Israel's Foreign Ministry gives envoys a lesson on twitter diplomacy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - August 15, 2012 - 12:00am Israel’s Foreign Ministry updated online social media guidelines for representatives of the State of Israel worldwide, following a few recent unusual tweets and Facebook posts made by Israeli diplomats. The Foreign Ministry’s message to Israeli diplomats: Surfers on the web take everything you post as Israel’s official position. » Read more

Israeli rights groups ask court to stop razing of Bedouin villages ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua August 15, 2012 - 12:00am Several Israeli human rights organizations petitioned the High Court on Tuesday to prevent the demolition of five Bedouin villages. The petition is spearheaded by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) and is aimed at averting the construction of agricultural settlements in the area of Mevo'ot Arad, in the Negev. These Jewish settlements, seven of them, will be built after the existing Bedouin villages, which are home to hundreds of families, are razed. » Read more

Palestinian prisoner refuses water after two months on hunger strike ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua August 15, 2012 - 12:00am A Palestinian prisoner on hunger strike for more than two months refused water on Wednesday in a new challenge, protesting the renewal of his administrative detention. The Palestinian Prisoners' Association said that Hassan Safadi went on a hunger strike on June 21 and was promised by Israeli authorities to be released by the end of his administrative detention term. However, this term has now been renewed for another six months, prompting him to refuse water. » Read more

Enlisting From Afar for the Love of Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Jodi Rudoren - August 14, 2012 - 12:00am Three days into Josh Warhit’s first-ever visit to Israel, as a 16-year-old on a summer tour, war broke out in Lebanon, which transformed the group’s itinerary — and his life plan. On Tuesday, with talk rampant about the possibility of an imminent Israeli attack on Iran, Mr. Warhit became a citizen of Israel to enlist in its army. » Read more