4 Border Guards convicted of abusing helpless Palestinian ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Elior Levy - February 15, 2013 - 1:00am Four Border Guard officers were convicted Thursday on charges of aggravated assault and abuse of a helpless person for their involvement in a 2009 incident in which they abused a Palestinian near a Givat Ze'ev checkpoint. » Read more

ATFP Celebrates 10th Anniversary, Announces Oct. 23 Gala Press Release - February 15, 2013 - 1:00am   Feb. 15, Washington DC -- The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) today celebrates the end of its 10th year of operations and the beginning of its second decade. Since its founding in 2003, ATFP has built on a clear mission: to advocate that a negotiated end-of-conflict solution that allows for two states, Israel and Palestine, to live side-by-side in peace, security and dignity is in the American national interest.   Read more

The Success That Failed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Roger Cohen - (Opinion) February 14, 2013 - 1:00am The most progressive and innovative Palestinian thinker on a Middle East peace settlement has been steadily isolated over the past several years. Undercut by Israel, undermined by his own people’s factionalism, unable to meet even once with President Obama, this dynamic Palestinian leader is now close to the end of his rope. » Read more

Bulgaria expels visiting Hamas delegation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 15, 2013 - 1:00am Bulgarian authorities forced a visiting Hamas delegation to leave the country Friday, the Palestinian Islamic movement said. In a statement, Hamas said security forces stormed the hotel where the three Hamas officials have been staying since Wednesday and transferred them to the airport. Hamas added that the move came as a result of Israel's pressure on Sofia. The delegation was expected to stay for three more days to meet with Bulgarian parliamentarians and party leaders. » Read more

Union: No date set for payment of PA salaries ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 15, 2013 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority will pay government salaries for January in a week, but has yet to specify a date, the public sector workers union said Thursday. Union chief Bassam Zakarneh insisted the PA must set a date to pay January wages, after a meeting with ministers in Ramallah. Zakarneh said in a statement that the union informed a ministerial committee that government staff were struggling to buy basic necessities and could not afford transport to work. Zakarneh called on civil servants not to strike unless further action is announced. » Read more

Israeli on UK team barred from entering Dubai ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) February 15, 2013 - 1:00am An Israeli soccer player for a British club is being forced to skip a team visit to Dubai because of the United Arab Emirates’ policy on Israelis entering the country. The 25-year-old striker, Itay Schechter, who plays for Swansea City, was prevented from attending the six-day group tra The United Arab Emirates does not have diplomatic ties with Israel, and Israeli passport holders can be arrested and deported upon entering if they lack a special visa. Dubai is one of the UAE’s seven emirates, or city-states. » Read more

Israelis, Egyptians discuss security in Cairo ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Ariel Ben Solomon - February 15, 2013 - 1:00am An Israeli delegation departed from Cairo on Thursday evening after meeting Egyptian officials to discuss security issues in Sinai, the alleged Israeli strike in Syria, and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the Egyptian website Al-Shorouk reported Friday. » Read more