Made in Israel? Not a simple question
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Josef Federman - May 31, 2012 - 12:00am

For decades, Israel has marketed an array of cosmetics and food products manufactured in the occupied West Bank as "Made in Israel," blurring their true origins in Jewish settlements opposed by virtually the entire international community. Now that practice is being challenged with demands that products made in the settlements be labeled accordingly.

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The Merchant of Venice: A protest within a play
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
by Will Gompertz - (Theater Review) May 30, 2012 - 12:00am

An Israeli theatre company performing a Hebrew production of The Merchant of Venice - Shakespeare's troublesome play about anti-Semitism - arrived at London's Globe Theatre amid calls for and against a boycott. Cue action on and off stage. A festival consisting of all 37 of Shakespeare's plays performed in a short space of time is likely to induce some confusion into the mind of even the bard's most ardent fan. Richards can become muddled with Henrys, shipwreck locations misplaced.

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The Right-Wing Israeli Case That the Arab Spring Is Good for Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Atlantic
by Zvika Krieger - (Opinion) May 30, 2012 - 12:00am

The conventional wisdom, both here in Israel and abroad, is that the popular movements sweeping across the Arab world are bad news for Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently described the Arab Spring as an "Islamic, anti-Western, anti-liberal, anti-Israeli, and anti-democratic wave," saying that "Israel is facing a period of instability and uncertainty in the region. This is certainly not the time to listen to those who say follow your heart."

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Ehud Barak: If negotiations fail, Israel must consider unilateral withdrawal from West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - May 30, 2012 - 12:00am

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Wednesday that Israel should consider unilateral moves if negations with the Palestinians fail to bear fruit. "We are a coalition of 94 MKs, this is the time to lead a diplomatic process," Barak said Wednesday morning in a speech at Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies. "But if it isn't possible to reach a permanent agreement with the Palestinians, we must consider an interim arrangement or even a unilateral move."

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Israel’s Defense Minister Calls for More Action Against Assad
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Jodi Rudoren - May 30, 2012 - 12:00am

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Wednesday praised the United States and other countries for ousting Syrian diplomats but said it was not sufficient, declaring that the massacre of 100 people in Houla “compel the world to take action — not just talk, but action.”

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Palestinians to ask UN to recognize West Bank village as World Heritage site
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - May 30, 2012 - 12:00am

The Palestinian Authority is expected to ask UNESCO on Wednesday to recognize the West Bank village of Batir as a World Heritage site and prevent the construction of the separation fence there. Haaretz has obtained a copy of the request, which seeks to preserve the village's ancient agricultural terraces.


Iran gingerly signaling new willingness to engage with U.S.
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Zvi Barel - (Opinion) May 30, 2012 - 12:00am

"It was March 2004. Mohamed ElBaradei [then chairman of the International Atomic Energy Agency] told me he wanted to come to Tehran, and he arrived quickly. I thought he had come to talk about nuclear issues, but he wanted to talk to me privately. He told me he had visited Washington a week earlier and had told President [George W.] Bush that the United States had to enter direct negotiations with Iran on nuclear issues.

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UN envoy warns of 'one-state reality'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
May 29, 2012 - 12:00am

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The United Nations envoy for the Middle East peace process warned a session of the UN Security Council on Tuesday of the continuing diplomatic impasse between Israel and the PLO. Robert Serry told the council “if the parties do not grasp the current opportunity, they should realize the implication is not merely slowing progress toward a two-state solution.

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Kadima MK: Send human rights activists to prison camps
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Omri Efraim - May 29, 2012 - 12:00am

If given the opportunity, some Israeli human rights groups "would be the first to put haredim and settlers on buses and transfer them," Knesset Member Yulia Shamalov Berkovich said Tuesday during a heated House Committee debate of on the influx of foreign migrants into the country.

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Palestinians see 'sharp increase' in demolitions
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
by Jon Donnison - May 29, 2012 - 12:00am

"Wood-fired barbecue was our speciality. Delicious," says Ramzi Kasiyah as he picks his way gingerly over a pile of rubble and twisted metal. Broken glass crackles under his feet. "We had a beautiful terrace. Now I have nothing." Up until a few weeks ago Ramzi was the proud owner of the Palestinian Al Mukhrur restaurant just outside Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. Now he presides over what looks like a bomb site, a grey scar in a beautiful, small valley, still lush from the winter's rains.

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