IDF on Lebanon alert for Nakba Day demonstrations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Yaakov Katz - May 13, 2011 - 12:00am IDF troops will be deployed in large numbers throughout the West Bank and along the border with Lebanon on Friday, amid expectations that massive demonstrations will break out on both fronts ahead of Nakba Day (“the day of the catastrophe”). The IDF began reinforcing troops in the West Bank earlier this week, and sources in the Northern Command said on Thursday that there were expectations that Palestinians in Lebanon will also travel to the border to participate in the protests. » Read more

Shin Bet: Egypt doing little to stop Gaza arms smugglers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Hanan Greenberg - May 12, 2011 - 12:00am A Shin Bet document paints a bleak picture of Gaza arms smuggling operations and states that the potential threat they pose to Israel has increased since the Egyptian revolution. According to Shin Bet data, hundreds of rockets capable of hitting targets within a 12-25 mile range, have been smuggled into the Gaza Strip since last year. In addition, some 1,000 mortar shells, dozens of anti-tank missiles and tons of both explosives and explosive-manufacturing materials, have found their way into the hands of Gaza militants in the past year. » Read more

Palestinians: Prepare for 3rd intifada ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Elior Levy - May 13, 2011 - 12:00am Text messages were sent to tens of thousands of cellular subscribers in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, calling them to take part in the events marking the Palestinian day of mourning over Israel's inception and to ignite a third Intifada. Police intelligence suggests that the Palestinians intend on holding several prequel events on Friday and Saturday; and though the police believe chances of events escalating into riots are low, reinforced police and Border Guard forces will deploy in east Jerusalem, the Old City and Temple Mount plaza, to maintain order. » Read more

Flying to his country's defense ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yossi Verter - May 13, 2011 - 12:00am Some 500 journalists have signed up to cover the speech by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the annual conference of the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC in Washington, according to the Prime Minister's Bureau. Netanyahu's remarks to the American Jews, in about 10 days' time, are not expected to generate banner headlines. The real headlines will come from the address he will deliver a day or two later before a joint session of Congress. » Read more

Israel has to choose: Mideast peace or apartheid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Saeb Erakat - (Opinion) May 13, 2011 - 12:00am Having all Palestinian political factions come together for national reconciliation was an emotional experience for all Palestinians who witnessed the events taking place in Cairo. The Arab Spring has finally reached Palestine. The left, the religious right, and the nationalist camp ? across the Palestinian political spectrum ? with the support of the new Egyptian government, reached an agreement to establish a technocratic administration in order to hold elections within one year and rebuild the Gaza Strip. This is a critical step in our path toward freedom and independence. » Read more

Fayyad to Haaretz: Palestinians are prepared for statehood ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff - May 13, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said yesterday the Palestinians have created all the conditions for establishing a Palestinian state. “The mission has been accomplished,” Fayyad said in an interview to Haaretz in Ramallah yesterday. » Read more

Hamas, Fatah agree to hold simultaneous municipal polls ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua May 12, 2011 - 12:00am Hamas and Fatah decided to hold municipal elections in the Palestinian territories after agreeing on postponing their date, a Palestinian official said Thursday. This decision came after the two movements suddenly reached an initial agreement for reconciliation in Cairo earlier this month. Azzam Al-Ahmad, a Fatah official, said that his movement and Hamas agreed to demand the upcoming technocratic government, which they will form according to the Cairo agreement, to postpone the elections so they are held simultaneously in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. » Read more

Israeli PM's speech in U.S. will not offer concessions: Likud sources ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua May 12, 2011 - 12:00am Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to a joint session of the United States Congress later this month will not include Israeli concessions to the Palestinians, local news website Ynet reported Thursday. The report quoted anonymous Likud Party sources "close to Netanyahu" as saying that the premier, who is scheduled to give the speech on May 24, will announce that Israel is not willing to withdraw from the West Bank territory, nor offer any other concessions. » Read more

Palestinians demonstrate for refugees' right to return ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Saud Abu Ramadan, Emad Drimly - May 12, 2011 - 12:00am The West Bank and the Gaza Strip on Thursday witnessed demonstrations calling for the Palestinian refugees' right of return to their home as the Palestinians are to mark their 63th Nakba day on Sunday. Nakba day, or "catastrophe day" in Arabic, is an annual Palestinian event to commemorate the creation of Israel in 1948. » Read more

US Christian group warns Palestinians of apocalypse ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency May 12, 2011 - 12:00am At least half a dozen billboards recently went up across the West Bank warning Palestinians of an impending judgment day, slated according to the signs, for May 21. At the entrance to Birzeit, and several roads leading into the West Bank cities of Ramallah and Jericho, the signs -- some in English, some in Arabic -- advise travelers to "cry unto God" and are directed to the website of the US-based religious group. » Read more