One man's stand against an Israeli settlement
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent
by Matthew Kalman - August 18, 2011 - 12:00am

Said Ayid was born under the British Mandate, grew up in Jordan, raised his eight children under Israeli occupation and now lives on the edge of a sprawling new Israeli neighbourhood under the token protection of the Palestinian Authority. But throughout those 73 years he has not moved an inch. Two weeks ago, the Israeli government announced the addition of 930 new units in Har Homa, the new neighbourhood built in the past decade on the adjacent hillside south of Jerusalem, occupied by Israel in the Six Day War of 1967.

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Mideast Quartet alarmed by Israel settlement plans
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Alertnet
by Louis Charbonneau - August 16, 2011 - 12:00am

The so-called Middle East Quartet which has been attempting to revive peace talks between the Palesinians and Israel said on Tuesday they were alarmed by Israel's latest announcements about new settlement plans. Israel announced on Monday approval for building 277 homes in a West Bank settlement, despite U.S. and international pressure to curb expansion on occupied land and as Palestinians prepare for a statehood bid at the United Nations.

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Middle East Quartet Statement
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from
August 16, 2011 - 12:00am

The Quartet is greatly concerned by Israel's recent announcements to advance planning for new housing units in Ariel and Easter Jerusalem, and reiterated its position in this regard, in particular its statement of March 12, 2010. The Quartet reaffirms that unilateral action by either party cannot rejudge the outcome of negotiations and will not be recognized by the international community. Jerusalem in particular is one of the core issues that must be resolved through negotiations between the parties, which underscores the urgent need for the parties to resume serious and substantive talks.

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Israel will use Palestinian UN bid to restore status quo
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Akiva Eldar - (Opinion) August 15, 2011 - 12:00am

To be honest, what's the difference between the potential UN declaration in September 2011 and the Palestinian declaration of independence in Tunis 22 years ago? Even MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union ), the professor of the extreme right, is not particularly upset by the fact that the United Nations General Assembly may recognize a Palestinian state. He sees no legal difference between the decision that is expected next month and the decision that was made there - with a huge majority of 104 to 2 - following the Palestinian declaration of independence in Tunis 22 years ago.

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ATFP Urges US Government to Help Curb Proposed Israeli Settlement Expansions
Press Release - Contact Information: Ghaith al-Omari - August 15, 2011 - 12:00am




A Palestinian view: progeny of a colonial state
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons
(Opinion) August 15, 2011 - 12:00am

The so-called "price tag" campaign is regarded as a product of the illegal Israeli settlement of Yitzhar, yet the price tag of Israeli occupation and fanatical land grabbing is much more generally aligned with the policies and practices of Israel, the state. The price tag campaign, after all, is the settler pursuit to claim as much indigenous land as possible by terrorizing Palestinians with arson, gunfire, vandalism and other forms of harassment and even death.

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Israel approves 227 new homes in West Bank settlement of Ariel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Chaim Levinson - August 15, 2011 - 12:00am

Defense Minister Ehud Barak okays largest housing project in single settlement since establishment of the Netanyahu government. Defense Minister Ehud Barak has approved the building of 277 apartments the West Bank settlement of Ariel, defying U.S. criticism of continued settlement construction. Barak authorized the construction in Ariel, the core of the settlement bloc deepest inside the West Bank. One hundred of the apartments will house Israelis evacuated in 2005 from a Gaza Strip settlement.

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When negotiations result in a net loss
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
(Opinion) August 14, 2011 - 12:00am

Palestinians have lost more land to Israel in 20 years and there does not seem to be a wisp of peace on the horizon. The Palestinians have been brought to the negotiating table with the Israelis countless times over the past six decades. The net result has been more usurpation of their land and territory along with civilian casualties to boot.

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Israel's West Bank dilemma
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The San Francisco Chronicle
by Joel Brinkley - (Opinion) August 14, 2011 - 12:00am

Shaul Goldstein knows that most everyone on Earth dislikes him and his kind. For some, it's visceral hatred. For others, he represents the largest obstacle to solving a problem everyone everywhere wants resolved. "We are the enemy of the world," he volunteered without any prompting. "We have to hide behind a curtain."

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Israelis protest costly housing – but not cost of settlements. Why?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
by Joshua Mitnick - August 12, 2011 - 12:00am

Israel yesterday announced new homes in East Jerusalem to ease a housing shortage. But critics argue that the cost of building in contested territory is partially to blame for Israel's economic woes. The Israeli government, facing unprecedented public protests over the soaring cost of housing, yesterday announced it is advancing plans for thousands of new homes in contested East Jerusalem.

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