Poll: Large Majority of Palestinians Want Immediate Elections
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Palestine News Network February 21, 2013 - 1:00am A large majority of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and West Bank support holding immediate presidential and legislative elections, a new poll published Thursday said. The poll, by the Arab World for Research and Development (AWRAD) and reported by WAFA, said 95% of Gaza residents and 82% of West Bank residents support the holding of immediate legislative and presidential elections. |
Tzipi Livni 'won't be fig leaf' for Netanyahu if he doesn't want peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Ian Black - (Opinion) February 20, 2013 - 1:00am Tzipi Livni's appointment as Israel's justice minister is a significant first step in Binyamin "Bibi" Netanyahu's laborious construction of a new coalition government. Giving her the additional role of chief negotiator with the Palestinians appears designed to indicate a readiness to re-engage in the moribund peace process. |
Israel's Netanyahu risks inclusion of Livni into government
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Faisal J. Abbas - (Analysis) February 21, 2013 - 1:00am Israeli Prime Minister designee Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday announced that former foreign minister Tzipi Livni of the HaTnua (Movement) party will join his next government as justice minister. Thus, this is making the HaTnua the first party to join Netanyahu's coalition after the parliamentary elections on Jan. 22. |
Palestinian MP: New intifada if prisoners harmed
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Elior Levy - February 21, 2013 - 1:00am Palestinians marched Thursday morning from the West Bank village of Bituniya to Ofer Prison in protest against the continued administrative detention of four Palestinians who are on a hunger strike. Several hundred demonstrators waving Fatah flags advanced toward the Bituniya checkpoint. Ofer Prison is located just beyond the checkpoint. |
Israel's Livni faces rough road in peace push with Palestinians
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Jeffrey Heller - (Analysis) February 20, 2013 - 1:00am Tzipi Livni's coalition pact with right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu speaks volumes about the obstacles ahead for the moderate former Israeli foreign minister in her new task of pursuing peace with the Palestinians. Expectations of a new peacemaking initiative have been raised by a planned visit to Israel, the West Bank and Jordan next month by U.S. President Barack Obama, who has clashed with Netanyahu over the prime minister's policy of expanding settlements on occupied land Palestinians want for a state. |
Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press February 21, 2013 - 1:00am Hundreds of Palestinian protesters are squaring off against Israeli security forces in the West Bank at a demonstration in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Some 2,000 people gathered at the Beitunia military checkpoint on Thursday, hoping to march to a nearby military prison. When the military prevented them from proceeding, protesters began throwing stones and burning tires. Israeli soldiers are responding with rubber-coated bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowd. |
Arne Christenson to manage policy and politics at AIPAC
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) February 19, 2013 - 1:00am The American Israel Public Affairs Committee appointed public affairs professional Arne Christenson as its managing director for policy and politics. |
Abbas meets Yemeni president in Sanaa
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 19, 2013 - 1:00am President Mahmoud Abbas met his Yemeni counterpart Abd al-Rab Mansur al-Hadi on Tuesday in Sanaa, Palestinian Authority media reported. Abbas discussed bilateral relations, Palestinian reconciliation and Israeli attacks on the Palestinian people with the Yemeni president, state news agency Wafa reported. Abbas, who is joined by his spokesman Nabil Abu Rdaineh, PA Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki and diplomatic adviser Majdi al-Khalidi, also met with Yemen's foreign minister, Abu-Bakr Al-Qirbi. |
Egypt brokering talks between Hamas and Israel on humanitarian issues
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 20, 2013 - 1:00am For the second time in a week, Israeli security officials visited Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials focusing on the ceasefire brokered by Egypt last year between Israel and the Palestinian factions operating in the Gaza Strip. A high-level Hamas official told Ma’an that the ongoing Egypt-brokered negotiations between Israel and the Islamist movement do not address “political issues but rather pure humanitarian issues.” |