May 22nd, 2012

Freed Palestinians find Gaza exile a challenge ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) by Sakher Abu El Oun - May 22, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories — "Gaza is a big prison, but some prisons are better than others," admits Nihad Abu Kishk, a former detainee from the West Bank who was exiled by Israel to the Gaza Strip. "I feel uprooted and it is difficult to adapt," says the 34-year-old who was sentenced to life in an Israeli prison but freed and sent to Gaza under terms of a prisoner swap deal with Israel late last year. » Read more

Palestinian Paralympians visit Jerusalem holy site ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Harriet Sherwood - May 21, 2012 - 12:00am In al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, Moussa Qadoom sank to the floor and wept into the gold and red carpet. As swallows swooped between the white marble columns of the vast edifice, the athletics coach from Gaza City surrendered to the emotion of the moment. "I'm 31 years old, and I have only ever seen this place in newspapers and on television," he said a few minutes later. "I never imagined in my whole life that I would come and pray in al-Aqsa." » Read more

Talk on possible EU boycott of Israeli settlements stirs controversy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Arabiya May 20, 2012 - 12:00am Irish Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore’s recent statements that he may push for an EU wide boycott of products from Israeli settlements if Israel does not quickly change its settlements policy in Palestinian territories has stirred controversy. Gilmore, whose country will take over the rotating presidency of the European Union in January 2013, also said his government may seek to have certain extremist Israeli settlers banned from the EU if they do not stop their violence in settlement areas, according to a report by the Irish Times. » Read more

AJC official decries ‘one state’ proposals from both sides ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) May 22, 2012 - 12:00am WASHINGTON (JTA) -- A top American Jewish Committee official decried to an Arab audience advocacy of a "one state solution" from both the pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian perspectives. » Read more

Howard Berman Wins Pro-Israel Donors ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Nathan Guttman, Rex Weiner - May 22, 2012 - 12:00am It’s the battle that has confronted pro-Israel donors nationwide with a choice they hate: having to decide between two staunchly pro-Israel congressional incumbents with whom many have long, supportive relationships. But one way or another, pro-Israel donors have come down firmly on the side of Democratic Rep. Howard Berman in his death match against Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman in California’s San Fernando Valley. » Read more

Knesset passes bill granting tax benefits to settlement donations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Moran Azulay - May 21, 2012 - 12:00am The Knesset plenum on Monday passed in second and third reading a bill to amend the Income Tax Act, by which those who donate to settlements will enjoy tax benefits. » Read more

Austria condemns minister for attacking Liberman ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon, Benjamin Weinthal - May 22, 2012 - 12:00am Austria’s Foreign Ministry condemned Norbert Darabos, the country’s defense minister, on Monday for his sharp and undiplomatic criticism of Israel and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman. » Read more

Netanyahu: 'Fatal mistake' to concede sacred sites ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters May 22, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM (Reuters) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday it would be a "fatal mistake" ever to give up control over Jerusalem's holy sites. His remarks, in a parliamentary speech, went a little further than Israel's longtime policy of viewing Jerusalem, a city at the heart of Middle East conflict, as its "indivisible capital". » Read more

Fayyad: Water crisis due to Israel's control of resources ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency May 22, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Israel's control of Palestinian water resources in the West Bank is responsible for the water crisis, PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said Monday. Opening a conference on water and the prospects for agricultural development in Palestine, Fayyed said strategic vision and a long-term plan were needed to resolve the crisis. The two-day conference was organized by the Palestine Technical University, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Palestinian Water Authority. » Read more

Jerusalem expansion reaches point of no return ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Crispian Balmer - May 22, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM (Reuters) -- Named for the crash site of an airforce plane shot down during the Six Day War in 1967, Givat HaMatos may yet prove the place where Palestinian hopes of a creating a capital in Jerusalem also plunge to earth. 'Airplane Hill' lies on the southern fringes of Jerusalem's city limits -- rock-strewn land dotted with shabby, prefabricated bungalows and the occasional pine tree. » Read more