Gilad Shalit’s Father: I Would Kidnap Israelis if I were Palestinian ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Phoebe Greenwood - March 15, 2012 - 12:00am The father of an Israeli soldier held in captivity for more than five years by Hamas has said he would kidnap Israeli soldiers if he were a Palestinian. Noam Shalit, who announced earlier this year that he would be standing for the opposition Labour party in the next Israeli elections, has provoked outrage among the Israeli right with the comments. His son, Gilad, was released in a prisoner swap in October 2011. » Read more

A Leftist's Critique of BDS ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Naomi Paiss - (Opinion) March 15, 2012 - 12:00am What do you call a movement that polarizes and even penalizes the progressive community, increases the intransigence of ordinary Israelis, and provides political cover for the most extreme right-wing ultra-nationalists? These days, progressives should call that movement Global BDS. » Read more

PNA Urges Int’l Pressure on Israel to Save Economy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua March 15, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on Thursday called on the international community to pile pressure on Israel to prevent measures blocking the implementation of Palestinian development projects. The call came as the World Bank issued a report warning that a severe fiscal crisis engulfing the PNA will deepen if the recent decline in donor assistance continues. It also warned that this situation "jeopardize gains" made in recent years in building strong institutions. » Read more

Root of Israeli paranoia ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) March 15, 2012 - 12:00am After failing to arm-twist Barack Obama over Iran’s nuclear programme, Benjamin Netanyahu thought he could take his frustration out on Palestinians, especially those in the Gaza Strip. But, if anything, Israel’s four-day aerial bombardment has once again underlined that the number-one issue in the Middle East remains Israel’s failure to negotiate a peaceful settlement with the Palestinians, most of whom lost 78 per cent of their homeland since 1948. » Read more

Israel Stops Infiltration From Egypt, 1 Killed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press March 15, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — The Israeli military says soldiers have stopped an infiltration attempt along the Israel-Egypt border. One infiltrator was killed and three wounded. A military statement said the incident occurred late Thursday. It said soldiers saw the infiltrators and ordered them to stop. When they ignored the order, the soldiers opened fire. The statement said there was also gunfire from the Egyptian side of the border. The statement did not say if the infiltrators were armed. Often, migrants from Africa try to sneak into Israel, seeking refuge or work. » Read more

Syrian Security Forces ‘Warn Palestinian Camp’ ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 16, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- Sources in Damascus say Syrian security forces threatened to raid the Yarmuk refugee camp due to Fatah's alleged support of demonstrations against Syrian leader Bashar Assad. “Yarmuk is not more precious than (Homs neighborhood) Baba Amro, and it will be raided if the demonstrations which Fatah movement organizes” continue, a security agent was quoted as saying. Syrian security forces have detained a number of Fatah members: Ayman Juda Abu Ala, public action official in Yarmuk, Jihad Abu Yousef, Abdul Wahed Kherma, Firas Tahmaz, and Amjad Sadya. » Read more

Open Letter to Hamas: You Are Responsible for Your People's Fate ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Huffington Post by Carlo Strenger - (Opinion) March 15, 2012 - 12:00am The last days have brought another round of violence between Gaza and Israel. Most commentators assume that neither Hamas nor Israel in interested in further escalation of the hostilities that have been initiated by Islamic Jihad this time, ostensibly to jockey for position vis-à-vis Hamas. Iron Dome has prevented casualties on Israel's side, but it has almost paralyzed life in Southern Israel. So far the death toll in Gaza is 26, and we can only hope that it will not rise any further. » Read more

A Year On, Unity Activists Ponder Next Steps ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 16, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The anniversary of the March 15 movement to restore unity to the occupied territories passed quietly Wednesday, with no major rallies in Palestinian cities. The principle demands of the masses who demonstrated in the West Bank and Gaza have yet to be met, although the leaders of Fatah and Hamas technically agreed to reconcile in May 2011. Progress has stalled ever since. » Read more

Israel Aircraft Open Fire West of Gaza City ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 16, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA CITY (MA’an) -- Israeli helicopters opened fire toward farmland in the Sheikh Ajlen area west of Gaza City late Thursday, witnesses said. No injuries were reported. An Israeli military spokeswoman said aircraft fired warning shots in response to rocket fire. Earlier, several rockets were fired toward the western Negev, Israeli media reported. A Grad rocket was intercepted by a nearby "Iron Dome" battery, and another rocket landed in an open area in the Eshkol regional council outside Hof Ashkelon, Israel's Ynet news service reported. » Read more

Members of Israel’s Diverse African Community Join Forces to Lobby for Better Treatment ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press March 16, 2012 - 12:00am DIMONA, Israel — For years, Israel’s array of African communities had little interaction, divided by religious, linguistic and cultural differences. That is changing. They are facing a common situation in Israel — relegated to bottom rungs, partly because of discrimination over their skin color. That has brought some members of a wide range of communities together, including Jewish Ethiopians, nomadic Muslim Arabs and migrants from Eritrea and Sudan. » Read more