Meridor: Israel should refrain from building in areas that will be annexed to PA
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Chaim Levinson - June 15, 2010 - 12:00am

Cabinet Minister Dan Meridor said Tuesday that Israel should refrain from building in areas that will be annexed to the Palestinian Authority in the future, even after a 10-month settlement construction freeze is over in September. Meridor made the comments during a tour of the West Bank settlements Efrat. "The freeze will be over in three months, and from then on we will not be committed to it; it's a matter of where it is wise and logical for us to build," Meridor said.

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In search of a leader
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Nahum Barnea - (Opinion) June 8, 2010 - 12:00am

On the day the prime minister headed on his needless journey to France and Canada, he hastily convened the forum of top seven government ministers for a semi-debate on the plan for stopping the Turkish flotilla. The ministers were asked to separately voice their views; as expected, each one of them said “amen” when his turn came.

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Analysis: The flotilla dynamic
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Herb Keinon - (Analysis) June 8, 2010 - 12:00am

Syrian President Bashar Assad was quoted recently as saying the Mavi Marmara episode marked a turning point in the Middle East. Assad, as is his wont, was exaggerating. As bleak as things now seem for Israel – and they do indeed seem bleak – there is a need here for perspective.

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Knesset panel recommends revoking Arab MK's privileges
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Jonathan Lis - June 7, 2010 - 12:00am

The Knesset's House Committee on Monday recommended revoking the privileges of Israeli Arab MK Hanin Zuabi, after she participated in last week's Gaza-bound aid flotilla which resulted in an IDF raid that killed nine activists. The decision was passed by a majority of seven to one, with MK Ilan Gilon of Meretz opposing. The Knesset committee recommended rescinding from Zuabi three key privileges usually granted to Knesset Members. One is the privilege to exit the country – which is supposed to prevent Zoabi from fleeing Israel if she commits a felony or has debts in Israel.

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Flotilla raid fallout leaves Netanyahu battling on two fronts
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
(Blog) June 7, 2010 - 12:00am

A forum of seven ministers that advises Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, faced battle on two fronts when it met in Jerusalem on Sunday. Internationally, the government is struggling to frustrate calls for an international inquiry into an Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla last week, which left nine pro-Palestinian activists dead – while at the same time meeting American demands for a full investigation.

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Interior Minister seeks to strip Israeli Arab MK of citizenship
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - June 4, 2010 - 12:00am

Interior Minister Eli Yishai petitioned Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein to help him revoke the Israeli citizenship of Israeli Arab MK Hanin Zuabi, who took part in efforts to break Israel's blockade of Gaza on a flotilla of aid ships earlier this week.

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Netanyahu was right
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Gideon Levy - (Opinion) June 4, 2010 - 12:00am

The time has come to take off our hats to the prime minister. Benjamin Netanyahu's predictions have proved accurate, and his prophecies are coming true right before our eyes. Now we can proudly declare that our government is led by a man of vision, a statesman who has foretold the future. Even his greatest critics can't deny it; the facts speak for themselves.

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Parliament comes close to blows over flotilla raid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
by Batsheva Sobelman - (Blog) June 4, 2010 - 12:00am

A discussion in Israel's parliament Wednesday went from heated to a total boil as lawmaker Haneen Zoabi took the stand. Zoabi, an Arab Israeli legislator, took part in the Gaza flotilla and was aboard the Mavi Marmara during the ill-fated takeover that left nine dead and dozens more injured. Jewish public opinion in Israel was not impressed with her decision to join aid ship. Some dismissed it as a populist, attention-seeking move. Others denounced her participation as siding with the country's enemies conspiring against the state.

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PM's exit strategy: Easing naval blockade of Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Aluf Benn - June 4, 2010 - 12:00am

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is prepared to consider easing the naval blockade of Gaza and involving international players in its enforcement. In so doing, he is acceding to pressure from Washington, which opposes continuing the blockade in its present format and demands that Israel make it easier to send civilian goods to Gaza.

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Can Israel see itself through the eyes of others?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
June 2, 2010 - 12:00am

Once Israel is done with its internal debate about whether it applied the wrong tactics in boarding the Mavi Marmara and killing civilians, it might do some soul-searching. Here, a history lesson would be helpful. States that keep a large group of those among them separate, and deny them equal treatment, rarely end up on the right side of history.

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