February 23rd

'Hamas will demand key positions in unity gov't' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post February 23, 2012 - 1:00am Hamas will demand that members of its organization fill key roles in the unity government with Fatah if it is to agree to allow Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to serve as the interim government's prime minister, Egyptian daily Al-Ahram reported on Thursday. According to the report, Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Mahsaal will present his conditions to Abbas at a meeting between the two leaders in Cairo on Thursday. » Read more

Hamas sets new terms for reconciliation with Fatah ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Nidal al-Mughrabi - February 23, 2012 - 1:00am (Reuters) - Hamas has set new terms for implementing a reconciliation deal with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's rival Fatah group, an official said Thursday, dimming even further chances the accord will be put into effect. Abbas and Khaled Meshaal, Hamas's political chief in exile, agreed in Qatar earlier this month to form a unity government led by the Western-backed president. » Read more

Hamas and Fatah hold talks in Cairo on a national unity government ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) February 22, 2012 - 1:00am Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas met on Wednesday in Cairo with Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal for talks on the formation of a national unity government, an AFP reporter said. The long-time rivals have been struggling to implement the terms of a reconciliation deal signed in Cairo in May, which calls for the formation of an interim government of independents to pave the way for presidential and legislative elections within a year. » Read more

'Israel should annex 60% of Area C' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Moran Azulay - February 23, 2012 - 1:00am Former Yesha Council Director Naftali Bennett has presented a new initiative meant to conquer the prolonged stalemate plaguing the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Bennett explained Thursday that he met with dozens of military, political and defense experts prior to formulating what has been dubbed the "mollification plan," adding that it is meant to serve as a "band-aid" of sorts – a way for Israel to maintain peace and order in the West Bank, while it both deals with international pressure and protect its "critical principles." » Read more

EU's Ashton criticizes Israel for approval of 'illegal' settlement homes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz February 23, 2012 - 1:00am The European Union's Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton criticized on Thursday Israel's recent approval of new homes in the West Bank settlement of Shilo, adding that Israeli settlements were "illegal under international law." On Tuesday, the Defense Ministry gave preliminary approval to a plan to build 600 new homes in Shiloh, a hardline settlement deep inside the West Bank. The move drew rebukes from the United Nations and Palestinians, and threatened to raise tensions with the United States as the prime minister prepares to head to the White House. » Read more

US joins PA, UN in slamming outpost plans ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Tovah Lazaroff - February 23, 2012 - 1:00am The United States, the Palestinian Authority and the UN on Wednesday condemned Israeli plans to authorize the Shvut Rachel outpost and 180 homes in the Shiloh settlement. Both adjacent communities are located in the Binyamin region of the West Bank. US State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said continued settlement activity harmed peace prospects, when quizzed by reporters at the daily press briefing in Washington. He added that he had not known of the Shiloh plans. » Read more

Israeli talk show host probed for describing Leftists and Arabs as 'anti-Semites' and 'Nazis' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Emilie Grunzweig - February 23, 2012 - 1:00am Israel's broadcasting regulator body has initiated an investigation of a Tel Aviv radio show featuring a prominent attorney, over several complaints of frequently sounded on-air slurs directed at left-wing supporters and Arabs. The probe was also the result of a Justice Ministry decision, which stated that, while the opinions voiced in Yoram Sheftel's show "Sheftel Atzbani" [Sheftel is Cranky] did not necessitate a criminal investigation, The Second Authority for Television and Radio should look into the matter. » Read more

Hamas suspends decision to tax Gaza imports ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 22, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Public and local criticism pushed Gaza's Hamas government to suspend a decision to tax particular goods that merchants import through Israel. The critics were popular societies, business associations and rights group. Their rejection stemmed from the legality of the taxes in Gaza's exceptional circumstances, where an Israeli blockade has taken toll on almost all sectors of the society. » Read more

Hamas, Egypt strike deal to end energy crisis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 23, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- Egyptian authorities and Hamas officials reached an agreement on Thursday to end the energy crisis in the Gaza Strip. Hamas spokesman Taher al-Nunu said a deal had been reached after "intensive negotiations" between Gaza prime minister Ismail Haniyeh, Egyptian officials, and the Islamic Development Bank. The deal included three stages, the Hamas official said. The first stipulates that Egyptian companies pump fuel directly to Gaza under the terms of contracts signed with firms. » Read more

Israel Approves Building Plan for 600 Homes in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press February 22, 2012 - 1:00am Israel gave preliminary approval on Wednesday to a plan to build 600 new homes in a settlement deep inside the West Bank, a move that drew rebukes from the United Nations and Palestinians. Israeli officials tried to play down the decision about building in Shiloh, saying that construction was years away at best. But Yariv Oppenheimer, director of Peace Now, called it the biggest settlement construction plan in the West Bank since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took office three years ago. » Read more