'IDF to blame for price-tag atmosphere'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Tovah Lazaroff - May 17, 2010 - 12:00am

The head of the soon-to-be-demolished Od Yosef Hai Yeshiva in the Yitzhar settlement has blamed the IDF for creating an atmosphere in which some Jews were executed a "price-tag" policy of retribution against Palestinians for the IDF demolition of settler homes in Judea and Samaria. "A price tag policy is anarchy and they [the IDF] are the anarchists," said Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira on Sunday night at a solidarity event at the yeshiva. "A person who does things that can not be accepted by any sane person, is an anarchist."

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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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IDF concerned settler violence could spark Palestinian uprising
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
May 17, 2010 - 12:00am

Extremist settler activity could set the West Bank ablaze, GOC Central Command Maj. Gen. Avi Mizrahi warned on Monday at a brigade-wide training exercise at the Tze'elim military base in the Negev. The Kfir Brigade exercise focused on urban warfare - including the capture of a simulated Arab city - and pitted Israeli troops against Palestinian security forces.

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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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Israeli left flies flag to urge end to occupation
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Alastair MacDonald - May 16, 2010 - 12:00am

A weekend rally in Jerusalem by Israelis demanding an end to their country's settlement and occupation of the West Bank was hailed by its left-wing sponsors as the start of a major push that could help U.S. peace efforts. But the turnout of just a couple of thousand people drew scorn from settlers, who count on the rightist-led government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resist President Barack Obama's drive for a deal to establish a Palestinian state.

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U.S. Jewish leaders echo European call to end Israeli settlement building
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
May 16, 2010 - 12:00am

Following in the footsteps of the European initiative launched by JCall, a group of Jewish-American leaders on Friday launched an online petition urging an end to Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and calling for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israeli protest against settlements Called "For the Sake of Zion," the petition is signed by dozens of prominent American rabbis, judges, writers, academics and philanthropists.

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Boycott Blues
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Newsweek
by Dan Ephron - May 14, 2010 - 12:00am

By presidential decree, Palestinians this month began boycotting products manufactured in Israeli settlements—part of the nonviolent campaign to end Israel's 43-year occupation of the West Bank. Considering the numbers involved and the overall strength of Israel's economy, the direct effect of the ban will probably be negligible. About 2 or 3 percent of the $44 billion in goods Israel exports are made in the settlement areas, according to estimates by economists (Israel does not break down manufacturing data by region).

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Palestinian boy shot, sources say by settlers
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
May 14, 2010 - 12:00am

A Palestinian boy was shot dead by settlers, security sources confirmed late on Thursday, saying the child was targeted after throwing stones at his attackers' car. Military sources told Israeli media that the boy's body was found, but did not confirm that the cause of death was shooting and said an investigation would be launched into the incident. However, the sources did confirm shots fired in the area, as well as reports that children were throwing rocks at settler cars.

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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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