Crisis Spurs Migration to Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Wall Street Journal by Sarah Toth Stub - December 3, 2009 - 1:00am JERUSALEM -- Immigration into Israel and the Palestinian West Bank is surging after the financial crisis and economic downturn evaporated jobs elsewhere. After years of a brain drain from the region, and despite the lack of a peace settlement, by the end of this month about 4,000 North American Jews will have immigrated to Israel this year, an increase of 33% over 2008 and the most in one year since 1973, according to Nefesh B'Nefesh, an organization that oversees and assists with immigration to Israel from North America. » Read more

War zone 2.0 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gwen Ackerman - December 3, 2009 - 1:00am A new IDF unit formed to help fight the nation's public-relations war is recruiting and training soldiers for the virtual battlefields of Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. "The Internet, and especially social networks, Web 2.0 and bloggers, are an increasingly important and powerful way to disseminate information," said Sgt. Aliza Landes, who heads the unit, which was formed in September. "Facebook has the same number of subscribers as the entire population of the US and provides a new opportunity for us to reach audiences we wouldn't reach otherwise," she said. » Read more

Boycott revival? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Jon Haber - December 2, 2009 - 1:00am After a three year slumber, the divest-from-Israel "movement" in the US is making an attempt at self-resurrection. It remains to be seen if history will repeat itself this time as tragedy or farce. » Read more

Progress Requires Patience, Compromise and Courageous Leadership ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Middle East Progress (Interview) December 1, 2009 - 1:00am What is the significance of the Israeli government’s announcement on a settlement construction freeze in the West Bank? What are your next steps now that the Israeli government has made this announcement? » Read more

There’s no turning back ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Shimon Shiffer - (Opinion) December 2, 2009 - 1:00am It was hard to believe the prime minister Tuesday evening when he declared that the settlement freeze is a temporary one-time move, to be followed by resumed construction; a statement he made in a bid to mitigate the anger of the settlers. However, it appears that nothing is more permanent than the temporary: This assumption may turn out to be accurate in respect to the cabinet’s decision to freeze settlement construction for 10 months. » Read more

Barak: Settlements are part of Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Tal Rabinovsky - December 3, 2009 - 1:00am Defense Minister Ehud Barak met with four West Bank council heads in his office on Wednesday, and stressed to them that "the settlement blocs are an inseparable part of Israel in all future negotiations with the Palestinians. The Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea are regions that are dear to my heart." Present at the meeting were Alfei Menashe Council head Hasdai Eliezer, Megilot Council head Mutzi Dahman, head of the Jordan Valley Regional Council David David Elhayani, and Oranit Council head Shumi Langer. » Read more

Israel forces detain Jewish settlement mayor ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Richard Boudreaux - December 3, 2009 - 1:00am Israeli security forces arrested the mayor of a Jewish settlement Wednesday as he and other residents tried to prevent government inspectors from entering the community to enforce new restrictions on building in the West Bank. The skirmish in Beit Aryeh was the most serious in five days of confrontations across the territory between a government that appears intent on limiting settlement growth over the next 10 months and a settler movement determined to defy the effort. » Read more

Israel Arrests Settlers Fighting Freeze ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - December 2, 2009 - 1:00am EFRAT, West Bank — The Israeli police made their first arrests on Wednesday as part of the state’s effort to enforce a temporary construction freeze in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, briefly detaining the mayor of a settler council and at least two Jewish protesters. Both sides are trying hard to show how determined they are — the state in enforcing the moratorium, and the settlers in thwarting the state’s plans. » Read more