Sabotaging Freedom Flotilla II
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Jazeera English
by Richard Falk - (Opinion) July 2, 2011 - 12:00am

The reports that two of the foreign flagged ships planning to be part of the ten vessel Freedom Flotilla II experienced similar forms of disabling sabotage creates strong circumstantial evidence of Israeli responsibility.

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A warning from a good friend
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
(Editorial) July 1, 2011 - 12:00am

An unexpected voice joined the critics of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's standstill policy this week: Ron Lauder. The president of the World Jewish Congress has been a close friend, confidant and clear supporter of Netanyahu throughout his political career. Speaking in Jerusalem, he warned that the political standstill on the Palestinian front is dangerous for Israel. Lauder called on Netanyahu to launch a diplomatic initiative, even if this would mean "political suicide."

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Israel's Gaza sea blockade is an act of self-defense
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
by Amos Guiora - (Opinion) July 1, 2011 - 12:00am

Self-defense against threats to national security and individual citizens is a core right and duty of all nation-states. No one seriously disagrees. And yet this week, the Mediterranean Sea will once again be the site of a dangerous attack on this basic right.

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Palestinian crisis solved in 814 words
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Chicago Sun Times
by Neil Steinberg - (Opinion) July 1, 2011 - 12:00am

Did you hear that the flotilla planning to run the Israeli blockade of Gaza didn’t get off as scheduled? Insurance problems, alas, sparked by an Israeli ploy, plus one of the 10 ships had its propeller mysteriously cut. I sure hope Alice Walker doesn’t run into a scheduling conflict — maybe a Marin County book-signing — that would call her away from yet another chance to remind the world that the Israelis are the Star Wars Evil Empire, the Nazis and the Klingons all rolled into one.

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Zionists, relax, Israel is not on the brink of destruction
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Carlo Strenger - (Opinion) June 30, 2011 - 12:00am

One of the best-known Yiddish expressions is ‘Gevalt, Yiddelech, Gevalt!', a phrase best translated as ‘catastrophe, Jews, catastrophe!’. I would suggest that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition officially be named the Gevalt! Government. Listening to the utterances of our ministers, you would come to the conclusion that the State of Israel is about to be erased and the Jewish people are in danger of immediate extinction.

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With September looming, unity can't wait
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Gary Ackerman - (Opinion) June 30, 2011 - 12:00am

While many differences exist among Jewish parliamentarians, the concept of ahavat Yisrael – literally, “love of Israel” – is common to us all. It is for this reason that 55 Jewish parliamentarians from 22 countries have assembled in Jerusalem under the auspices of the World Jewish Congress. Ahavat Yisrael means not just love of the state, the country and the land, but a joint concern and affection that Jews have always shown for one another across the globe.

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Gaza shelves stocked, but hope in short supply
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Alertnet
by Nidal Al-Mughrabi - June 30, 2011 - 12:00am

GAZA, June 30 (Reuters) - If pro-Palestinian activists unexpectedly manage to slip past Israel's naval blockade on the Gaza Strip in the coming days, they might be surprised by what they see in the Hamas-controlled enclave when they disembark. Roads are being paved, houses are being built, new cars have taken to the busy streets and shops are full of myriad products. Even the longtime scourge of unemployment is easing marginally, boosting living standards for a lucky few.

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Israel has become a society of force and violence
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Gideon Levy - (Opinion) June 30, 2011 - 12:00am

Are we listening to ourselves? Are we still aware of the awful noise coming from here? Have we noticed how the discourse is becoming more and more violent and how the language of force has just about become Israel's only official language? A group of international activists is slated to sail a flotilla to the shores of the Gaza Strip. Many of them are social activists and fighters for peace and justice, veterans of the struggle against apartheid, colonialism, imperialism, pointless wars and injustice. Just stating that is difficult here, since they have already been described as thugs.

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Islamic Movement leader in Israel arrested in London
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
June 29, 2011 - 12:00am

Sheikh Raed Salah, the head of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel has been arrested in London, his lawyer told Xinhua early Wednesday. According to Zahi Nugedat, the lawyer, London Police arrested Salah overnight Tuesday after a warrant for his deportation was issued. Salah had given a lecture in Leicester and was due to deliver another address as a guest of the Palestinian British solidarity.

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Palestinians lobby in the Netherlands for UN recognition vote
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Ferry Bidermann - June 29, 2011 - 12:00am

THE HAGUE // Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas is venturing into the Netherlands during the next few days, a country with one of the most pro-Israel governments in Europe and one that has made its opposition to a possible Palestinian membership vote at the UN in September explicit. The timing of the visit, which starts late today, comes amid a concerted push by the Palestinian leadership to prepare for the looming vote, in which Europe is seen as key.

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