February 22nd

Employees at Public Universities, Colleges on Strike ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 20, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM (Ma’an) -- Employees in public universities and colleges in the West Bank and Gaza Strip went on strike on Monday, an employee's union spokesman said. Abdul-Muhsin Qawasmi said the current semester may be canceled since the education ministry has not responded to their demands. The main demand was a salary increase to match employees working in other Palestinian universities. » Read more

Camp David pact in jeopardy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by Linda S. Heard - (Opinion) February 22, 2012 - 1:00am Relations between Cairo and Washington are on a slippery slope now that Washington's man former president Hosni Mubarak can no longer protect them. The row is over Egypt's investigation of non-profit organisations operating in the country without licence and suspected of criminally receiving foreign funding to foment unrest against the ruling military. They include Freedom House, the International Centre for Journalists as well as the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute that work closely with individuals in the US Congress. » Read more

Gaza, Ramallah Swap Accusations Over Fuel Crisis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 22, 2012 - 1:00am RAMALLAH (Ma’an) – The chair of the Palestinian Authority energy authority Omar Kittana says the Hamas-run government in the Gaza Strip is politicizing the electricity crisis in an attempt to score political points. Asked about accusations that he threatened employees at the energy authority in Gaza, Kittana said, “I refuse to comment on this as we have reached an impermissible point. I was afraid of politicization of this issue. » Read more

Palestinian Leaders to Meet in Cairo ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 22, 2012 - 1:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) – President Mahmoud Abbas is set to chair a meeting Thursday in Cairo that will encompass chiefs of Palestinian factions, PLO leaders and the speaker of the Palestinian National Council. Selected independent figures will join the meeting, which is dedicated to discussing the latest political developments and the ongoing efforts toward Palestinian reconciliation. » Read more

From Hezbollah To ‘Zionist Bully’? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Week by Stewart Ain - February 21, 2012 - 1:00am Norman Finkelstein, the son of Holocaust survivors whose anti-Israel statements and actions got him barred from the country until 2018 for suspected ties to Hezbollah terrorists, has now become the darling of pro-Israel bloggers — sort of — and a traitor to Palestinian supporters. The Brooklyn political science professor stunned supporters Feb. 9 when in a taped interview at the Imperial College London he derided the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign for concealing the fact that it is out to destroy Israel. » Read more

Israelis Seem Resigned to a Strike on Iran ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Joel Greenberg - February 22, 2012 - 1:00am TEL AVIV — A recent installment of the popular Israeli satirical television show “A Wonderful Country” captured the public mood here regarding a possible strike on Iran and its consequences: a mix of resignation and gallows humor. In one scene, a house-hunting couple is shown a Tel Aviv apartment facing a drab housing project as a real estate agent proclaims that the place will have a view of the sea. “In June, that whole row of buildings won’t be here anymore,” she cheerfully informs the prospective buyers, gazing out a window. » Read more

Nobody believes Israel as its nuclear monopoly weakens ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Michael Young - (Opinion) February 23, 2012 - 1:00am A procession of American officials has been visiting Israel lately, to persuade the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to bomb Iran before international sanctions have had time to take hold. The arguments against an operation are familiar, but they also speak to an underlying malaise in how the world views Israel. » Read more

Israel Watches Syria, Hopefully, but Warily ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner - February 21, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM — As Israelis watch the bloody confrontation between the Syrian people and the government of President Bashar al-Assad, they are torn by two sentiments: The downfall of Mr. Assad would deal a major blow to Iran and so would be welcome. But without a central authority, Syria could descend into being a land of chaos and terrorist bases on Israel’s northeast border. Enlarge This Image Uriel Sinai/Getty Images In the Golan Heights town of Majdel Shams, Druse men took part last week in a protest against Israel's control of the region. » Read more

Writing on the Wall: Israel and Its Christians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by David Rosenberg - (Opinion) February 21, 2012 - 1:00am Graffiti on Jerusalem church points to negative attitudes among many Jews A day after it was discovered on the exterior walls of a Jerusalem Baptist church this week, graffiti declaring “Death to Christianity” had been cleaned up and a host of officials from the Israeli government had visited with apologies and expressions of concern. But for the Christian community in Israel, the environment remains inhospitable. » Read more

Peaceful Protest Can Free Palestine ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Mustafa Barghouthi - (Opinion) February 21, 2012 - 1:00am OVER the past 64 years, Palestinians have tried armed struggle; we have tried negotiations; and we have tried peace conferences. Yet all we have seen is more Israeli settlements, more loss of lives and resources, and the emergence of a horrifying system of segregation. » Read more