April 3rd

Red Cross delivers fuel to Gaza hospitals
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
April 2, 2012 - 12:00am


The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says it has begun distributing emergency fuel supplies to hospitals in the Gaza Strip. The 150,000 litres (33,000 gallons) of diesel would help 13 public hospitals maintain essential health services for the next 10 days, the ICRC said. Immediate action had to be taken to prevent further deterioration of the fuel and electricity crisis, it added. Gaza's only power plant closed eight days ago because of a lack of fuel.


Palestinian family loses Shepherd Hotel court fight
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
April 2, 2012 - 12:00am


The High Court of Justice ruled Monday that a prominent Palestinian family could not claim ownership of a landmark and now derelict building in east Jerusalem - paving the way for a Jewish settlement project. The Husseini family said the Shepherd Hotel, now partially demolished, is a symbol of the Palestinian rights to their land and to east Jerusalem, and criticized the court ruling. The Shepherd Hotel was built in the 1930s and served as the home of Jerusalem grand mufti Haj Amin Husseini, who fought the British and Zionists.


3 Gaza children burned to death due to energy crisis, Hamas blames Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
by Saud Abu Ramadan, Emad Drimly - April 3, 2012 - 12:00am


GAZA, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement on Monday held Israel responsible for the death of three children from central Gaza Strip, who were burned to death on Sunday night, when a candle ignited their room as they were sleeping amid a severe crisis of electricity and fuel in the coastal enclave. Ismail Haneya, the deposed premier of Hamas rule in the enclave, who participated in the funeral of the three children from the town of Deir el-Ballah, told reporters that Israel, which keeps a tight blockade on the Gaza Strip, is responsible in the first place for the tragedy.


Hamas: PA detained 79 members in March
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
April 2, 2012 - 12:00am


GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Hamas on Monday accused the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority of detaining 79 members in the West Bank during March. Some 32 former prisoners of Israel were among those detained by PA forces, as well as 14 university students, Hamas said in a statement. Another 50 Hamas affiliates were summoned by PA intelligence services last month, the party added. The Ramallah-based PA also fired a teacher and a doctor over their affiliation to Hamas, the statement said.


Israeli mayor 'plans new East Jerusalem settlement'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
April 3, 2012 - 12:00am


TEL AVIV, Israel (Ma'an) -- Israel's Jerusalem Mayor plans to establish a new Israeli settlement in East Jerusalem, according to news reports Tuesday. Around 200 new homes are planned for the area, which lies between Abu Dis and Jabal al-Mukkabir, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported. The settlement, referred to as Kidmat Zion, will be built on land purchased by Irving Moskowitz, a Florida businessman and patron of Jewish settlers.


Netanyahu delays eviction of West Bank settler house
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Dan Williams - April 3, 2012 - 12:00am


JERUSALEM (Reuters) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu overruled the planned eviction on Tuesday of Jewish settlers from a building in an occupied West Bank city that is flashpoint of tensions with Palestinians. Some 20 settlers moved into the Hebron building last Thursday at night, seeking to expand a settlement of some 500 families in the heart of the ancient city.


Abbas warns of int'l complaint if Israel won't talk
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Khaled Abu Toameh, Herb Keinon - April 2, 2012 - 12:00am


If Israel is not prepared to return to the negotiating table, the Palestinian Authority will file a complaint with international bodies, PA President Mahmoud Abbas declared Monday.


Israeli, Palestinian officials hold secret meeting amid stall in peace talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - April 3, 2012 - 12:00am


Peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority are at a complete standstill, with relations between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reaching a newfound low. And yet, contacts have been held behind the scenes in the last two weeks between officials from both Jerusalem and Ramallah, over the missive Abbas plans to send Netanyahu in the coming days.


April 2nd

NEWS: Israel frees and deports to Gaza a hunger-striking Palestinian prisoner. Land Day protests lead to clashes with Israeli forces, and the death of at least one Palestinian protester. Deputy FM Ayalon says Palestinian protests are “political terrorism,” and an extension of the PLO's “diplomatic terrorism.” Palestinian authorities reportedly detain a woman for criticizing Pres. Abbas on Facebook. A Palestinian man dies from wounds sustained during an Israeli raid on his village last week. PA officials deny that the recent detention of 3 journalists had political or security motivations. Arab states pledge to fund the PA if Israel withholds Palestinian tax revenues. Occupation authorities give Hebron settlers 24 hours to vacate a Palestinian house they seized. Israel arrests 13 Palestinians accused of planning attacks against Israelis. PM Fayyad meets with Quartet representative Blair. Palestinian Christians have difficulty accessing Jerusalem on holy days. COMMENTARY: ATFP Pres. Ziad Asali says the West must support universal values in Palestine and the rest of the Middle East. Dennis Ross and David Makovsky say the US and Israel can find a common policy on Iran. Ha'aretz says Israel must cleanse its soccer scene of racism. Akiva Eldar says Jerusalem must be the capital of both Israel and Palestine. Jay Michaelson says J Street and other liberals need to reach out to working-class Israelis. The Forward says neither AIPAC nor J Street speak for Israel. Abdullah Iskandar says Hamas has only one real policy: keeping power in Gaza. Barbara Slavin interviews Peter Beinart. Lara Friedman says Israel may be thriving, but it's status as a “Jewish and democratic” state is in grave peril. Amira Hass says it's outrageous that a Palestinian journalist would be jailed for writing about alleged corruption in the PLO mission in Paris. Nagham Issa looks at how the Syrian uprising is changing attitudes in Palestinian refugee camps. Peter Beinart says even if he wins a second term, Pres. Obama won't pressure Israel.

Obama Won’t Pressure Israel If He Wins Second Term
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
by Peter Beinart - (Opinion) April 2, 2012 - 12:00am


In the wake of President Obama’s “hot mike” admission to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that “after my election, I have more flexibility” to make concessions on missile defense, conservatives are insisting that once sworn in for a second term, Obama will unveil the Michael Moore–esque foreign policy he’s been concealing these last three years. Especially on Israel.



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