Israel agrees to freeze settlement construction as gesture to US
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Roni Sofer - August 18, 2009 - 12:00am

In a subtle overture to the US, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Housing Minister Ariel Atias agreed upon a de facto moratorium on new building in the settlements. According to the estimates of officials involved, the freeze will be in effect until the beginning of 2010. The objective is to provide an opportunity for a Mideast peace process to gain momentum in hopes that the new "waiting" tactic will allow international recognition of Israel's sovereignty in Jerusalem and the large settlement blocs.

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Settlers say 'old Bibi' is back
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Efrat Weiss - August 18, 2009 - 12:00am

Settler leaders were furious Tuesday morning after learning of the agreement to freeze building starts in the territories, including in the settlement blocs and east Jerusalem, as reported by Ynet. "If the prime minister implements the policy of (Opposition Chairwoman) Tzipi Livni, (former Defense Minister) Amir Peretz and Talia Sasson (author of government report on illegal outposts) – this government's days are numbered," warned Ariel Mayor Ron Nachman.

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Hilltop Youth push to settle West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
August 18, 2009 - 12:00am

While many Israeli teenagers spend the summer hanging out on beaches or in shopping malls, Evyatar Slonam, 17, is sitting on an exposed hillside in the southern West Bank at the Jewish outpost of Mitzpe Avichai. "We want there to be a mall right here," explains his friend Yehoyada, 15, indicating the hilltop surrounded by Palestinian houses and olive groves. "Tel Aviv once looked like this, too."

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Quiet slicing of the West Bank makes abstract prayers for peace obscene
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Slavoj Zizek - (Opinion) August 18, 2009 - 12:00am

On 2 August 2009, after cordoning off part of the Arab neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah in east Jerusalem, Israeli police evicted two Palestinian families (more than 50 people) from their homes; Jewish settlers immediately moved into the emptied houses. Although Israeli police cited a ruling by the country's supreme court, the evicted Arab families had been living there for more than 50 years. The event – which, rather exceptionally, did attract the attention of the world media – is part of a much larger and mostly ignored ongoing process.

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Officials: Netanyahu froze new West Bank projects
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
August 18, 2009 - 12:00am

Israel has quietly stopped approving new building projects in the West Bank while publicly still refusing U.S. demands for an official settlement freeze, government officials said Tuesday. The decision to temporarily shelve new construction was made jointly by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Housing Minister Ariel Atias, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no formal measure has been announced.

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Yishai says outposts not illegal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Erfat Weiss - August 17, 2009 - 12:00am

Interior Minister Eli Yishai, Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe Ya'alon, Minister of Information Yuli Edelstein and Science and Technology Minister Daniel Hershkowitz toured illegal West Bank outposts Monday, at the invitation of the Shomron Regional Council. The ministers, traveling under heavy security, visited the outposts of Nofei Nehemia and Bruchin, both of which are awaiting the necessary zoning permits to become legal settlements, as well as Havat Gilad. The latter, according to its residents, was built on land purchased by Moshe Zar.

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Israeli envoy to visit U.S. for settlement freeze negotiation
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
August 17, 2009 - 12:00am

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's envoy to negotiations with the Obama administration will depart on Sunday for meetings with U.S. officials in an attempt to negotiate a possible future settlement freeze, local daily Ha'aretz reported on its website. Yitzhak Molcho, the envoy, is expected to meet with White House officials and with the staff of U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell, preparing the ground for a meeting between Netanyahu and Mitchell that is due to take place on Aug. 26 in London, according to the report.

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Oman, Qatar: We'll renew Israel ties if it freezes settlements
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - August 14, 2009 - 12:00am

The United States told Israel last week that Gulf states Oman and Qatar are willing to renew their relations with Israel if it agrees to a moratorium on construction in the West Bank, Haaretz has learned. The Obama administration has been pushing for a construction freeze in the West Bank settlements, which are illegal under international law. President Barack Obama's demand has been repeatedly rejected by Israel's government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has refused to resume negotiations until Israel complies with a freeze.

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J'lem not counting on Gulf states' gestures
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Roni Sofer - August 14, 2009 - 12:00am

The winds of change blowing in from the Gulf are being received coldly in Jerusalem. According to a message recently relayed from Washington, Qatar and Oman may be willing to renew relations with Israel if the latter freezes construction in West Bank settlements. But as there has been no progress in talks with the US regarding its demand to halt construction, Israeli officials say these are premature promises, and that no significant change in ties should be expected in the near future.

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Court refuses to issue restraining order against evicted Sheikh Jarrah Arabs
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Jonah Newman, Abe Selig - August 14, 2009 - 12:00am

A Jerusalem District Court rejected on Thursday a request by Jewish families who have taken possession of homes in east Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood by court order to issue a restraining order against the Arab families who were evicted from those homes. However, Judge Eilata Diskind issued a warning to the Arab families to refrain from violent behavior.

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