NEWS: Two Palestinian teenagers are injured by Israeli gunfire at another protest in the occupied West Bank. (New York Times) Dozens are injured in additional protests. (Ma'an) A rocket fired from Gaza lands in southern Israel for the first time since last year's truce. (Reuters) Israel seals Gaza border crossings in response to the rocket attack. (Ma'an) Israeli officials say Iran has set up a camp of missile experts in Gaza. (Ha'aretz) Israel and some other observers fear the death of a Palestinian prisoner in custody and other pressures may lead to another intifada. (Reuters/CSM) The dead prisoner is buried by Palestinians with honors, as both sides appear to be trying to prevent further unrest. (Washington Post) The PA says an autopsy shows the prisoner died following extensive torture in Israeli detention. (Ma'an) The UN calls for an independent inquiry into the prisoner's death. (AFP) Pres. Abbas orders Palestinian security to maintain order despite provocations, and says Israel wants to provoke chaos. (Ha'aretz/Ma'an) Palestinian prisoners end their hunger strike over the death of their fellow detainee. (Xinhua) Israeli authorities order hunger striking Palestinian prisoners hospitalized after 28 days. (Ha'aretz) Israel bans Palestinian construction near the West Bank separation barrier for "security reasons." (Xinhua) UN officials declare the two-state solution to be on "life support." (Ha'aretz) Sec. Kerry says Pres. Obama plans to "listen" to Israeli and Palestinian leaders during his upcoming trip, not present a US peace plan. (Reuters) With the help of the UN, Palestinians establish their first national disaster loss database. (UN)

COMMENTARY: The National says peaceful Palestinian protests could prove a potent challenge to Israel's unsustainable occupation. (The National) Bradley Burston says just as Lincoln abolished slavery, Israel must abolish the occupation. (Ha'aretz) Palestinian filmmaker Emad Burnat recounts his difficult journey from Palestine to Hollywood for the recent Academy Awards. (Huffington Post) The Jerusalem Post argues Palestinians should be more upset about journalists in Palestinian detention rather than Palestinians in Israeli detention. (Jerusalem Post) Philip Stephens says PM Netanyahu's apparent eagerness for a conflict with Iran spurs the impression he is more interested in war than peace. (Gulf News) Ali Hashem says Israel and Hezbollah prefer a shadow war of assassinations and terrorism to any direct confrontation across the border. (Al Monitor) Omar Barghouti explains his understanding of the BDS movement. (New York Daily News) Brent Sasley says Sen. Marco Rubio needs a lesson in peace process history. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Palestinians establish first national disaster loss database with UN help
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from United Nations News Service
February 25, 2013 - 1:00am

With support from the United Nations, Palestinian officials today launched the first database designed to provide information on disaster losses that will help develop planning policies and strengthen community resilience.

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Kerry: Obama plans to 'listen', not present peace plan
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
February 26, 2013 - 1:00am

US President Barack Obama will not bring a peace plan for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict next month, but rather intends to listen, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday. Obama's plan to visit has raised speculation of a new US push to revive Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, stalled since 2010 in a dispute over Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. But Kerry, speaking to German students during his first foreign trip as Washington's top diplomat, played down expectations.

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UN peace process envoy to Haaretz: Two-state solution 'on life support'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amos Harel - February 26, 2013 - 1:00am

The two-state solution is in extremely grave condition, the UN's special coordinator for the Middle East peace process warned in an interview with Haaretz last week. "The two-state solution is now on life support," Robert Serry said. "This is in fact a critical year. Everyone should know that if we do not provide a credible diplomatic horizon for the two-state solution this might lead to very serious results."

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Israel bans Palestinian construction near separation barrier for " security reasons"
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
February 25, 2013 - 1:00am

Israel is banning Palestinians from building on more than 1,000 acres of land under the Palestinian civil control adjacent to the separation barrier, the Ha'aretz daily reported on Monday. The lands in question are under Palestinian control according to the 1993 Oslo Accords signed between Israel and the Palestinians. According to the Israeli Defense Forces, the ban is derived from "security reasons."

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Rubio Needs A Lesson In Peace Process History
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
by Brent Sasley - (Opinion) February 25, 2013 - 1:00am

In ritualistic fashion, Marco Rubio’s visit to Israel included a defense of Israeli policy toward the peace process. Explaining how things work, he proclaimed that “The greatest advancements in this process have always been made when Israel felt secure. There is a direct relationship between Israel’s security and the ability to make concessions and move forward.”

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New Israeli rule orders hunger striking detainees hospitalized after 28 days
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Dan Even - February 26, 2013 - 1:00am

The Health Ministry issued a controversial regulation on Monday requiring hospitalization for hunger strikers if the action lasts more than 28 days. Palestinian security prisoners are currently holding hunger strikes to protest the death of detainee Arafat Jaradat last week at Megiddo Prison. "Every detainee and prisoner on a hunger strike in the security system and prison system should be hospitalized if the strike lasts more than 28 days, even if he is opposed to medical treatment," states the regulation, which was sent to hospital managers across the country.

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The BDS movement explained
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from New York Daily News
by Omar Barghouti - (Opinion) February 25, 2013 - 1:00am

In many media reports on the recent panel held at Brooklyn College on the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel, BDS was subjected to relentless vilification and unfounded allegations.

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Palestinian prisoners in Israel end strike over prisoner's death
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
February 25, 2013 - 1:00am

The Israeli Prison Service (IPS) announced Monday that a majority of the Palestinian security prisoners held in Israel ended their symbolic 24-hour hunger. Thousands of Palestinian prisoners launched the hunger strike Sunday over the death of an inmate, Arafat Jaradat who died in the northern Meggido prison Saturday.

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Abbas says Israel wants chaos
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
February 26, 2013 - 1:00am

President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday that Israel was seeking chaos as Israeli forces clashed with protesters across the West Bank for the second day. "The Israelis want chaos ... We will not allow them to drag us into it and to mess with the lives of our children and our youth," Abbas told reporters in his office in Ramallah. The death of 30-year-old Arafat Jaradat in Israeli custody on Saturday has sparked mass protests across the West Bank and Gaza. An autopsy revealed Jaradat died of extreme torture, Palestinian officials said Sunday.

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