February 27th, 2013

The spectre of a third intifada traps the PA in Israel's chains
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Dalia Hatuqa - (Opinion) February 27, 2013 - 1:00am

 

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Teachers reject union decision to stop strike
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
February 27, 2013 - 1:00am

Many West Bank teachers disagreed with the teachers’ union decision to cancel a general strike announced Saturday in protest against the government’s failure to pay salaries regularly. The teachers’ union speaker Ahmad Suhweil on Tuesday addressed about 1,000 teachers who picketed in front of office of the Palestinian Legislative Council in Ramallah telling them the union decided to end general strike after agreement has been reached with the government. Several teachers opposed the decision, saying they won’t abide by it.

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'Jaradat death probe may include int'l agent'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
February 27, 2013 - 1:00am

Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch said Wednesday that Israel is exploring the possibility of involving international agents in the investigation into the death of Palestinian prisoner Arafat Jaradat in Megiddo Prison last week.

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Palestinian clashes set to persist until Obama visit
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
February 27, 2013 - 1:00am

Clashes that flared in the West Bank after a Palestinian died in Israeli custody are unlikely to turn into a third intifada, but each side will use them when US President Barack Obama visits, commentators say. After several days of unrest following the death of Arafat Jaradat at the weekend, a measure of calm returned to the West Bank on Tuesday, despite an early-morning rocket from Gaza.

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PA, Hamas not interested in escalation
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
February 27, 2013 - 1:00am

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. Two local analysts highlighted Tuesday that the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank is not interested in a third intifada, because the results would be disastrous. Similarly, Hamas is not interested in ending the ceasefire and resuming military confrontation with Israel forces.

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Senior IDF officer: Violence in West Bank waning, but far from over
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from
by Gili Cohen - February 26, 2013 - 1:00am

A senior officer in the Israel Defense Forces Central Command said Tuesday that the past week’s violence in the West Bank “hasn’t ended yet, although its intensity dropped [Tuesday] significantly compared to recent days.”

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February 26th

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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