U. of Calif. Weighs Banning 'Hate' Speech ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Naomi Zeveloff - August 2, 2012 - 12:00am The University of California, birthplace of the 1960s campus Free Speech Movement, is now considering a proposal that would ban certain forms of speech as a result of a report on Jews and the Israel debate at its schools. The July 9 report, issued by an advisory panel to UC President Mark Yudof, concluded that Jewish students sometimes face a hostile environment at UC schools in the form of anti-Israel protests. It recommends that UC “seek opportunities to prohibit hate speech on campus.” » Read more

Renewal of Orient House closure 'an act of piracy' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 2, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Wednesday that Israel's decision to renew a closure of the former PLO office in Jerusalem was "an act of piracy." He wrote in a letter to foreign officials in Jerusalem that "such illegal Israeli measures are considered null and void by the international community." Erekat said Israel was violating international law and UN resolutions by continuing to close Palestinian institutions in east Jerusalem, which was occupied by Israel in 1967. » Read more

Palestinian freedom counts for nothing - or so it seems ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Hill by Mustafa Barghouthi - (Blog) August 2, 2012 - 12:00am Gov. Romney’s visit to Israel – and occupied East Jerusalem – very nearly succeeded in erasing Palestine from the agenda. Save for a short visit with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, Palestine was largely a non-matter. And Romney did not publicly raise Palestinian rights a single time.  » Read more

Palestinian Divisions Displayed During Romney, Haniyeh Visits ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Ayyam by Hani al-Masri - (Opinion) August 1, 2012 - 12:00am As is customary for American presidential candidates, Republican candidate Mitt Romney visited Israel. The aim of the visit was to show that he was the “closer friend” to Israel [compared to President Barack Obama]. » Read more

Hamas leader downplays expectations for Egypt ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 2, 2012 - 12:00am A Hamas official on Wednesday downplayed expectations from Egypt's President Muhammad Mursi following Gaza premier Ismail Haniyeh's recent visit to Cairo. Hamas leader Ahmad Yousef told Ma'an that Haniyeh met with Mursi to congratulate him on his recent election and to discuss problems facing the Gaza Strip, particularly the power crisis and medical shortages. The transition from Cairo's pledges to ease life in Gaza to actions on the ground will be left to specialists within ministries and security services, Yousef said. » Read more

Palestinians say Jewish settlers over half million in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua August 2, 2012 - 12:00am The number of Jewish settlers in the West Bank has exceeded half a million, an official Palestinian report said Thursday. According to the report issued by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, more than 536,000 Israeli settlers live in 144 settlements and outposts in the West Bank. The annual report showed that the number of settlers has seen a 1.3-percent increase compared to the year-end of 2010. The peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been stalled since 2010 because Israel insisted to continue settlement construction in the West Bank.

US-Israeli threats against Iran put diplomacy last ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National (Editorial) August 3, 2012 - 12:00am Not a week goes by before another embattled Israeli or American politician prods the dispute over Iran's nuclear programme. And every week this tactic - all stick, no carrot - fails to deliver any progress to bring a peaceful end to the standoff. » Read more

Interpol circulates image of Bulgaria bus bomber ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters August 2, 2012 - 12:00am Bulgaria has asked Interpol member countries to circulate a computer-generated image of a suicide bomber who killed five Israeli tourists and a bus driver on the Black Sea coast two weeks ago, the police organisation said on Thursday. Experts in Bulgaria have constructed an image of the man, aged around 30 and with swept-back black hair and dark eyes, using remains of his body recovered from the bus wreckage. » Read more

Allegations against Clinton aide Abedin stir Jewish concerns about attacks on ‘outsiders’ ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ron Kampeas - (Opinion) July 31, 2012 - 12:00am Rep. Michele Bachmann has incurred the wrath of leading Jewish groups and some Republican leaders, even though she may be one of Israel’s staunchest defenders in Congress and one of its best-known Republicans. The reaction was spurred by the Minnesota congresswoman's call for an inquiry into allegations that Huma Abedin, a top aide to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, had ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Some of the toughest condemnations of Bachmann have come from major Jewish groups. » Read more

Hamas blasts Palestinian official's Auschwitz trip ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press August 1, 2012 - 12:00am Gaza's ruling Hamas has criticized a Palestinian official for visiting a memorial at the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz and paying respects to its 1.5 million victims there, most of them Jews. Hamas official Fawzi Barhoum, expressing the Islamic militant group's position, claimed Wednesday that the Holocaust "is a big lie." He said last week's visit to the Auschwitz by Ziad al-Bandak, an adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, went against Palestinian public opinion. Abbas and Hamas are political rivals. » Read more