January 20th

Hamas Attack on Gaza Shiites May Indicate its Political Shift ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Hugh Naylor - January 20, 2012 - 1:00am BEIT LAHIA // When they later recalled the siege by Hamas security forces, it was not its ferocity that astonished the residents of Beit Lahiya. It was the target - Shiite Muslims gathered in the building to commemorate the death of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Mohammed's grandson. Up to 100 policemen and masked men in civilian clothes stormed an apartment building in the Gaza enclave late on Saturday. Minutes later, they emerged dragging 15 men, whom they then beat with truncheons and denounced as infidels. Neighbourhood residents drawn to the commotion said they were shocked. » Read more

Islamic Jihad Cell Arrested in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) January 19, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Ten members of an Islamic Jihad terror cell were arrested near Jenin in the West Bank. The cell was planning attacks against Israeli soldiers and the abductions of Israelis, according to reports Thursday after the Shin Bet security services lifted a gag order on the case. It also had been in contact with Islamic Jihad in Gaza and accepted significant amounts of money from Islamic Jihad in Syria to buy weapons. » Read more

Falling in Love With Dusty Treaties ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by J.J. Goldberg - (Analysis) January 20, 2012 - 1:00am One of the more surprising twists in recent Middle East punditry is a sudden surge of interest among pro-Israel hard-liners in the fine points of international law. The topic isn’t usually popular with hawks; they tend to see it as an infringement on national sovereignty, employed mainly as a club for bludgeoning Israel. Seeing it raised in Israel’s defense is a novelty. It could be a good sign, if it gets Israel’s defenders and critics talking the same language for a change. But maybe I’m being too optimistic. » Read more

Arab Students Arrested Over Call to Avoid Peres Lecture ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Hassan Shaalan - January 20, 2012 - 1:00am Three Arab students from the Jerusalem College of Engineering (JCE) claimed Thursday that they were arrested after urging other JCE student to boycott a recent lecture by President Shimon Peres. The police said that the three were threatening other students and inciting racism, stressing that the students were detained only after a complaint was filed in the matter. The three were interrogated by officers of the Jerusalem District Police and were later remanded to one week's house arrest. » Read more

Thailand Officially Recognizes Palestinian Statehood ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press January 20, 2012 - 1:00am Thailand says it has recognized Palestine as an independent state. Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdi said Friday that Thailand has informed the Palestinian delegation and all member states at the United Nations in New York that it “has given recognition to the state of Palestine.” The move comes as Palestine pushes for full membership at the UN, a bid Washington opposes because it says a political settlement with Israel must be reached first. Thailand has friendly ties with Israel and is a major tourist destination for Israeli travelers. » Read more

Palestinian Fatah Looks Ill-Prepared For Election ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Mohammed Daraghmeh - January 20, 2012 - 1:00am HEBRON, West Bank — Fatah, the mainstream Palestinian national movement whose survival is key to hopes for a peace deal with Israel, appears ill-prepared for a promised electoral showdown with the Islamic militant Hamas. » Read more

Iran is not an existential threat ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Bruce Riedel - (Opinion) January 19, 2012 - 1:00am The danger of war is growing again over Iran's nuclear ambitions. Iran is rattling its sabers, the Republican presidential candidates and others are rattling theirs. But even if Iran gets the bomb, Israel will have overwhelming military superiority over Iran, a fact that should not be lost in all the heated rhetoric. » Read more

Hamas to Investigate Attack on Human Rights Activist ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 20, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- The Gaza government on Thursday vowed to find the perpetrators of an attack on a human rights activist who was stabbed in Gaza City. Mahmoud Abu Rahma was attacked by masked men and stabbed multiple times while walking back from his brother's house on Friday night, he told Ma'an. » Read more

PLO Under ‘Huge Pressure’ to Extend Negotiations Deadline ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 20, 2012 - 1:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- The PLO is under intense international pressure to extend a Jan. 26 deadline set by the Quartet for the exchange of proposals by Israeli and Palestinian peace negotiators, a PLO executive committee member said Thursday. In October, the Quartet of international peace mediators -- the US, Russia, the EU and the UN -- set the Jan. 26 deadline for both sides to state their positions on the borders and security arrangements of a future two-state solution. » Read more

Hacking away at Arab and Israeli stereotypes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Khaled Diab - (Opinion) January 19, 2012 - 1:00am Earlier this week, a hacker or group of hackers who claim to be Saudi scaled up their cyber offensive against Israel by paralysing the websites of El Al airline and the Tel Aviv stock exchange. This was the latest in a series of attacks over the past fortnight, which has also seen the credit card details of thousands of Israeli citizens leaked online. » Read more