March 4th

UNRWA: A Good Investment for American Taxpayers
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Huffington Post
by Philip C. Wilcox - March 3, 2011 - 1:00am

The historic popular uprisings in Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East are forcing the United States, for the first time in decades, to recalibrate American priorities there. In the past, we have weighted our diplomacy and resources toward order and stability, often at the expense of our commitment to freedom, democracy and development. The events of recent weeks make clear that we must give higher priority to supporting more just and accountable political institutions and to unfulfilled human needs. If we don't, the threat of violence and instability will surely grow.

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Washington must not be a global policeman or dictators' patron
In Print by Ziad Asali - The Daily Star - March 4, 2011 - 1:00am

The current uprisings in the Arab world demand a reassessment of current policy by all countries, especially the United States. One expects heightened demands for democracy, human rights, freedom of expression and regular elections, as well as a commitment to the people of the Middle East that their rights and aspirations will be properly reflected. It would not be surprising if all these demands were packaged as part of an initiative to address the Palestinian-Israel conflict and the establishment of a state of Palestine.

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Washington must not be a global policeman or dictators' patron
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
by Ziad Asali - March 4, 2011 - 1:00am

The current uprisings in the Arab world demand a reassessment of current policy by all countries, especially the United States. One expects heightened demands for democracy, human rights, freedom of expression and regular elections, as well as a commitment to the people of the Middle East that their rights and aspirations will be properly reflected. It would not be surprising if all these demands were packaged as part of an initiative to address the Palestinian-Israel conflict and the establishment of a state of Palestine.

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Washington must not be a global policeman or dictators' patron
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
by Ziad Asali - March 4, 2011 - 1:00am

The current uprisings in the Arab world demand a reassessment of current policy by all countries, especially the United States. One expects heightened demands for democracy, human rights, freedom of expression and regular elections, as well as a commitment to the people of the Middle East that their rights and aspirations will be properly reflected. It would not be surprising if all these demands were packaged as part of an initiative to address the Palestinian-Israel conflict and the establishment of a state of Palestine.

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March 3rd

Israel, Where Are You?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Huffington Post
by Alon Ben-meir - February 28, 2011 - 1:00am

While the Arab world joins together in a call for democracy, Israel's democracy is unraveling. As the Arab world demands accountability from its leaders, Israel's leaders are facing investigations and indictments. As the Arab world demands greater social mobility and economic opportunity, Israel's gap between the rich and poor continues to widen. The Arab world has discovered the power of peaceful demonstration, while Israel continues to rely on military might, rather than peacemaking, to safeguard its national interests.

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Roger Cohen urges Pres. Obama to go to Jerusalem. Palestinian refugees in Lebanon continue to suffer. Israelis push for an interim peace plan, but Palestinians reject the idea. Israel leaves only one commercial crossing to Gaza open. Right-wing Israelis and settlers are infuriated, and officials say they are threatening security forces. Gaza banks strike after a major robbery and many accuse Hamas. Hamas says PM Fayyad’s unity plan is "stillborn." Mideast unrest may spur Israeli-Syrian negotiations. Tensions along the Gaza-Israel border are likely to be contained. Norway says it may recognize Palestine if the peace process remains stalled, but Sweden says it won’t. The PA says 150 states will recognize Palestine by September. Obama says Israelis must show seriousness on peace. D. Bloomfield asks if the US is moving away from the peace process. Larry Derfner says Israel has fewer defenders than ever. Palestinians sell products at an Israeli agricultural fair. J Street is now pressuring rather than defending the Obama administration. Jewish Americans in California argue fiercely about Israeli policies. Daoud Kuttab says Palestinians can learn from that Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions. Hagit Ofran and Lara Friedman say at least 70 unauthorized outposts are built on privately-owned Palestinian land. Alon Ben-Meir says Israel's democracy is unraveling.

At least 70 outposts are located on private Palestinian land
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Americans For Peace Now
by Lara Friedman, Hagit Ofran - March 2, 2011 - 1:00am

Prime Minister Netanyahu yesterday declared his intention to evacuate illegal settlement outposts that are located on private Palestinian land. This declaration reportedly applies to "at least 3 outposts." This declaration is problematic, for a number of reasons: 1. The number of outposts on private land is 70, not 3. Of these, 16 are fully on private land and 54 are partially on private land. Of the 16, 11 are on land which is fully registered as private. See here the full list.

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Lessons from the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
by Daoud Kuttab - March 3, 2011 - 1:00am

Many activists in Palestine believe that they are the inventors of the concept of popular uprisings in the modern Arab history. After all, many say, the Palestinian Intifada has been hailed as a shining example of an entire people rising up in unison against a ruthless aggressor.

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In Berkeley, California, US Jews argue fiercely over Israeli policies
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Sharmila Devi - March 3, 2011 - 1:00am

It has a history of anti-war and pro-civil rights activism unmatched anywhere in the United States, yet not even this bucolic city nestled above San Francisco Bay in California is immune from the slings and arrows that accompany the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Berkeley is home to the top-ranked University of California, bookshops, cafes and wide leafy boulevards with imposing houses for professors and professionals from San Francisco's high-tech sector.

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Rather Than Defend Obama, J Street Is Now Pushing Him
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
by Nathan Guttman - March 2, 2011 - 1:00am

Shifting sands in the Middle East and new political realities in Washington are forcing J Street to recalibrate its strategy. The dovish Israel lobby, whose supporters gathered recently in Washington for its second national conference, had previously tried to provide political cover for President Obama as he pushed for a speedy resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But now J Street finds itself prodding a reluctant administration to take a more assertive approach.

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