Israel's strategy to seize Jerusalem on display for all to see
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Joseph Dana - (Opinion) April 25, 2012 - 12:00am

By now, news of Palestinian being evicted from their homes in East Jerusalem is routine. Last week, two more Palestinian families were thrown into the street to make way for Jewish settlers in the neighbourhood of Beit Hanina. The mechanism of land confiscation in East Jerusalem and the West Bank has become a near science for Israeli authorities, ensuring that the exact borders of Israel remain unclear and constantly shifting.

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Is it late to save East Jerusalem?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
by Osama Al-Sharif - (Opinion) April 25, 2012 - 12:00am

In the frustrating pursuit of Palestinian-Israeli peace settlement based on the concept of a two-state solution, one particular issue emerges as the most cumbersome and, in the view of most Israelis, non negotiable. It is the fate of Arab East Jerusalem, occupied along with the rest of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

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EU in Jerusalem condemns eviction of Arab family
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
April 21, 2012 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM — The European Union has condemned an Israeli eviction of an Arab family in east Jerusalem. Israeli police evicted a family from a home in the Palestinian neighborhood of Beit Hanina Wednesday. Police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said the property belonged to Jewish owners. The European Union missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah issued a joint statement Saturday announcing they "are deeply concerned by the plans to build a new settlement in the midst of this traditional Palestinian neighborhood."

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Rashid Khalidi Responds to Avra Shapiro and Gil Troy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
by Rashid Khalidi - (Opinion) April 20, 2012 - 12:00am

It was disappointing to read Avra Shapiro’s letter on behalf of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Sadly, it was full of red herrings, distortions and falsehoods. Firstly, Ms. Shapiro claims, “the campaign to stop construction of the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem was…intended to undermine the sovereignty and authority of Israel and its juridical institutions.” She cites as evidence the role of “a declared Muslim extremist,” in initiating “the petition to Israel’s Supreme Court.”

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UN envoy condemns Israel's eviction of Palestinian family
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
April 19, 2012 - 12:00am

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- A senior UN official on Wednesday condemned Israel's eviction of Palestinians from their homes in Beit Hanina, East Jerusalem. "Evictions of Palestinians from their homes and properties in occupied territory contravene international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, and should cease," said UN humanitarian coordinator Maxwell Gaylard in a statement. Israeli police on Wednesday evicted a Palestinian family from their home in Beit Hanina, shortly before Jewish settlers moved in.

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Arab Family Evicted in Jerusalem, Jews Move in
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Melanie Lidman - April 18, 2012 - 12:00am

An Arab family was evicted from their home in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina on Wednesday morning, and 10 Jewish activists with the right-wing Israel Land Fund moved into the house, prompting left-wing activists to dub the issue "the new Sheikh Jarrah." The eviction is first step toward creating a new Jewish complex of 50 apartments in the predominantly Arab neighborhood. According to Israel Land Fund director Aryeh King, a Jewish buyer 35 years ago purchased two buildings, each with two apartments. The properties also belonged to Jewish residents prior to 1948, he said.

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The plight of Palestinian Christians
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Faysal Huazeen, Ibrahim Shomali - (Opinion) April 16, 2012 - 12:00am

Based on our years as parish priests in Palestine, we were appalled by the false allegations regarding Palestinian Christians made in recent weeks by Israeli spokespeople, such as Ambassador Michael Oren. We were perplexed not because of their position, which has been part of the official Israeli narrative for many years, but by how openly they have distorted facts and misconstrued the plight of Palestinian Christians pursuing justice and peace.

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The Return of East Jerusalem's Most Luxurious Hotel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'ariv
by Yossi Eli - (Opinion) April 15, 2012 - 12:00am

From the 1960s until the eruption of the Second Intifada in 2000, the Saint George Hotel was the most luxurious and famous hotel in East Jerusalem. Last week, a decade after its closure, the hotel on Salah a-Din Street was re-opened, due to surprising economic cooperation between a Palestinian contractor and Jordanian investors.

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Palestinians need freedom in Jerusalem, not Israeli permits
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Hanan Ashrawi - (Opinion) April 11, 2012 - 12:00am

It is Easter in Jerusalem. Newspaper pictures show scenes of Christians from all over the world celebrating and commemorating this holy occasion, with processions, special services and prayers. While most come freely with passports and tourist visas, the indigenous Christian population, many of them coming from towns and villages within few kilometers of the Old City, require special permits to visit their holy sites. The majority of these Christians do not receive the necessary permits and so are prevented from participating in the Easter celebrations of Jerusalem.

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AP Interview: Jerusalem mayor sees vast potential in tourism
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
April 5, 2012 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM — When Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat stares out at his city, the one-time venture capitalist sees fresh opportunity: He believes he can turn Jerusalem into one of the world’s leading tourist destinations, on par with New York, Paris and London. In a city known as much for its religious strife as its religious sites, this will be no simple task. But Barkat, sounding very much like the businessman he once was, says he has a product that’s easy to market. He confidently predicts he can nearly triple the number of visitors over the next decade.

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