January 19th

Call for Palestinians to investigate Gaza 'crimes' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News January 18, 2010 - 1:00am Palestinian human rights activists have called on authorities in the West Bank and Gaza to investigate allegations of war crimes carried out by their forces. The accusations come from a United Nations report into the Israel's Cast Lead offensive in Gaza last year. Palestinian militants are accused of attacking Israeli civilians, as well as torturing and executing suspected Palestinian informers. The internal investigations must be launched by February, the groups said. » Read more

Take a tour of the West Bank – through Palestinian eyes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Mya Guarnieri - January 15, 2010 - 1:00am Banners strung from lampposts across Jerusalem welcome the winter participants of Birthright, a programme that brings college-aged Jews, most of whom are American, to Israel for a free 10-day tour. Funded by wealthy Jewish philanthropists and the Israeli government, the trip takes participants to sites that have historical importance to Jews, such as the Western Wall, in hopes of strengthening their connection to Israel. » Read more

Israeli settlers arrested in mosque arson investigation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News January 18, 2010 - 1:00am Police carried out a pre-dawn raid on the Yitzhar settlement, near the Palestinian town Yasuf, where the mosque was attacked last month. They are investigating whether there is a link between those arrested and the arson attack, police sources said. The floor of the mosque and a stand holding copies of the Quran were burned in the December attack. Of the 10 people arrested on suspicion of damaging Palestinian property four were minors and would be released soon, Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said. » Read more

MIDEAST: Harsher Gaza War Looming on Horizon? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Inter Press Service (IPS) by Mel Frykberg - (Analysis) January 19, 2010 - 1:00am During the last week the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have carried out a series of raids and air strikes across the Gaza Strip which have left five Palestinians dead, three of them confirmed Islamic Jihad operatives, and a number wounded. The IDF action followed a renewal of rockets being launched at Israel from within the coastal territory. To date this is the most serious escalation in violence between Palestinian resistance fighters and the Israeli military since Cast Lead. » Read more

Arab World: The Egypt-Hamas collision course ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh - January 14, 2010 - 1:00am Hamas representatives who visited Cairo in November and December for talks on a possible prisoner exchange agreement with Israel and reconciliation with the rival Fatah faction asked government officials about the nature of the construction work that had been taking place for several weeks along the border between the Gaza Strip and Sinai. The Egyptians, according to one of the Hamas representatives, sought to allay the group's concerns by assuring them that this was only routine "engineering" work. » Read more

'Iran ordered attack on Israeli convoy' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Yaakov Katz, Amir Mizroch - January 19, 2010 - 1:00am Last week's failed attempt on the lives of Israeli diplomats in Jordan was apparently carried out on instructions from Teheran, sources close to Jordan's General Intelligence Department (GID) revealed on Monday. The sources said the GID was investigating the possibility that the explosives used in the attack had been smuggled into the kingdom by Iranian diplomats. The attack itself was apparently carried out by local al-Qaida supporters who received money and explosives from Iran, the sources said. » Read more

Israel's compassion in Haiti can't hide our ugly face in Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - (Opinion) January 18, 2010 - 1:00am Who said we are shut up inside our Tel Aviv bubble? How many small nations surrounded by enemies set up field hospitals on the other side of the world? Give us an earthquake in Haiti, a tsunami in Thailand or a terror attack in Kenya, and the IDF Spokesman's Office will triumph. A cargo plane can always be found to fly in military journalists to report on our fine young men from the Home Front Command. » Read more

U.S. must now start twisting Israeli and Palestinian arms ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yoel Marcus - (Opinion) January 19, 2010 - 1:00am Every time disaster strikes anywhere in the world, I am filled anew with admiration at how ready and willing we are to assist, and how speedy, effective, organized and wholehearted that assistance is. » Read more

Palestinians host first East Jerusalem meet since 2001 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff - January 19, 2010 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority on Monday held its official meeting with a foreign diplomat in East Jerusalem since the closing of its headquarters there more than eight years ago. The Palestinian representatives met with Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store at an orphanage near the Mount of Olives, not far from the Orient House, which was closed by Israel in 2001. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas earlier Monday held his own meeting with Store in Ramallah. » Read more

Hamas senior official admits Iran’s financial, political support ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 19, 2010 - 1:00am Gaza – Ma’an – Member of Hamas' parliamentary bloc, Khalil Al-Haya said that the movement is receiving fianacial, political and moral support from Iran, "without paying any political price," and welcomed every Islamic and Arab relation that would support the Palestinians and their resistance, he said on Sunday. » Read more