Two Israeli-Arab activists held for suspected espionage
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
May 10, 2010 - 12:00am

Two Israeli-Arab political activists have been arrested and accused of spying and contact with "agents from Hezbollah", Israeli police say. Omar Sayid, a member of the Israeli-Arab political party Balad was arrested on 24 April. Amir Makhoul, head of a group of Arab organisations, was arrested on 6 May. A gag order was lifted on the case on Monday, as Israeli-Arab organisations planned a protest against what they are calling political persecution.

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Analysis: Boycott puts social cohesion at risk
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Ron Friedman - (Opinion) May 6, 2010 - 12:00am

While it is too early to tell if Israel’s Arab population will answer the call to boycott goods made in the settlements, the mere suggestion is enough to anger large portions of Israeli society, which see the Arabs siding with the Palestinians as proof that they cannot be trusted. Arab-Israeli disapproval of the settlements is not new. Nor is Arab-Israeli identification with the Palestinian people. Many in the Arab population consider the Palestinians their brethren; and even if they don’t wish to join them, they do seek to support their quest for national sovereignty.

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Israel’s Arab MPs face backlash over Libya visit
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Jonathan Cook - May 1, 2010 - 12:00am

Six Arab members of the Israeli parliament returned last week from a visit to Libya at the personal invitation of its leader, Muammer Qadafi, to a storm of protest in Israel, including threats to prosecute them and bar them from standing in future elections. The delegation of 39 public figures from Israel’s Arab minority, who were flown to Tripoli on Mr Qadafi’s private plane last weekend, had requested the visit in the hope of breaking their isolation in the Arab world.

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Court asked to define ‘Israeli’
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Jonathan Cook - April 6, 2010 - 12:00am

A group of Jews and Arabs are fighting in the Israeli courts to be recognised as “Israelis”, a nationality currently denied them, in a case that officials fear may threaten the country’s self-declared status as a Jewish state.

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Palestinian Christians to be barred from Old City
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
April 1, 2010 - 12:00am

Palestinians, particularly Christians will be barred from entering Jerusalem's Old City and accessing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Saturday, when eastern Orthodox Christians observe Sept An-Nour, or Saturday of light. Church officials were informed by Israeli police that only international pilgrims would be allowed to access the area, Jerusalem officials said on Wednesday.

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For Israel's Arabs, Land Day is our narrative and our justice
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Ahmad Tibi - (Opinion) April 1, 2010 - 12:00am

I remember the events of Land Day 1976 in particular detail. I was taking part in the demonstration in the center of Taibeh, just opposite the taxi station, when police began dispersing us with clubs, then shot and killed one of the demonstrators, Rafat Zohiri, in cold blood. As on all such days marked by the Arab population of Israel, discussions on Land Day revolve around the question of Arab citizens' place in Israeli society and also on our insistence on commemorating Nakba Day, Land Day and the riots of October 2000 every year.

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Fatah calls for escalation of non-violent resistance
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
March 31, 2010 - 12:00am

Fatah's Central Committee stressed the necessity for an escalation of non-violent resistance against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, officials said following a meeting on Tuesday. United Palestinians should continue to protest the crimes committed against them by Israel, the Central Committee said, and recruit the help of international solidarity activists, officials said, noting their willingness to put forward a concerted effort toward Palestinian unity.

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Thousands attend 'Land Day' ceremony
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Sharon Roffe-ofir - March 30, 2010 - 12:00am

Thousands of people arrived in Sakhnin Tuesday to attend a ceremony marking the 34th anniversary of 'Land Day'. Participants waved black flags and Palestinian flags and called, "Barak, Barak, defense minister, how many children have you killed today?" Mosques throughout the northern city called on worshippers to participate in the rally and churches rang bells of mourning for the deaths of six activists who died protesting the confiscation of their lands in 1976.

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A script that may never be finished
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
by Raja Abdulrahim - March 30, 2010 - 12:00am

When Saleem Azzouqa first wrote a pivotal scene in his semi-autobiographical play, "Salam Shalom," two gay lovers were depicted arguing over a fictional suicide bombing. But this was no ordinary couple. One of the men was an Israeli Jew, the other a Palestinian Muslim, and the site of the imaginary bombing was Tel Aviv. Soon, the playwright realized he need not invent dramatic twists for this story. The nightly news would provide all the material he needed.

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Fayyad joins protest to mark Land Day
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
March 30, 2010 - 12:00am

Prime Minister Salam Fayyad joined over 200 Israeli, Palestinian and internationals marking Land Day on Tuesday in the village of Qarawat Bani Hassan, in the West Bank governorate of Salfit. The march began at around 10am and lasted until 12:30pm, Israeli peace activist Jonathan Pollack said, beginning near the Ein Entweteg Spring in the village.

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