Palestinian official accuses Israel of demolishing houses of Arab Jerusalemites
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
May 20, 2010 - 12:00am

A Palestinian official has accused Israel of demolishing houses belong to Arabs in Jerusalem, saying the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem has handed demolition notices to Arab Jerusalemites. "These new procedures against the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem are very dangerous and will lead to a dead end" in newly- launched indirect talks with Israel, Hatem Abdul Qader, a Fatah official in charge of Jerusalem affairs told Voice of Palestine radio on Thursday.

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A country with no bosses: What we don't do ourselves, our foes will force from us
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Yoel Marcus - May 18, 2010 - 12:00am

Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, who has never lost his sense of humor or his optimism, returned last week from a short visit to Europe. And what do you think he discovered there? That Israel is in the worst situation it has ever been in. They despise Israel in Europe, and for the first time are questioning its very right to exist. Europe hates us, Ben-Eliezer found.

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How to tell if there's progress in Israeli- Palestinian talks?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
by David Harris - May 17, 2010 - 12:00am

Indirect talks between Palestinians and Israelis are to kick off on Tuesday with the visit to Ramallah of United States special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell. Later in the week he is slated to hold talks with Israeli leaders in Jerusalem. These initial indirect or proximity talks will first tackle border issues and security. For some regional analysts, this is the best way to begin the process, while others see this approach as doomed to fail.

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Perfidious son: Aaron David Miller rejects the peace process
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
by Ron Kampeas - May 17, 2010 - 12:00am

Depending on your view of the Middle East and the Obama administration, Aaron David Miller is either a hero or a turncoat. Miller, a peace process functionary under both Bush administrations and the Clinton administration, published a declaration of independence last month from what he called the "religion" of the peace process. Critics of the Obama administration's emphasis on peacemaking -- among them neoconservatives who once reviled Miller as an apostle of the process -- embraced his article, published in Foreign Policy, as the repudiation of the process.

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Analysts befuddled by Israeli leaders' claims on Jerusalem on eve of peace talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
by David Harris - May 14, 2010 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM, May 13 (Xinhua) -- As Israelis celebrated Jerusalem Day on Wednesday, the country's leaders outraged Palestinians by pledging that Jerusalem would remain Israel's indivisible capital. The comments from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several of his cabinet colleagues and MPs from his Likud party came on the eve of the commencement of indirect talks with the Palestinians, befuddling some analysts.

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J'lem woman says broken nose from settler assault
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
May 14, 2010 - 12:00am

Following her release from hospital, a 32 year old Palestinian woman from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah reported being assaulted by a settler on Wednesday afternoon. Mother of five and Sheikh Jarran resident Hamlat Al-Mughrabi was admitted to the Augusta Victoria Hospital on Wednesday evening with a broken nose, saying a settler had hit her in the face with a heavy tool and run away.

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E. J'lem demolitions on hold
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Yaakov Lappin - May 14, 2010 - 12:00am

Demolition orders for illegally constructed Arab homes in east Jerusalem are highly unlikely to go ahead in the near future, it emerged on Thursday, despite a recent announcement to the contrary by Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch. The U-turn came after the US State Department sought clarifications over comments by Aharonovitch, who said on Wednesday that “police have no instructions to refrain from carrying out the demolitions. They will be carried out in the coming days.” The comments threatened to reignite a US-Israeli row over Israeli policy in east Jerusalem.

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Barak: Ministers' provocations over Jerusalem harming Israel's interests
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
May 13, 2010 - 12:00am

Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Thursday lambasted several cabinet ministers whose "provocative" comments he said were harming Israel's relations with the United States amid efforts to get the peace process going through indirect proximity talks with the Palestinians. "I recommend everyone, both we and the Palestinians, avoid rash and provocative statements," said Barak, responding to a slew of comments made by ministers over the last few days regarding the contentious issue of construction in Jerusalem.

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Israelis: No halt to east Jerusalem construction
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman
by Amy Teibel - May 13, 2010 - 12:00am

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hawkish coalition partners vowed Thursday to keep building Jewish settlements and demolishing unauthorized Palestinian homes in contested east Jerusalem — despite indications the Israeli leader has put the brakes on both. The United States opposes both at this delicate time, when indirect talks between Israelis and Palestinians have just begun. The remarks by Netanyahu's partners show the thin tightrope he has to walk in trying to address the conflicting demands of his political allies at home and Israel's strongest ally abroad.

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PNA accuses Israel of putting obstacles before Mideast peace process
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
May 13, 2010 - 12:00am

A senior Palestinian official on Wednesday accused Israel for putting new obstacles before the Middle East peace process, saying that Israel is not serious in resuming peace talks. Nabil Abu Rdeina, spokesman of the Palestinian president, slammed the earlier statement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he said that Israel will go on with settlement activities in East Jerusalem.

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