January 12th

Palestinian holiday ad 'ignored existence of Israel' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian (Editorial) January 12, 2011 - 1:00am The Board of Deputies of British Jews today welcomed the launch of an official investigation into a Palestinian holiday advert, after complaining that it ignored the existence of Israel. According to the advert from the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, appearing in this month's edition of National Geographic's Traveller magazine, "Palestine is a land rich in history with a tradition of hospitality. From the famous cities of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron, Jericho, Nablus and Gaza, the Palestinian people welcome you to visit this Holy Land." » Read more

West Bank protester has jail term extended ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian January 12, 2011 - 1:00am West Bank protester Abdallah Abu Rahmah is facing a further three months in prison after the Israeli military court of appeal today extended his sentence. Abu Rahmah, a leader of protests against Israel's separation barrier in the village of Bil'in, was convicted in August of incitement and organising illegal demonstrations. This was criticised by Cathy Ashton, the EU foreign policy chief, who described him as a "human rights defender committed to non-violent protest against the route of the Israeli separation barrier". » Read more

Jewish leader: Palestinian state declaration not a defeat ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gil Shefler - January 12, 2011 - 1:00am Gabriel Zaliasnik, president of the Jewish community in Chile, thinks Israel’s Foreign Ministry is making a big mistake. Having spent the last few weeks battling local pro-Palestinian groups in an effort to influence his government not to recognize Palestinian statehood, Zaliasnik believes the statement that eventually emerged from Santiago last Friday accepting Palestinian independence while acknowledging Israel’s right to security was not the diplomatic debacle some made it out to be, but in fact was a victory of sorts. » Read more

What is happening to us? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews (Opinion) January 12, 2011 - 1:00am I believe it was late Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba who once upon a time said something like “let’s make peace with the Jews, because when there’s peace they’ll be killing each other.” His words were of course met with disparagement and laughter back then. After all, we are members of the chosen people; we’re the greatest. How can we destroy the Jewish state when we achieve peace, which is our greatest dream? » Read more

Arab villagers in A-Taibeh struggle to be accepted as Israelis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Meirav Arlosoroff - January 12, 2011 - 1:00am A-Taibeh (not to be confused with the city of Taibeh) is a secluded a village at the foot of Mount Gilboa - well-maintained, with wide streets, neatly laid out sidewalks and an impressive, blue-and-white mosque on the central square. Were it not for the mosque and the typically Arab architecture, you might be misled by the infrastructure to think the community was Jewish. It's an Arab village, home to 1,750 residents, who are proud that it has been on this spot for 250 years. They also take pride in belonging to one extended family, the Zuabi clan. » Read more

Israel blacklists 163 foreign charities suspected of supporting terrorism ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chaim Levinson - January 12, 2011 - 1:00am The Israel Money Laundering and Terror Financing Prohibition Authority has located 163 organizations contaminated with funds related to terrorism over the past three years, and issued specific orders prohibiting receiving money from them, Defense Ministry data shows. » Read more

IDF commander warns Tel Aviv will be target in next war ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Anshel Pfeffer - January 12, 2011 - 1:00am Exactly 20 years after Iraqi missiles fell for the first time in central Israel at the start of the first Gulf War in January 1991, the commander of the Dan region in the IDF Home Front Command says that "danger has returned to Tel Aviv. Under any war scenario, it will be hit by a large number of missiles, missiles that are precise and lethal. However, our preparedness to deal with such missiles has also improved." » Read more

Lack of lasting solution to Palestinian-Israeli conflict ushers in more regional violence: Jordanian FM ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua January 12, 2011 - 1:00am Jordan on Tuesday warned that not resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict will lead to more violence and instability in the Middle East. Meeting with his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Stoere on Tuesday, Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Judeh underlined the need for intensified efforts to create a suitable environment for the resumption of the Palestinian-Israeli talks. These talks, he said, should lead to the realization of the two- state solution, the international resolutions and the 2002 Arab peace initiative adopted by the Arab leaders in their summit in Beirut. » Read more

Israeli troops destroy Palestinian school in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua January 12, 2011 - 1:00am Israeli troops on Wednesday destroyed a Palestinian school in Hebron city in southern West Bank, saying it was an illegal construction, Palestinian witnesses said. The witnesses said that Israeli troops besieged the school and forced teachers and students out before they demolished it. The makeshift school was built six years ago from metal sheets. Nine teachers educate some 50 students in the school. » Read more

Clinton: Women can be force for Mideast peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Matthew Lee - (Opinion) January 12, 2011 - 1:00am Women can be a major power in convincing Mideast leaders to agree to a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace deal, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday as she urged regional leaders to embrace the rising expectations of their skyrocketing youth populations. At a town hall meeting with civic leaders in the capital of Oman, Clinton said calls from women on both sides of the conflict in Northern Ireland had contributed to a resolution and suggested that a meeting of minds between Arab and Israeli women could provide a similar impetus for peace. » Read more