February 17th

Rattling the Cage: We must turn Israel inside out
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Larry Derfner - (Opinion) February 16, 2011 - 1:00am

This is an extraordinary time for the Middle East, an unprecedented one, a glorious one – and it’s passing Israel by.

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Israeli government to organize school field trips to West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
by Ben Lynfield - February 16, 2011 - 1:00am

The Israeli government plans to begin organizing high school field trips to a contested West Bank religious site in a move that could reignite tension over a historic flash point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The initiative, announced yesterday, could bring hundreds of thousands of Israeli teens to Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, revered in Judaism as the burial site of the biblical figures Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Muslims revere the same compound for its ties to Abraham, referring to it as the Ibrahimi mosque after the man they look up to as a prophet.

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Palestinians Stay Quiet as Storms Rage Across the Middle East
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
by David Miller - February 16, 2011 - 1:00am

As turmoil spread to previously quiet areas of the Middle East like Bahrain and Libya this week, the West Bank and Gaza Strip remained placid. Palestinians say they are as firmly opposed to Israel’s occupation as ever, but they don’t face the same restrictions on freedom of expression that their brothers and sisters elsewhere in the region and so they have no reason to explode in rebellion now. Most are satisfied with the rule of the Palestinian Authority (PA).

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Palestinians seek global recognition through South America
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Juan Forero, Janine Zacharia - February 16, 2011 - 1:00am

Before a slew of South American countries recently recognized an independent Palestinian state in quick succession, a seasoned Palestinian diplomat had quietly begun lobbying the government of one critical country on the continent: Argentina. Home to the region's largest Jewish community, Argentina posed a special challenge. But Walid Muaqqat, who has the status of Palestinian ambassador here, made sure things ran smoothly when Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived for a 2009 tour.

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U.S. reportedly proposing U.N. ‘statement’ on settlements
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
February 16, 2011 - 1:00am

The United States reportedly is backing a United Nations Security Council statement that would slam Israel on settlements but would stop short of a resolution.

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Editorial: Israel fears change in Middle East
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
(Editorial) February 17, 2011 - 1:00am

Indeed, everything about winds of change sweeping through the Arab world is seen by the Israelis in terms of what will the consequences be for Israel.

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Israeli troops kill 3 Palestinians on Gaza border
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Ibrahim Barzak - February 17, 2011 - 1:00am

Israeli forces shot dead three Palestinians along the tense border with the Gaza Strip before dawn Thursday. The Israeli military released a statement saying soldiers fired on the men after they were spotted planting an explosive device in a no-go zone along the border between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m.

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February 16th

Israel closes four international missions. Saeb Erekat explains his resignation. The Washington Post denounces the prosecution of UC Irvine students. Janessa Gans Wilder says Israel cannot ignore nonviolent Palestinian protests. The EU says it supports Palestinian statehood by September. An emboldened Palestinian delegation pushes for a UN resolution on settlements. Pres. Abbas says Israel has no vision for peace. Abbas disbands the NSU following leaks. The PLO and PA settle a lawsuit. The Knesset moves forward with a law punishing Israeli citizens who promote boycotts. Ha'aretz says unrest in the Arab world should spur Israeli peace efforts. Gazans participate in a conference in Sderot. The Israeli military dismantles an unauthorized outpost. Meir Margalit says conditions in occupied East Jerusalem will lead to a popular uprising. PM Fayyad says the PA will try to wean itself off foreign aid by 2013. A British TV show looks at the plight of children in Gaza. Following unrest in Egypt, Israelis eye the prospect of a multi-front war. ATFP President Ziad J. Asali urges international support for Palestinian state-building. The National says the Palestinian leadership is right to call new elections. Basma Kodmani says the leak of the "Palestine papers" was "malevolent" and "manipulative."

To build Palestine, support the plan that will establish a state
In Print by Ziad Asali - The National (Opinion) - February 16, 2011 - 1:00am

For decades, little attention has been paid to what has actually been happening on the ground with regard to the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. The institution-building programme of the Palestinian Authority, which has been spearheaded by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is surrounded by a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding. This may be a function of the very nature of the programme: a political project that has its foundation in the technical aspects of building a nation.

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Palestinian Authority to Wean Itself Off Foreign Aid by 2013
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
by Felice Friedson - February 16, 2011 - 1:00am

The Palestinian Authority (PA) is undertaking a major effort to wean itself from foreign assistance, a move that will strengthen plans to declare statehood by this summer, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad told The Media Line. “The current expenditure has been reduced from $1.8 billion in 2008 to $1.1 billion in 2010 and we will gradually wean ourselves from [foreign] aid by 2013,” Fayyad said. “It is an important benchmark for reducing reliance on the need for external assistance,” he added.

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