March 9th

Israeli Left Emerges From Coma Amid Atrocities ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Inter Press Service (IPS) by Mel Frykberg - March 9, 2010 - 1:00am On Saturday night over 3,000 Palestinian, Israeli and foreign peace activists, waving Palestinian flags and shouting "Free Sheikh Jarrah", gathered in the East Jerusalem suburb in support of Palestinians threatened with home demolitions and evictions. Progressive members of the Israeli Knesset, or parliament, called for the removal of illegal Israeli settlers in East Jerusalem and for the rights of Palestinian residents to be respected. » Read more

The perils of a new intifada ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by Osama Al-Sharif - (Opinion) March 8, 2010 - 1:00am If last Friday's incident at the Al Haram Al Sharif compound means anything it is this: Israel's right-wing government is out of control and is bent on executing a malicious scheme to undermine Palestinian rights. » Read more

Biden to Al-Hayat: Bold Steps Required to Advance the Peace Process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat by Joyce Karam - (Interview) March 8, 2010 - 1:00am On the eve of his highly anticipated trip to the Middle East, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden emphasized in an interview with Al-Hayat the need for “bold steps” from Palestinians and Israelis to make progress on the Peace Process, and promised a “sustained and active” American role in the upcoming proximity negotiations. Mr. Biden talked about the lack of trust for the Iranian leadership and expected from China, a member of the P5+1, to “fulfill its responsibilities” on the issue of sanctions. » Read more

Israel given one year to tell truth about settlers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Jonathan Cook - March 7, 2010 - 1:00am Israel has been told that its accession to an exclusive club of the world’s most developed economies is all but assured when the 30 member states meet in May. But a draft report of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), seen by The National, concedes that Israel has breached one of the organisation’s key requirements on providing accurate and transparent data on its economic activity. » Read more

Salam Fayyad: The Palestinian with a plan for statehood ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Leslie Susser - (Analysis) March 8, 2010 - 1:00am Pundits and politicians have taken recently to comparing Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to Israel's founding father, David Ben-Gurion. No less a figure than President Shimon Peres, one of Ben-Gurion's foremost disciples, is the latest Israeli leader to offer the accolade. The reason is simple: Like Ben-Gurion, Fayyad is building institutions of statehood. » Read more

OECD is ushering Israel in too easily ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Seth Freedman - (Opinion) March 9, 2010 - 1:00am Despite all the diplomatic disquiet over Israeli policy towards the Palestinians, actions speak far louder than words when it comes to Israel's international status. In May, the country seems set to be ushered into the OECD, following years of campaigning from successive Israeli governments. Such a move would be another step in welcoming Israel in from the cold, and demonstrates certain states' willingness to overlook Israel's questionable behaviour as an occupier in favour of enhanced fiscal and political ties. » Read more

Families fight 'racist' Israeli citizenship law ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News by Heather Sharp - March 9, 2010 - 1:00am "To leave my children, I would die. I couldn't do it," says Lana Khatib. Five years ago, Israel's controversial citizenship law marred her first year of marriage and still looms large over everything from supermarket shopping to her fears the family might face the prospect of separation. Adnan, who is three, and one-year-old Yosra squabble over their toys. Born and raised in Israel, they are too young to understand that their parents both consider themselves Palestinian, but their father Taiseer is an Israeli citizen while their mother is from the occupied West Bank. » Read more

J’lem deputy mayor weighs opening Sheikh Jarrah office ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Abe Selig - March 8, 2010 - 1:00am Deputy Jerusalem Mayor David Hadari (Habayit Hayehudi) is weighing the possibility of opening up an office in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, in an effort to “assist neighborhood residents,” he told The Jerusalem Post on Monday. Hadari said he would tour the area on Tuesday to explore logistical and financial aspects of setting up an office in one of the homes where Jewish families currently live. “I’m going to Sheikh Jarrah first of all, to strengthen the Jewish residents there,” Hadari told the Post. “I want to see if there is any way I can help them. » Read more

Fayyad’s White Intifada ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Alex Fishman - (Opinion) March 9, 2010 - 1:00am At this time, senior Palestinian figures no longer want the VIP cards issued by Israel to about 300 elected officials and heads of Palestinian security arms. These cards enable them, among other perks, to stay in their air-conditioned Mercedes and quickly pass through IDF roadblocks in the West Bank, while their people watch on angrily and enviously. » Read more

Israel to resume issue of visas for foreign NGO workers in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - March 9, 2010 - 1:00am Bowing to international pressure, the Interior Ministry has announced it will resume granting work permits to foreigners working in most international non governmental organizations in the Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. As Haaretz reported about six weeks ago, the Interior Ministry stopped issuing work permits to non governmental organization workers as of September 2009 and told them they would have to make do with tourist visas, which do not permit employment. » Read more