March 18th

4 mortar shells fired from Gaza hit western Negev ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post March 18, 2011 - 12:00am Four mortar shells fired from the Gaza Strip landed in the western Negev early Friday afternoon. The projectiles landed in open areas, causing no casualties or damage.

Peace with our enemies ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Eitan Haber - (Opinion) March 17, 2011 - 12:00am The instinctive reaction of almost every Israeli citizen following the shocking murder of the Fogel family was along the lines of “so you want to sign an agreement with the Palestinians? You want to make peace with these people?” After all, even Israelis who usually avoid swearwords must have hurled curses at our neighbors the other day. » Read more

Palestinian 'price tag' victim recounts attack ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Elior Levy - March 17, 2011 - 12:00am "I was walking to work as usual when eight young, masked settlers armed with clubs began hitting me in the head and legs," Palestinian construction worker Sami Snobar recalled from his hospital bed Thursday. Snobar was one of two Palestinians who were attacked in the West Bank settlement of Shiloh Thursday morning, in what police suspect was a "price tag" act carried out to avenge the massacre in Itamar. "They sprayed my face with pepper spray – it burned and my face turned red," he said. "Then one of them picked up a brick and struck (my head) with it." » Read more

A funeral for the State of Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Bradley Burston - (Blog) March 17, 2011 - 12:00am All this week I've resisted putting something terrible into words. All this week I've been wondering why the Jerusalem burial ceremony for Ruth and Udi Fogel, their infant daughter Hadas and their two small sons Yoav and Elad, seemed so much like a funeral for the State of Israel itself. » Read more

Israel's right sees Arab essence in terrorists ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - (Opinion) March 18, 2011 - 12:00am The recent murders in Itamar reminded me of the story of the SS soldier, the postwoman's "good boy" in Hans Fallada's novel "Alone in Berlin," who boasts of a photo in which he is seen banging the head of a 3-year-old Jewish child against the bumper of a car. I was reminded of it once again the next day, when I read in the newspaper that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had accepted German Chancellor Angela Merkel's invitation for a "reconciliation visit" to Berlin next month. » Read more

Palestinian, Israeli leaders to visit Moscow next week ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ria Novosti by Sergei Piatakov - March 18, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will visit Russia between March 22 and 24, the Kremlin said on Friday. Abbas will meet with President Dmitry Medvedev on March 22, the presidential press service said. Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu's office announced on Thursday that the premier will visit Russia on March 24. It is unclear, however, if the Israeli and Palestinian leaders will meet in Moscow. » Read more

News Analysis: Hamas-Fatah disputes obstruct Abbas' initiative to visit Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Saud Abu Ramadan, Emad Drimly - March 17, 2011 - 12:00am The positive atmosphere, created by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' initiative to Gaza and the welcome from the Islamic Hamas movement, was not enough to achieve its goal and end the current division. Hamas said in a press statement that it welcomes Abbas declaration to visit Gaza, however, it did not show any positive position concerning Abbas' goal of forming a transitional independent government that prepares for holding general elections within six months. » Read more

Abbas asks for Israeli permission to head for Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua March 18, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday asked for an urgent Israeli permission to head for the Gaza Strip for the first time in more than three years, the PNA presidency office said. The Palestinian presidency said that Abbas ordered the Palestinian Civil Affairs Ministry, which oversees daily coordination with Israel, to prepare for his visit to Gaza as soon as possible. » Read more

Practical arrangements underway for Abbas visit to Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 18, 2011 - 12:00am President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday instructed Civil Affairs chairman Hussein Al-Sheikh to make logistical arrangements for his visit to Gaza as quickly as possible. Abbas also asked Gaza premier Ismail Haniyeh to make arrangements to receive him at Erez border crossing in the coming days. The president said Wednesday that he was ready to hold unity talks with Hamas in the Gaza Strip in the midst of massive youth protests across the West Bank and Gaza demanding an end to the division. » Read more

Gaza protesters leave UN compound ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) March 18, 2011 - 12:00am Sixteen protesters who took refuge in a UN compound in Gaza on Thursday to flee from Hamas police left the premises and called off a planned hunger strike, a UN official said. "They all left. The authorities in Gaza gave assurances that they will be safe," said Chris Gunness, spokesman for the United Nations relief agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). Two hours earlier, one of the demonstrators said the groups planned to stage an indefinite hunger strike to demand an end to Palestinian divisions and reconciliation between rival factions. » Read more