March 3rd

Squabbles dogging U.S. ‘big picture’ in Middle East ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ron Kampeas, Marcy Oster - March 3, 2010 - 1:00am Vice President Joe Biden, President Obama's big picture guy, is set to draw it for the Israelis next week in a major address: Confront Iran internationally, talk peace regionally. Bold strokes, but already Biden's initiative is being dogged by scribbly little details -- timing on Iran, building in Jerusalem, restoration in the West Bank, and just how far apart will Israelis and the Palestinians sit. » Read more

Newly unveiled East Jerusalem plan put on hold ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News March 3, 2010 - 1:00am The mayor of Jerusalem has announced a plan to demolish an area of Arab East Jerusalem to make way for an upmarket district of hotels and gardens. But hours before Mayor Nir Barkat was due to announce his scheme - called the King's Garden - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said work should be delayed. » Read more

'We need citizenship law because of Palestinian terror' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Dan Izenberg - March 3, 2010 - 1:00am Palestinian terrorist organizations have not let up on their intentions to perpetrate mass attacks in Israel and therefore the temporary legislation forbidding Palestinian men under 35 and women under 25 from living here should not be rejected by the High Court of Justice, the state argued Tuesday. » Read more

'Fayyad is inciting violence' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Yaakov Katz, Tovah Lazaroff - March 3, 2010 - 1:00am Palestinian Authority officials headed by Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad, are inciting anti-Israel violence in the West Bank, defense officials charged on Sunday as violent demonstrations spread from Hebron to Jerusalem’s Old City. Four policemen and a number of protesters were hurt in clashes around the Temple Mount on Sunday and seven Arabs were arrested. » Read more

DF unveils upgrades to Gaza fence ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Yaakov Katz - March 3, 2010 - 1:00am Israel has augmented its defenses along the Gaza border with new surveillance and radar systems capable of better detecting infiltrating Palestinian terrorists. On Tuesday, the Ground Forces Command unveiled its newly-upgraded Combat Collection Corps, headed by Brig.-Gen. Eli Polak, which is responsible for providing field intelligence and surveillance along Israel’s borders as well as accompanying ground forces as they pursue moving targets. » Read more

On brink of next intifada ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Shaul Mishal - (Opinion) March 3, 2010 - 1:00am There are fears that Jerusalem will be turning into the focal point of an outburst that would prompt the next intifada. It will be a civilian rather than armed intifada, although it may certainly escalate into a bloody uprising. This intifada may spread like wildfire across the rest of the West Bank and its main centers of activity will be protests around the settlements and mostly near the security fence. Bilin will turn into a focal point that will spread along the fence area. » Read more

US praises PM's intervention in Silwan dispute ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews March 3, 2010 - 1:00am The US State Department on Tuesday praised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's intervention in the Silwan dispute after he asked Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat to postpone the implementation of the mayor's plan. According to the plan, some buildings constructed without a permit in the al-Bustan neighborhood of Silwan in east Jerusalem will be demolished, and in their place an archeological park will be established. » Read more

Netanyahu: Conditions ripening for renewal of Mideast peace talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press March 3, 2010 - 1:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday welcomed the Arab League decision to support U.S.-brokered indirect peace talks with the Palestinians. "It seems that the conditions are ripening for the renewal of negotiations between us and the Palestinians," he told the Knesset, during a special session Wednesday. "In the Middle East you need two to tango, but it could be that we need three to tango and we might need to leapfrog at first but the obstacle isn't and never was Israel." Advertisement » Read more

How will the next Palestinian uprising look? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - (Analysis) March 3, 2010 - 1:00am Judging from articles written by both Israelis and Palestinians, the next intifada is already in the air. They are predicting it is on the way and the most punctilious know it will be "popular." Bil'in and Na'alin are perceived as its models. » Read more

Israel's apartheid doesn't stop at the West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Salman Masalha - (Opinion) March 3, 2010 - 1:00am Here is a civics lesson about the Zionist heritage, which has recently basked in the limelight of another government decision. » Read more