February 19th

Jordan denies reports over importing gas from Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 18, 2013 - 1:00am Jordanian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources dismissed on Sunday reports alleging that it imports natural gas from Israel, the state-run Petra news agency reported. "There are no secret talks between Jordan and Israel to import natural gas," said the ministry in a statement. The ministry added that the Arab Potash Company in Jordan is in talks with its Israeli counterpart to discuss the possibility to import natural gas from Israel as a cheaper alternative for fuel. » Read more

Israel treats five Syrians wounded in civil war ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Oliver Holmes, Ari Rabinovitch - February 16, 2013 - 1:00am Israeli soldiers treated five Syrians who had been wounded in fighting between Syrian government forces and rebels near Israel's security fence on the Golan Heights, the Israeli military said on Saturday. The victims were taken to a hospital in Israel. The military did not say if they were combatants or civilians, or in what circumstances they crossed over to the Israeli side of the fence, although Israeli media said the wounded had approached the area near the fence and soldiers let them in. » Read more

Israel to hold urgent hearing for Palestinian hunger-striker Issawi ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ahram Online February 19, 2013 - 1:00am Israel's Magistrate Court calls for an urgent court hearing on Tuesday for Palestinian prisoner Samer Al-Issawi, who has been on a hunger strike for 210 days. Al-Issawi was released from Israeli detention in October 2011 as part of the prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israeli authorities. However, the Israeli authorities rearrested Al-Issawi on 7 July, 2012 for allegedly breaking the terms of conditions of his release. » Read more

Former Israeli Foreign Minister Pleads Not Guilty in Fraud Case ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - February 17, 2013 - 1:00am Israel’s tough-talking former foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, pleaded not guilty on Sunday to » Read more

Israeli public asked to choose logo for Obama visit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) February 18, 2013 - 1:00am The Israeli prime minister's office is asking the public to choose an official logo for next month's state visit of the US president by voting for one of three proposed designs on Facebook. Participants have until 1400 GMT on Tuesday to choose their favourite design by clicking "like' on Benjamin Netanyahu's Facebook page, a statement from the prime minister's office said. » Read more

Protesters rally in solidarity with hunger strikers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 19, 2013 - 1:00am Protesters rallied in Bethlehem, Hebron and Ramallah on Monday in support of hunger striking prisoners in Israeli jails, as the PA minister of prisoner affairs warned of a popular uprising in the West Bank. In Al-Khader near Bethlehem, dozens of people, including the families of prisoners and representatives from human right groups, rallied by route 60. Israeli soldiers arrived in the area and dispersed protestors using tear gas canisters and stun grenades, witnesses said, injuring several people. » Read more

Israel, PA lobbying US before Obama's visit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh, Herb Keinon - February 17, 2013 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority on Sunday dispatched two senior officials to Washington to brief the US administration on its stance regarding the resumption of peace talks with Israel. » Read more

Official: Israel continues to withhold PA tax revenues ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 19, 2013 - 1:00am Israel continues to withhold tax revenues from the Palestinian Authority, an official said Monday, as unions in the West Bank organize strike action this week over unpaid salaries. Ahmad al-Hilou, director of customs taxes and VAT, told Ma'an that Israel was supposed to transfer December tax revenues to the PA last Thursday, "but the money is still withheld due to a political decision." A PA delegation will meet with Israeli officials on Feb. 28 to discuss transferring January tax revenues, al-Hilou said. » Read more

ATFP Concerned about Hunger-Striking Palestinian Prisoners, Reiterates Opposition to Administrative Detention Press Release - February 19, 2013 - 1:00am   Read more

Palestinians to ask that Obama personally kickstart peace process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Jack Khoury - February 19, 2013 - 1:00am Palestinian Authority representatives are expected to request the personal involvement of United States President Barack Obama in the Mideast peace process when they arrive in Washington on Wednesday. The PA representatives are even expected to even ask that Obama present his own initiative that will contain a formula that will allow both Israel and the PA to return to the negotiating table. » Read more