March 29th

How Palestinians will use the GA to advance statehood ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by David Horovitz - (Opinion) March 25, 2011 - 12:00am Early in the Korean War, frustrated that the Soviet Union’s repeated use of its UN Security Council veto was thwarting council action to protect South Korea, the United States initiated what became known as the UN General Assembly’s “Uniting for Peace” resolution. » Read more

Palestinian groups deny involvement in recent unrest in Syria ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua March 28, 2011 - 12:00am Damascus-based Palestinian political groups denied on Monday accusations that some Palestinians were behind recent unrest in Syria. In a statement, the groups warned of "attempts of division between Syria and the Palestinian factions." Khaled Abdul Majeed, secretary of the national follow-up committee and the Palestinian forces coalition, said in the statement that "Syria will overcome the current crisis and will be able to foil external attempts to undermine its national stability. " » Read more

Another Israel-Hamas war is inevitable ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Barry Rubin - (Opinion) March 27, 2011 - 12:00am I’m going to make a prediction here that, unfortunately, I’m sure is going to come true. Any good analyst should be able to see this, yet few will, until it happens within the next two years: The Egyptian revolution will make another Israel-Hamas war inevitable, with a lot more of an international mess. And I’ll go a step further: An incompetent and mistaken US policy makes such a conflict even more certain. Why? » Read more

Abbas would give up US aid for Palestinian unity ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Mohammed Daraghmeh - March 28, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is making a heavy push for reconciliation with Hamas and is willing to give up hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. aid if that's what it takes to forge a Palestinian unity deal, a top aide said Monday. The comments were the latest sign that Abbas is giving up on stalled peace talks with Israel and prefers to pursue unity with Gaza's Hamas rulers as he makes a push toward independence. "Of course we need the American money. But if they use it as a way of pressuring us, we are ready to relinquish that aid," said Azzam Ahmed, an Abbas aide. » Read more

Abbas would give up US aid for Palestinian unity ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Mohammed Daraghmeh - March 28, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is making a heavy push for reconciliation with Hamas and is willing to give up hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. aid if that's what it takes to forge a Palestinian unity deal, a top aide said Monday. The comments were the latest sign that Abbas is giving up on stalled peace talks with Israel and prefers to pursue unity with Gaza's Hamas rulers as he makes a push toward independence. "Of course we need the American money. But if they use it as a way of pressuring us, we are ready to relinquish that aid," said Azzam Ahmed, an Abbas aide. » Read more

The single demand that can unite the Palestinian people ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Karma Nabulsi - (Opinion) March 29, 2011 - 12:00am After another week of breathtaking demonstrations from Jordan to Yemen heralding dramatic revolutionary change, in occupied Palestine things appear much the same. The repetitions of bombing, air attacks on civilians, muted international protests, and dubious gestures towards a bankrupted peace process: all lend an air of futility and hopelessness to the trajectory of Palestinian freedom. » Read more

Israel considering annexing West Bank settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press March 28, 2011 - 12:00am An Israeli official says Israel is considering annexing major West Bank settlement blocs if the Palestinians unilaterally seek world recognition of a state. The official said Tuesday that Israel can respond to unilateral Palestinian action with one-sided acts of its own. Annexation of settlements is one option. He says others could include restricting water supplies beyond agreed-upon amounts and restricting Palestinian use of Israeli ports for business purposes. The official spoke on condition of anonymity on Tuesday because no final decisions have been made. » Read more

Israel eases steps to revoke citizenship ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Allyn Fisher-Ilan - March 28, 2011 - 12:00am Israel passed a law on Monday that eases the process of revoking citizenship in a step denounced as a move to threaten primarily its Arab minority. The amendment to a so-called "Citizenship Law" was the latest in a list of parliamentary measures taken this past month that civil rights activists denounce as undemocratic but Israeli rightists see as essential to the Jewish state's defence. » Read more

Unhelpful to peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times (Editorial) March 29, 2011 - 12:00am Israel has shown yet again its true, intransigent, position on peace with the Palestinians by rejecting a national unity government comprising both Fateh, the Palestinian party ruling in the West Bank, and Hamas, the Islamic movement in control of Gaza Strip. » Read more

Israeli tanks accompany bulldozers into Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 29, 2011 - 12:00am Several Israeli military tanks crossed the border into the Gaza Strip on Tuesday morning near the Kissufim military post north of Khan Younis. Witnesses northeast of the town of Qarara, close to where the military action was reported, said three tanks and four bulldozers were operating inside the coastal enclave. Gunfire was reported, but no injuries, and onlookers said the bulldozers began leveling agricultural areas around the Kissufim military base.