March 3rd

Israeli PM vows not to cede Jordan River Valley
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
March 3, 2010 - 1:00am

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said that his country would never cede the control of Jordan River Valley under any possible peace deal with the Palestinians, reported local daily Ha'aretz.

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PNA denies tensed ties with Arab countries
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
March 3, 2010 - 1:00am

A senior Palestinian National Authority (PNA) official denied on Tuesday reports that the ties between the PNA and Tunisia have been tensed due to political differences. "The ties between the two sides are strong and continuous and there is full ongoing diplomatic coordination," said Nemer Hammad, an aid to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Arab media reports said on Monday that there is tension in he diplomatic ties between the PNA on one hand, Tunisia, Libya and Syria on the other, adding that the three countries refused to receive Abbas this week.

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Israeli forces kill Islamic Jihad militant in West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
March 3, 2010 - 1:00am

slamic Jihad's military wing chief was killed early Wednesday during an Israeli army raid in Jenin city in northern West Bank, a source said. The source of Islamic Jihad who declined to give his name said the Israeli forces rolled into several neighborhoods in the town and conducted a house-to-house search that included a home where two Islamic Jihad militants had taken refuge.

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Nazzal: Israel to approve 30,000 housing units on occupied land
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
March 2, 2010 - 1:00am

Israeli authorities aim to approve the construction of a 30,000 housing unit for religious Israelis in the industrial area of Atarot and Qalandiya, after excavating the site, the follow-up director of the popular committee against the wall and settlements said Tuesday. Mohammad Nazzal said the plan was uncovered by an Israeli journalist, who detailed his findings on Israeli TV. The decision, Nazzal said, was reached between the Israeli mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, and members of Knesset, the Israeli parliament.

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Abbas urges Arabs to protect Jerusalem
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
March 3, 2010 - 1:00am

President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday urged delegates to the Arab summit scheduled later this month to challenge Israel's designation of West Bank landmarks as "Israeli heritage sites." Following a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart, the president said "Arabs and Muslims must protect Jerusalem's holy places, and its residents, because they too are evicted from their homes and stripped of their identities."

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PA goes live with electronic networking
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
March 3, 2010 - 1:00am

Palestinian Authority ministries and government institutions will soon be connected via electronic networking, according to a draft agreement signed on Tuesday. The agreement, ratified by the PA Ministries of Telecommunication and Finance, will be implemented in several phases, initially by connecting all major institutions via an Ethernet network, followed by government institutions and their branches in all the districts.

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Jerusalem Mayor Delays Demolition Plan
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Ethan Bronner - March 2, 2010 - 1:00am

The mayor of Jerusalem agreed Tuesday to delay a plan to demolish some Palestinian homes to build a complex that would provide new apartments for the residents. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had asked the mayor, Nir Barkat, to allow more time to reach an understanding with the residents of the neighborhood, in East Jerusalem just outside the Old City walls. Mr. Barkat has been negotiating with the Palestinians there, who are living in housing that is illegal under Israeli law. The residents have rejected the plan, fearing that once homes are destroyed, Jewish settlers will be moved in.

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U.N. Official Condemns Gaza Blockade
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Fares Akram - March 3, 2010 - 1:00am

The senior United Nations official for humanitarian relief took a tour of Gaza on Tuesday, a year after Israel’s war here, and declared keen concern for what he called the collective punishment of 1.5 million Palestinians due to the blockade enforced by Israel and Egypt.

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March 2nd

The assassination in Dubai complicates Israel's efforts at normalization with the Arab world. Richard Cohen says Israel should not be accused of apartheid. Tensions run high after Israel's claim on occupied holy sites, and the EU and the Palestinian Cabinet condemn the move. Sen. John Kerry urges Israel to ease the blockade of Gaza. Hamas faces growing challenges from more extreme Muslim radicals. PLO leaders say US clarifications are not yet sufficient for a resumption of talks. Because of the blockade, Gaza is now an importer of fish. A Hamas leader disowns his son who spied for Israel. Hamas says it is determined to introduce rockets into the West Bank, and says either Jordan or Egypt were responsible for the Dubai assassination. Akiva Eldar says Israel's High Court is abetting "illegal outposts." At the request of PM Netanyahu, Israel's mayor in Jerusalem suspends plans to demolish 20 Palestinian homes in the Silwan neighborhood. The US government condemns plans for new settlement activity in occupied East Jerusalem. Asharq Al-Awsat interviews Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar.

Q & A with Hamas's Mahmoud al-Zahar
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat
by Saleh Al-Naami - (Interview) March 1, 2010 - 1:00am

Q) Is the recent story published about Musab Hassan Yousef true? A) Israel is trying to distort Hamas's image and weaken and reduce its popularity by promoting the idea that there are many examples like Musab Hassan Yousef. We do not rule out that there could be some rot [in the organization]. The case of Hassan Yousf's son putting aside his religion does not discredit his father who has sacrificed a lot for his religion and country. Q) How close are you to reaching an agreement on a prisoner exchange deal with Israel? A) I have nothing to say in this regard.

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