February 28th

PA, Hamas not interested in escalation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 27, 2013 - 1:00am GAZA CITY (Ma’an) – A third intifada is not likely to erupt in the occupied West Bank, neither a military confrontation is expected between Israel and the Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip, say Palestinian analysts. » Read more

February 27th

Analysis: Stabilizing the West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Yaakov Lappin - (Analysis) February 27, 2013 - 1:00am There are several factors behind the current wave of violence in the West Bank. Some of them stem from a return to terrorism and violent disorder by prisoners who were released under the Gilad Schalit exchange deal, and who have since been rearrested for violating the terms of their release. As the IDF makes arrests, Palestinian elements attempt to delegitimize these security efforts, and use them as a pretext to launch disturbances. As the IDF disperses the rioters, these efforts too become pretexts for more violence. » Read more

Israel isn't being delegitimized – the settlements are ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Carlo Strenger - (Editorial) February 27, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Abu Mazen: The Strongest of Weak Leaders ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Ben Caspit - (Opinion) February 26, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Israel denies entry to American teacher working in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - February 27, 2013 - 1:00am An American citizen who teaches English in Ramallah was denied entry to Israel at Ben-Gurion International Airport Tuesday, even though she has a valid one-year multiple-entrance visa. The Shin Bet security service said in a statement she was turned her away for refusing to cooperate under questioning on security issues. » Read more

Report: Mob attacks Palestinian woman in Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 27, 2013 - 1:00am A group of Jewish women attacked a Palestinian woman Monday while she was waiting at a light rail station in Jerusalem and beat her severely, Israeli media reported. Hebrew-language Israeli daily Maariv reported that an ultra-Orthodox Jewish woman passed by the Palestinian woman and punched her all of a sudden. Other women, friends of the assailant, then joined her and together they started to beat the woman forcefully. The victim tried to defend herself, but the number of attackers was big enough to subdue he and continue to beat her. » Read more

Israelis plan to press Obama to free convicted spy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Aron Heller - February 26, 2013 - 1:00am Israel's Nobel-laureate president, backed by thousands of followers, is leading an effort to press President Barack Obama during his upcoming visit to free convicted spy Jonathan Pollard, ending one of the most painful episodes between the two allies. Pollard was sentenced to life in prison in 1987 for passing classified material to Israel. » Read more

European Union Consuls Call for Economic Sanctions against Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Linda Gradstein - February 27, 2013 - 1:00am A non-binding report by the European Union’s (EU) consuls general in East Jerusalem and Ramallah harshly criticizes Israel for undermining the possibility of an independent Palestinian state by expanding what it calls “settlement” construction. It calls Israel’s policy “systematic, deliberate and provocative” and calls for stepped-up European sanctions. » Read more

Palestinians welcome EU report urging sanctions on Jewish settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 27, 2013 - 1:00am The Palestinian National Authority welcomed Wednesday an European Union (EU) report which recommended sanctions on Jewish settlement constructions in Israel ' s occupied land. » Read more

The Tough Task of Middle East Peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National Interest by Shai Feldman - (Editorial) February 27, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more