December 14th

Feiglin: Israel's clear and present danger ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Sara Hirschhorn - (Opinion) December 13, 2012 - 1:00am This is the story of Moshe Zalman Feiglin, an Israeli ultranationalist activist who “had a dream” to lead the government of the Jewish state  - and that day may well arrive soon. On January 22, Israelis will go the polls to elect, in all likeliness, a new Likud-Israel Beiteinu slate that some consider the most right-wing in the party’s history - a candidate list where even MK Benny Begin, the heir of the Revisionist movement, has now been edged out in favor of a new identity politics and ideological orientation.   » Read more

The myth of an Israeli-Palestinian demographic disaster ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Oded Carmeli - (Opinion) December 13, 2012 - 1:00am Since the 19th century, and more intensively since the 1960s, demographers like Paul Ehrlich, who was interviewed in this magazine last week, have been telling us that the world is a ticking bomb because of the population explosion. When we think about the “population explosion” we conjure up street crossings in New York or, alternatively, refugee camps in the Gaza Strip. But the truth is that the world is quite empty of people. » Read more

Indictment of Israeli FM to have limited political ramifications ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Adam Gonn - (Analysis) December 14, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein on Thursday announced that he would charge Foreign Minister and Yisrael Beiteinu party leader Avigdor Lieberman on accounts of fraud and breach of trust. However, Weinstein dropped the more severe charges of money laundering and obstruction of justice. The decision by Weinstein marks the end of the 12 year process during which Lieberman has been under investigation for allegedly pocketing millions of U.S. dollars from foreign businessmen via shell companies. » Read more

Gaza’s Fishermen Testing the Limits ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Linda Gradstein - December 13, 2012 - 1:00am Israel says it has eased restrictions, but Palestinians are not so sure    » Read more

Abbas mulls forming confederation with Jordan ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh - December 13, 2012 - 1:00am Palestinian Authority officials confirmed Thursday that they were studying the possibility of establishing a confederation with Jordan, but stressed that this would take place only after the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the pre-1967 line » Read more

Arab League calling in pledges to fund PA ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency December 14, 2012 - 1:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The Arab League has begun calling in donor pledges to Palestine from its members, but cannot confirm the exact date the so-called Arab safety net will be transferred to the government. Assistant Secretary General of Palestine Affairs in the Arab League Mohammad Sbeih told Ma’an on Thursday evening that the group had opened communications with Arab states over the $100 million monthly payment promised on Sunday. » Read more

Israel reservists to equip with new rifle ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua December 4, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military will soon begin equipping reserve forces with its most advanced assault rifle, Ma'ariv daily reported on Thursday. Plans to train and equip reservists with the rifle Tavor TAR-21 were accelerated in the wake of Operation Pillar of Defense, the army's eight-day airstrike in the Gaza Strip last month to curb rocket attacks. » Read more

Israeli police wanted "for murder" for killing Arab youth ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua December 14, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli female border police who shot an Arab teenager on Wednesday after he held a fake gun to another soldier's head is wanted "for murder" on Arabic Facebook pages. » Read more

Israeli court urges reroute of planned West Bank barrier ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters December 13, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Israel's highest court has urged defence officials to reroute a barrier planned for construction on ancient farmland at a West Bank Palestinian village. Israeli judges have ordered changes in Israel's barrier through occupied land before, but the latest decision followed a rare appeal involving support from an Israeli government environmental agency for a Palestinian challenge. » Read more

Israeli soldiers assault two Reuters cameramen ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters December 13, 2012 - 1:00am HEBRON, West Bank, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Israeli soldiers punched two Reuters cameramen and forced them to strip in the street, before letting off a tear gas canister in front of them, leaving one of them needing hospital treatment. Israel's military said on Thursday it took the allegations seriously, but offered no explanation for the assault that occurred on Wednesday evening in the heart of Hebron. » Read more