May, Israel's Supreme Court ordered the ministry to reconsider its refusal to allow the students to travel to the West Bank, after Israel admitted there were no individual security concerns about any of the students. » Read more

A win-lose situation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Hirsh Goodman - (Opinion) July 27, 2012 - 12:00am There are situations – the best – win-win, where both sides get something they want out of a deal. Then there is the win-lose situation where you think you have won, but in fact are destined to pay a heavy price, sort of like winning second prize in a lottery that sends you a resort in Albania for a month. » Read more

Obama to sign Israel security bill on eve of Romney visit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 27, 2012 - 12:00am President Barack Obama will sign a bill to strengthen US-Israeli military cooperation on Friday on the eve of a visit to Israel by his Republican presidential challenger, Mitt Romney. Obama will seek to stress his commitment to Israel's security for American Jewish voters at a White House ceremony that appeared timed to upstage Romney, who has accused the president of undermining US-Israeli ties. Congress passed the legislation, the US-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act, with broad support from Obama's Democrats and Republicans last week. » Read more