Reality Check: Netanyahu refuses to seize the day
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Jeff Barak - (Opinion) July 8, 2012 - 12:00am

The decision facing Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is really quite simple: either do what’s best for the country or just tread water and survive another year in office. The first choice requires courage; the second demands nothing beyond the competence of any third-rate politician. Any guesses as to which path our prime minister will choose? Hint: At the very last second, just before the Knesset was about to disperse in May, Netanyahu chose to expand his coalition by throwing a lifeline to a sinking Kadima rather than risk facing the voters.

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The prodigal son too good to be true
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Shayna Zamkanei - (Opinion) July 6, 2012 - 12:00am

In mid-June, Israel's most trusted former collaborator, Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of Hamas co-founder Hassan Yousef, arrived at Ben-Gurion airport. Invited by Druze lawmaker Ayoob Kara (Likud ), Yousef, who now lives in the United States, has been speaking to various groups and committees.

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Boxing connects young Israeli Arabs and Jews
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Blake Sobczak - July 5, 2012 - 12:00am

The bell clangs, the fight starts and the boxers come at each other. On one side is a 13-year-old Arab boy from northern Israel. His opponent comes from a Jewish town. The Jewish fighter from the blue corner pushes his Arab adversary against the ropes before pummeling him with a barrage of punches. Jews and Arabs have been fighting each other for decades, so boxing may seem like a strange way to build peace between the two — but that's what the Israel Boxing Association aims for.

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National service proposal riles Israeli Arabs
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
June 29, 2012 - 12:00am

NAZARETH, Israel — Israel's plan to overhaul its military draft has veered into turbulent new territory with the government's abrupt proposal to mobilize the country's Arab minority for civilian national service.

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Report: Police intelligence told to target Israeli Arabs joining social protests
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Roy Arad, Ofra Edelman - June 29, 2012 - 12:00am

Police intelligence officers have been told to collect information about Israeli Arabs who join the social justice protests, Channel 10 reported last night. Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino issued a directive to the police top brass ordering them to document every "involvement of the Arab community in the protests." Unlike the directives about Jewish demonstrators, which focus on rioters and anarchists, the section about Arabs does not specify which type of demonstrators police should watch out for, referring only to Arabs in general.

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Israel freezes plan to move East Jerusalem Bedouin to site near garbage dump
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amira Hass - June 29, 2012 - 12:00am

The state has suspended a plan to forcibly relocate Bedouin from East Jerusalem to a site next to a city garbage dump. The state told the High Court of Justice two weeks ago it was putting off the plan until surveys were conducted to assess the environmental repercussions and hazards involved.

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Israel allocates 90 mln USD for infrastructure repair in Arab towns
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
June 28, 2012 - 12:00am

Following decades of administrative neglect, the Israeli government announced on Thursday the allocation of 355 million shekels (90 million U.S. dollars) to repair collapsing sewer and water treatment infrastructures in Arab towns nationwide. Israeli Energy and Water Resources Minister, Uzi Landau, said his ministry had reached an agreement with the Treasury to increase budgets and grants for new sewer systems and waste treatment plants, according to the Ha'aretz daily.

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FM to MK El-Sana: Terrorist, I'll take care of you first
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Ilana Curiel - June 27, 2012 - 12:00am

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman engaged on Wednesday in a shouting match with Knesset Member Talab El-Sana (United Arab List-Ta'al) while visiting the Bedouin village of Al Zarnog in the Negev.

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Young Arab Israelis volunteering for national service
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
by Ruth Eglash - (Opinion) June 27, 2012 - 12:00am

Volunteer Nasim Awadallah’s eyes light up when he begins talking about the soccer team he created and now coaches in his small village of Ein Nekuba, just outside Jerusalem. Each morning he helps teach sports at the local elementary school. Later he takes the most eager students out for soccer training.“When I was young, someone came to the village to teach me how to play football and now I want to teach others,” said the 19-year-old volunteer. “When I see the children each morning, I know I am really helping them.”

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Schools for Jews and Arabs: Separate but definitely not equal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Rivka Cohen - (Opinion) June 25, 2012 - 12:00am

In one clear step, Israel’s Education Minister has demonstrated that the separate Jewish and Muslim school systems have nothing to do with preserving an autonomous space for Jewish and for Arab culture, but rather - plain segregation.

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