February 10th

Palestinians may not trust Netanyahu yet. But they would do well to test him
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Jonathan Freedland - (Analysis) February 10, 2010 - 1:00am

Tired of the jokes about his wife, perhaps, Northern Ireland's first minister, Peter Robinson, last week cracked a gag of his own. Marking an end to more than 100 hours of talks, he said that the province would be lobbying for the inclusion of negotiating as an Olympic sport in time for the London games of 2012 – and that Northern Ireland would win the gold medal.

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Can Gaza become a Somalia or Yemen?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Matthew Levitt - (Opinion) February 10, 2010 - 1:00am

The recent arrest of an organized cell in the northern West Bank inspired by al-Qaida’s ideology is a stark reminder of the expanding nature of the threat facing Israel. Today, threats come not only from the enemies it has long known, such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad which target Israel at home, but from new and potentially more dangerous ones, such as radicalized individuals in the West Bank or formalized groups such as Jaish al Islam and Jund Ansar Allah in the Gaza Strip, that are ideologically aligned with al-Qaida and are eager to globalize the assault on Israel.

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PA corruption and sex scandal called Israeli conspiracy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Ali Waked - February 10, 2010 - 1:00am

The Palestinian Authority expressed their outrage on Wednesday at Israel's Channel 10 report of a video found depicting one of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' senior advisors in compromising positions with a woman candidate applying to work in his office. According to a PA official, the report was merely an Israeli smear campaign meant to embarrass Abbas.

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Israeli-Palestinian peace would neutralize Iran threat
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by A.B. Yehoshua - (Opinion) February 10, 2010 - 1:00am

Since the end of World War II the world has been rife with bloody conflicts in which, or after which, entire population groups have been murdered. One could cite the slaughter of millions by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, or the horrific tribal war in Rwanda, or the brutality in the former Yugoslavia, or the devastation in southern Sudan. But despite all this, the United Nations decided to devote a special memorial day only to the Holocaust of the Jews in Europe.

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Defense Minister and IDF chief clash over Ashkenazi's future
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amos Harel - February 10, 2010 - 1:00am

Severe tension has developed between Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi - Barak is furious over what he sees as Ashkenazi's efforts to get his term extended for an exceptional fifth year. This issue prompted senior ministry officials to lash out at IDF Spokesman Avi Benayahu on Tuesday. Ashkenazi is slated to finish his four-year term in February 2011. Three weeks ago, however, Haaretz reported that he is angling for a fifth year, claiming the sensitive security situation and the lack of a suitable replacement make this necessary.

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Israeli soldier killed by Palestinian officer in West Bank knife attack
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Chaim Levinson - February 10, 2010 - 1:00am

An Israel Defense Forces soldier was killed Wednesday in a knife attack in the West Bank. The soldier was named as Ihab Khatib from Kfar Maghar. Khatib was a non-commissioned officer in the Kfir Brigade. The incident occurred at Tapuach Junction, south of the West Bank city of Nablus. The assailant, named as Palestinian officer Mahmoud al-Khatib, has been apprehended. Al-Khatib, a resident of the village of Ya'abed south of Jenin, serves as an officer in the civilian Palestinian police force.


February 9th

An Israeli stirs controversy by making keffiyehs featuring the Star of David. Landmines are an ongoing problem in the occupied Golan Heights. PM Fayyad again demands an end to Israeli raids and settlement activity. A senior Fatah official says it will reopen its headquarters in Gaza. The PA says it will hold local and municipal elections in July, and reiterates terms for resuming negotiations, but Pres. Abbas says he is still waiting for clarification from the US. Hamas opposes elections and accuses the US of blocking peace and Palestinian reconciliation. The new Palestinian security forces continue to gain ground. Officials say settlers are unlikely to prevail in trying to hold onto a seized Palestinian house in occupied East Jerusalem. The National says Special Envoy Mitchell's approach may still pay off. Hassan Barari looks at the implications of a public handshake between senior Israeli and Saudi officials.

Israel is shooting itself in the foot
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Jay Bushinsky - (Opinion) February 7, 2010 - 1:00am

No country could possibly be more obsessed about its image abroad than is Israel. Understandably, Israelis want to be liked and where appropriate, admired. But in recent years, especially since Operation Cast Lead – the poorly-planned and badly-executed assault on the Gaza Strip that began December 27, 2008 – they have been the butt of international criticism, much of it unwarranted.

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Building a peaceful future
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Seth Freedman - (Opinion) February 8, 2010 - 1:00am

For all that Jerusalem is perpetually mired in clashes between rival groups of Arab and Jewish residents, there appears to be a glimmer of hope. Plans were announced recently for a fully integrated mixed neighbourhood on the outskirts of the city, in a move which could herald a change in the way Jews and Arabs coexist in the Holy City.

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Mitchell’s model for peace can still apply
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
(Editorial) February 8, 2010 - 1:00am

The Middle East peace process is so broken that the parties cannot even talk to each other. The best that can be hoped for is “proximity talks”, in which the US special envoy George Mitchell shuttles between sides as a mediator. Before even that can happen, the Palestinians need assurances and clarifications from the United States – in effect, they’re talking about what they will be allowed to talk about.

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