Palestinian refugees in Syria determined to return home
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
June 2, 2011 - 12:00am

Thousands of Palestinians in Syria who have never seen their original homes before are preparing to travel on June 5 to the Golan Heights two thirds of which are under Israeli control. Sixty-three years have passed since they were displaced from their homes. However, Palestinian refugees in Syria are still determined to return home. "We want to cross the borders peacefully to return to our fathers and ancestors' home," said Hasan Hijazi, a Palestinian man who managed to cross the borders and get to Jaffa on May 15.

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Consistent support
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons
by Ghassan Khatib - (Editorial) June 1, 2011 - 12:00am

The Arab Peace Initiative adopted at an Arab summit conference in 2002 and reiterated in another summit in 2007 was never controversial among Palestinians in the occupied territories.

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Juppe's Visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat
by Randa Takieddine - June 1, 2011 - 12:00am

There is weak optimism about the results of the visit by French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe the day after tomorrow to Israel, where he will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Juppe will also visit Ramallah, where he will meet with the Palestinian prime minister, Salam Fayyad, after meeting tomorrow evening with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Rome. No matter how strong Juppe's personality is, or the widespread respect he enjoys in France and the rest of the world, the problem lies in the obstinate positions of Netanyahu.

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Netanyahu warns Egypt losing control of growing terror groups in Sinai
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Jack Khoury, Jonathan Lis - May 30, 2011 - 12:00am

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Monday that Egypt's new military government was having a "hard time" controlling the rise of international terror organizations in the Sinai Peninsula. "Egypt is having a hard time realizing its sovereignty in Sinai," Netanyahu said during a meeting of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. "International terror organizations are stirring in Sinai and their presence is increasing due to Sinai's connection to Gaza."

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G8 leaders omit mention of 1967 borders in Middle East statement
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
May 27, 2011 - 12:00am

Group of Eight leaders had to soften a statement urging Israel and the Palestinians to return to negotiations because Canada objected to a specific mention of 1967 borders, diplomats said on Friday. Canada's right-leaning Conservative government has adopted a staunchly pro-Israel position in international negotiations since coming to power in 2006, with Prime Minister Stephen Harper saying Canada will back Israel whatever the cost.

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David Makovsky and Ghaith al-Omari debate the Israel-Palestine conflict and discuss creating mutual respect and dialogue
Media Mention of Ghaith al-Omari In Daily Bruin - May 27, 2011 - 12:00am

Political analysts David Makovsky and Ghaith al-Omari had a simple message when they spoke to a room of about 172 people about the Israel-Palestine conflict. “If Jews and Arabs can talk to each other in the (Middle) East, why can’t they talk to each other in the Midwest?” Makovsky said during their debate Wednesday night. The event, organized by the Olive Tree Initiative in coordination with the Campus Events Commission, aimed to foster cooperation between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine student groups.

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Palestinian UN bid: Israel's battle for Europe
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Ronen Medzini - May 26, 2011 - 12:00am

The Foreign Ministry is focusing efforts on trying to block the Palestinian plan to win UN recognition for an independent state in September. Israel's chance of winning a majority among the 192 UN members state is miniscule, as the 116 states comprising the Non-Aligned movement tend to vote together and are likely to vote in favor of a Palestinian state. It is estimated that the large majority of non-Western nations among the remaining 76 states will also vote in favor of the Palestinian bid, which leaves Israel with a little over 40 states whose vote is still open.

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Officials fear 'Palestine' declaration will bring boycott
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Yaakov Katz - May 26, 2011 - 12:00am

Concern growing in defense establishment that following unilateral statehood announcement, countries will ban Israeli military products. Concern is growing in Israel over the possibility that following a unilateral declaration of statehood by the Palestinians later this year, countries around the world will boycott Israeli military products. The concern, voiced by leading officials in the defense establishment, comes ahead of the Paris Air Show next month, where Israeli hardware will be on display in pursuit of new sales.

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David Makovsky and Ghaith al-Omari debate the Israel-Palestine conflict and discuss creating mutual respect and dialogue
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Daily Bruin
by Loic Hostetter - May 26, 2011 - 12:00am

Political analysts David Makovsky and Ghaith al-Omari had a simple message when they spoke to a room of about 172 people about the Israel-Palestine conflict. “If Jews and Arabs can talk to each other in the (Middle) East, why can’t they talk to each other in the Midwest?” Makovsky said during their debate Wednesday night. The event, organized by the Olive Tree Initiative in coordination with the Campus Events Commission, aimed to foster cooperation between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine student groups.

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Egypt to reopen Gaza border crossing, raising Israeli concerns
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Joel Greenberg, Ernesto Londono - May 25, 2011 - 12:00am

Egypt will permanently open its border crossing with the Gaza Strip this weekend, the government announced Wednesday, underscoring how dramatically the uprisings that are roiling the Arab world could reshape the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Egypt’s interim military leaders, who had been instrumental in implementing the blockade under orders from then-President Hosni Mubarak, appeared to be responding to an increasingly vocal and empowered constituency that wants Egypt to decisively back the Palestinian cause.

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