The plight of Palestinian Christians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Faysal Huazeen, Ibrahim Shomali - (Opinion) April 16, 2012 - 12:00am Based on our years as parish priests in Palestine, we were appalled by the false allegations regarding Palestinian Christians made in recent weeks by Israeli spokespeople, such as Ambassador Michael Oren. We were perplexed not because of their position, which has been part of the official Israeli narrative for many years, but by how openly they have distorted facts and misconstrued the plight of Palestinian Christians pursuing justice and peace. » Read more

Analysis: Diplomatic theater, not diplomacy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon - (Analysis) April 17, 2012 - 12:00am When Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu meets Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Tuesday for the first time ever, diplomatic theater – rather than true diplomacy – will be on display. True diplomacy would be if PA President Mahmoud Abbas would meet Netanyahu himself and give him a letter stating the Palestinian negotiating positions. » Read more

Palestinians are not wanted in Jordan ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Moshe Arens - (Opinion) April 17, 2012 - 12:00am Jordan refuses to let in the more than 1,000 Palestinians stranded along the Syria-Jordan border, even though it has allowed 100,000 Syrian refugees to enter. There are at present an estimated 500,000 Palestinian refugees in Syria, and clearly the last thing the rulers of Jordan want is for them to come streaming into Jordan. » Read more

Israel's leaders incite the public against peace activists ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) April 17, 2012 - 12:00am From time to time the news media or human rights groups film an Israeli in uniform using excessive force against human rights or peace activists protesting the wrongs of the occupation. » Read more

Israeli soldiers 'shoot, injure farmer' in southern Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 17, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli soldiers shot and injured a Palestinian farmer on Tuesday in the southern Gaza Strip, witnesses said. Forces opened fire from an army watchtower toward fields in Khuzaa, east of Khan Younis, hitting Hasan Shenyo in the leg as he worked on his land, witnesses told Ma'an. Shenyo was taken to the European Hospital in Khan Younis with moderate injuries. An Israeli military spokeswoman said forces identified "a number of suspects approaching the fence" between southern Gaza and Israel. » Read more

'Gaza Doctor' Builds New Life in Toronto ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Nathan Guttman - April 17, 2012 - 12:00am Toronto — The photo leaning on Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish’s office window almost blocks the view of the Toronto skyline. It shows his three daughters, Mayar, Aya and Bessan Abuelaish, sitting on the beach in Gaza, writing their names in the sand. Closer to his desk, pinned to the wall, is the recent fourth-grade math test of Abuelaish’s youngest son, Abdullah, taken at his school in Toronto. The grade: A+. » Read more

Israel Police establishes unit to enforce demolition of Bedouin homes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yanir Yagna - April 17, 2012 - 12:00am Israel Police is establishing a new unit to enforce demolition and evacuation orders served to scattered Bedouin villages in southern Israel, in order to deal with “trespassing into state lands.” The unit, which will be made up of 200 police officers, will be established in cooperation with the Prime Minister’s Office to enforce Israeli land laws in the Negev. » Read more

IDF officer who hit Danish protester unlikely to be dismissed, precedents indicate ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Gili Cohen - April 17, 2012 - 12:00am Will Lt. Col. Shaul Eisner, who was filmed over the weekend hitting a Danish protester with his rifle butt in the Jordan Valley, be dismissed from the army for his behavior? Probably not, at least based on how past incidents of soldier violence have been handled. Very few of the investigations into alleged acts of gratuitous violence by Israel Defense Forces soldiers against Palestinians or protesters in the West Bank have resulted in criminal prosecution or discharge from the army, even when the incidents were filmed and generated a public outcry. » Read more

Netanyahu: Cabinet to vote on plan to legalize three West Bank outposts ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - April 17, 2012 - 12:00am Following the recommendations of Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a meeting of Likud ministers on Tuesday that he will ask the cabinet to approve the status of the Bruchin, Sansana and Rachalim, respectively. » Read more

Palestinians mark prisoners day in Gaza, West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 17, 2012 - 12:00am JENIN (Ma'an) -- Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank marked Palestinian Prisoners Day on Tuesday with ceremonies symbolizing long-hoped-for freedom from Israeli jails. In Arraba village, south of Jenin, officials gathered to mark the day ahead of the expected release of local Khader Adnan, whose 66-day hunger strike ended with a deal to free him from administrative detention. » Read more