April 9th

Have Netanyahu and Obama agreed on the outcome of negotiations with Iran? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Anshel Pfeffer - (Opinion) April 8, 2012 - 12:00am In two of his Pesach interviews, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outlined in unprecedented detail the diplomatic outcome with Iran that Israel could live with. Maariv's interviewers asked him specifically what would satisfy him in next week's P5+1 talks with the Iranians to which he answered – » Read more

Letting Israeli expats vote is political manipulation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Salman Masalha - (Opinion) April 9, 2012 - 12:00am The Knesset elections are drawing near and associated issues are in the air. It is not only primaries, opinion polls and new parties that have sprung up like mushrooms after the summer social protests. Legislation is also being promoted about who has the right to vote. » Read more

Israel has reacted with hysteria over Gunter Grass ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) April 9, 2012 - 12:00am Author Gunter Grass sees the State of Israel as a threat to world peace. He believes Israel is armed with nuclear weapons, and is threatening Iran as the Islamic Republic looks to obtain a nuclear arsenal. After the poem he published to this effect in the German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung last week drew extensive criticism, he asked to distinguish between the state and its government. It's not Israel that worries him, he said, but the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. » Read more

Muslim Brotherhood: We will not put Egypt-Israel peace treaty to referendum ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Zvi Barel - April 7, 2012 - 12:00am A member of parliament for Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice party said on Friday that the movement would not put Egypt's peace treaty with Israel to a national referendum vote. "We will not put the Camp David accords, or any other agreement Egypt has signed to a national referendum," said member of parliament Abd Al-Maujood Al-Dardiri. » Read more

Israel says ready for Hezbollah attack ATFP World Press Roundup Article from United Press International (UPI) April 8, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM, April 8 (UPI) -- Israeli military officers say the country's armed forces are preparing for a mass incursion into Lebanon if war breaks out with Hezbollah again. Based on intelligence gathered by the military, the air force could take out targets such as training bases and rocket launching pads in a matter of days. However, officers say a ground offensive would be necessary due to Hezbollah's underground command posts and camouflaged launching pads. » Read more

World Bank earmarks $55 million for Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press April 7, 2012 - 12:00am The World Bank says they've earmarked $55 million for Palestinian development this year. Mariam Sherman, country director for the West Bank and Gaza, said Saturday the money will be used to assist businesses, help graduates and support Palestinian government institutions. But Sherman says for real growth to happen, Israel's system of restrictions on movement of Palestinian people and goods needs to be eased. The World Bank says Israel should also share tax information and make other changes. » Read more

Palestinian accuses Israel Police of beating him, hiding evidence ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Revital Hovel - April 9, 2012 - 12:00am A 26-year-old Palestinian man from Jenin was severely beaten by Israeli police officers in Daliat al-Carmel two weeks ago and dumped at a checkpoint, according to a complaint he filed with the internal affairs unit. Police say they believe the man was in Israel illegally. The internal affairs unit is investigating the man’s allegations, but said it could not divulge details of the investigation. Doctors removed Rami Washahi’s spleen to curtail his abdominal bleeding, and he was hospitalized for four days, Washahi said. » Read more

Ashrawi 'concerned by assaults on free expression' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 9, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- Senior PLO official Hanan Ashrawi expressed concern on Sunday about recent assaults on free speech. "Freedom of expression and access to information is enshrined in the basic principles of the Palestinian Basic Law ... it is unacceptable to detain journalists, bloggers or Palestinian activists," the official, who is also head of the PLO Department of Culture and Media, said in a statement. » Read more

Abbas to pursue statehood at UN assembly if no talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 9, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday he will ask the UN General Assembly to recognize Palestinian statehood if Israel does not respond to his demands for the resumption of negotiations. After Palestine's inconclusive bid for recognition by the United Nations Security Council in September 2011, officials in recent months revised their opposition to a lesser upgrade with the larger assembly. » Read more

Militants attack Egypt’s gas pipeline to Israel and Jordan ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press April 9, 2012 - 12:00am EL-ARISH, Egypt — Militants on Monday blew up a gas pipeline in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula that transports fuel to neighboring Israel and Jordan, a senior Egyptian security official said. The attack was the 14th on the pipeline since last year’s popular uprising that ousted Egypt’s longtime leader Hosni Mubarak. Previous bombings of the pipeline have been blamed on Islamist militants who have stepped up their activity in Sinai, taking advantage of a security vacuum caused by a thin police presence in the post-Mubarak era. » Read more