January 3rd

A critical moment for Palestinian unity ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Rami Khouri - (Opinion) December 31, 2011 - 1:00am What event this month is likely to reverberate across the Middle East most clearly next year? My prediction is that it will be the continued attempts by the leading Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas, to reconstitute a unified national leadership and government. If this initiative succeeds in holding elections for a new parliament and government, it will soon generate a more coherent Palestinian strategy for dealing with Israel. This in turn will allow democratic and legitimate Arab leaderships to harness public support for the Palestinian cause in a more credible and effective manner. » Read more

Lieberman’s fury ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Musa Keilani - (Opinion) January 1, 2012 - 1:00am It is an understatement to say that Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is hopping mad at some of his European counterparts because of their objective observations about Israel’s practices and policies against not only the Palestinians living under its occupation but also its own Arab citizens. » Read more

Israel's right-wing is trying to stifle the reality of Palestinian demographics ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - (Blog) January 2, 2012 - 1:00am Every year, in almost every country, government reports detailing statistics and demographics of the country's citizens are published during the last week of December. The reports detail how many babies were born that year and how many people died. Some of those reports are turned into semi-comic articles on the back page of the newspaper, or discussed on current event radio programs, and sometimes they are simply thrown to the wastebasket. » Read more

Israel’s modern tragedy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Boston Globe by H.D.S. Greenway - (Opinion) January 3, 2012 - 1:00am IN THE last days of the dying year, Israel’s foreign office issued a sharp rebuke to the European nations on the UN Security Council, accusing them of “interfering with Israel’s domestic affairs.’’ Britain, France, Germany, and Portugal had pointed to the upsurge in violence against the Palestinians by Israeli settlers in the occupied territories, and called upon Israel to reverse its settlement policies. The Europeans are part of the “quartet’’ of peacemakers, made up of the United States, Europe, Russia, and the UN. » Read more

Israel has a partner ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Shimon Shiffer - (Opinion) December 28, 2011 - 1:00am Officials at the Prime Minister’s Office are again angry at Mahmoud Abbas. Did I say angry? I meant stunned. The Palestinian leader met in Turkey last week with Amna Muna, who was involved in the murder of teenager Ophir Rahum. “Those who make pretenses of making peace with Israel are going all the way to Turkey to meet a despicable murderer,” Netanyahu’s office charged. Well said. » Read more

Moving closer to Gaza war ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ron Gilran - (Opinion) January 1, 2012 - 1:00am Tensions in southern Israel remain high after the Air Force targeted an Islamic Jihad cell Friday as it prepared to fire a rocket into Israel, the latest incident in a string of tit-for-tat attacks in recent days. » Read more

Bibi and Barack ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) January 2, 2012 - 1:00am Barack Obama has an Israel problem. Almost three years in, the president still can't decide whether he wants to pander to the Israeli prime minister or pressure him. The approach of the 2012 elections makes the former almost mandatory; the president's reelection may make the latter possible. Buckle your seat belts. Unless Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu find a way to cooperate on a big venture that makes both of them look good, and in a way that allows each to invest in the other, the U.S.-Israel relationship may be in for a bumpy ride. » Read more

Interview with Salam Fayyad: To Act and Not to Fall ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Yedioth Ahronoth by Nahum Barnea - (Interview) December 30, 2011 - 1:00am One of the few privileges enjoyed by an Israeli journalist is the privilege to drive to Ramallah in his car. Going to Ramallah is going abroad while remaining close to home. For Christmas and New Year, its main streets are lit with colored lights: Red, blue and golden. On Wednesday evening, the city was very quiet. The cars did not honk their horns. The muezzins did not issue calls for prayer. One of the members of the Fatah leadership called for a third Intifada in a gathering in Ramallah, but his words were carried away by the wind. This week belongs completely to Santa. » Read more

230 more colonist homes to be built in occupied Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by Nasouh Nazzal - January 3, 2012 - 1:00am Ramallah: Israeli authorities announced the construction of 230 new colonist homes in occupied East Jerusalem. 117 homes will be built in Gabal Abu Ghunaim area close to Al Aqsa compound and the second tender of 113 homes will be built in two colonies of Gosh Etzion south of Occupied East Jerusalem. The building of more illegal Jewish homes are expected to be announced in the coming weeks which will be expanding the colonies of Gifat Hazat and Har Adar. » Read more

West Bank theatre founder wanted by Israel after amnesty deal revoked ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Harriet Sherwood - January 1, 2012 - 1:00am A former Palestinian militant who renounced violence in favour of "cultural resistance" is in custody after Israel apparently revoked an amnesty deal, in a move seen by his associates as part of a campaign of harassment against a radical West Bank theatre. Zakaria Zubeidi, a former of leader of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, is being held by Palestinian security forces after being told he would be arrested by Israeli authorities if he did not hand himself in. » Read more