April 23rd

Termination of Israeli-Egyptian natural gas agreement serves dangerous precedent ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Zvi Barel - (Opinion) April 23, 2012 - 12:00am Mohamed Shoeb, head of the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company, announced Sunday evening that the company will terminate its agreement to provide natural gas to Israel, after a decision had been made on Thursday due to what he termed “Israel’s repeated breaching of the agreement.” Shoeb, in interview on Al-Hayat television, stressed that the termination of the deal was due to failure on the part of the Israeli side to transfer the payments owed by Israel for some months and “had nothing to do with the repeated attacks on the pipeline.” » Read more

The Israeli government's badge of shame ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) April 23, 2012 - 12:00am The behavior of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and most of his ministers with regard to Beit El's Givat Ha'ulpana neighborhood recalls that of a career criminal who is undaunted by condemnation or punishment. » Read more

Palestinian hunger strikes draw attention to Israeli detention practice ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Karin Brulliard - April 23, 2012 - 12:00am ARRABA, West Bank — A stream of visitors passes through a simple concrete house in this sleepy village, bearing tribute plaques, floral bouquets and plaudits for a soft-spoken man who has become the latest icon for the Palestinian cause. » Read more

When Gaza’s Doctors Err, Remedies Are Rare ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Omar Ghraieb - (Analysis) April 19, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Manal Al-Turk Seidam, was 32 and pregnant when she entered a maternity hospital in July 2006 suffering from sharp abdominal pains. Her doctor told her that the fetus’ heart had stopped beating and it would have to be aborted. The procedure is common and simple to do medically, but in Seidam’s case it turned deadly. Her doctor accidentally opened holes in her uterus and intestines, and then tried to fix the problem surgically. He told the family the problem was cleared up. » Read more

'State, Liberman likely moving on to plea bargain' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post April 22, 2012 - 12:00am Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman and the prosecution are likely to formally open plea bargain negotiations in the near future, Israeli media sources indicated on Monday. Liberman is under investigation for charges of fraud, breach of trust, obtaining certain items or benefits through deceit, money-laundering and witness harassment. According to an earlier draft indictment, Liberman is suspected of receiving millions of dollars from private business people, through straw companies, between the years 2001 and 2008, while he was a member of Knesset and a cabinet minister. » Read more

Peres to Haaretz: Israel could reach a peace deal with Abbas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yossi Verter - April 23, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is a worthy and serious partner, and it was certainly possible to reach a peace agreement with him during the past three years, President Shimon Peres told Haaretz. "I am aware that there are other opinions [about whether Abbas can or wants to make peace], but I don't accept them, and I have a little experience," Peres said during an interview last week in the President's Residence in Jerusalem. » Read more

UN: Israel displaced 67 Palestinians in a week ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 23, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israel forcibly displaced 67 Palestinian refugees in East Jerusalem over the last week, UN agencies said Sunday. On Wednesday, Israeli forces evicted two Palestinian families from their homes in East Jerusalem's Beit Hanina. Jewish settlers moved into the homes the same day. Also on Wednesday, Israeli authorities destroyed the homes of seven families in al-Khalayleh in East Jerusalem, displacing them for the third time in six months. » Read more

Palestine becomes member of IMF body ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 23, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad announced Monday that Palestine has joined an IMF initiative to disseminate statistics to the public. Palestine became a member of the Special Data Dissemination Standard, or SDDS, on April 19, becoming the fifth Arab state to join after Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Jordan. SDDS is a standard by the International Monetary Fund to guide countries in the dissemination of national statistics to the public. Palestine's membership, listed as the West Bank and Gaza, indicates the maturity of PA institutions, Fayyad said. » Read more

EU in Jerusalem condemns eviction of Arab family ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press April 21, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — The European Union has condemned an Israeli eviction of an Arab family in east Jerusalem. Israeli police evicted a family from a home in the Palestinian neighborhood of Beit Hanina Wednesday. Police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said the property belonged to Jewish owners. The European Union missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah issued a joint statement Saturday announcing they "are deeply concerned by the plans to build a new settlement in the midst of this traditional Palestinian neighborhood." » Read more

Military chief: Israel increases covert operations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press April 22, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Israel's military chief of staff says he has ordered his forces to step up covert operations in enemy countries. Maj. Gen. Benny Gantz made the remarks Sunday in an interview published in Israel's Yediot Ahronot daily. "You almost won't find a point in time where something isn't happening somewhere in the world," he said. "I am escalating all those special operations." Gantz did not identify any of the countries or give any further details. He said 2012 is a critical year in the standoff between Israel and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program. » Read more