February 15th, 2013

Swedish photographer wins World Press Photo award
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Toby Sterling - February 15, 2013 - 1:00am


Swedish photographer Paul Hansen won the 2012 World Press Photo award Friday for newspaper Dagens Nyheter with a picture of two Palestinian children killed in an Israeli missile strike being carried to their funeral. The picture shows a group of men marching the dead bodies through a narrow street in Gaza City. The victims, a brother and sister, are wrapped in white cloth with only their faces showing.


Chuck Hagel's confirmation and the orthodoxy of US debate on Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Michael Cohen - (Opinion) February 14, 2013 - 1:00am


This week, former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel achieved a rather dubious accomplishment: he became the first nominee for Secretary of Defense to be filibustered by the United States Senate.


2 injured by Israeli fire in north Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
February 15, 2013 - 1:00am


Two young Palestinian men were injured by Israeli fire in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, medics said. A 20-year-old man was hit in the chest by gunfire east of Beit Hanoun, and is a moderate to serious condition, Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said. Another man, aged 22, was shot in the hand in the same incident and has moderate injuries, al-Qidra said. The pair are being treated in Beit Hanoun hospital.


Palestinian stabbed to death in Rishon Lezion
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Eli Senyor - February 15, 2013 - 1:00am


A stabbing at a Rishon Lezion construction site left a 25-year-old Palestinian dead. The worker was evacuated to the Assaf Harofeh Medical Center early Friday morning after sustaining knife wounds to the chest. He succumbed to his wounds while on the operating table. An initial investigation led the authorities to take one city resident in for questioning.


A Zionism of the left
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Rami Livni - (Opinion) February 14, 2013 - 1:00am


The election results strengthened the following message: The left's return to power must include its renewed presence in debates about Zionism. To that end, the left must create a new, liberal and up-to-date perception of Zionism. It must be an alternative to the insular distorted Zionism of the right - disconnected from reality - which has served a minority of Jews throughout history.


4 Border Guards convicted of abusing helpless Palestinian
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Elior Levy - February 15, 2013 - 1:00am


Four Border Guard officers were convicted Thursday on charges of aggravated assault and abuse of a helpless person for their involvement in a 2009 incident in which they abused a Palestinian near a Givat Ze'ev checkpoint.


ATFP Celebrates 10th Anniversary, Announces Oct. 23 Gala
Press Release - February 15, 2013 - 1:00am

  Feb. 15, Washington DC -- The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) today celebrates the end of its 10th year of operations and the beginning of its second decade. Since its founding in 2003, ATFP has built on a clear mission: to advocate that a negotiated end-of-conflict solution that allows for two states, Israel and Palestine, to live side-by-side in peace, security and dignity is in the American national interest.  


The Success That Failed
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Roger Cohen - (Opinion) February 14, 2013 - 1:00am


The most progressive and innovative Palestinian thinker on a Middle East peace settlement has been steadily isolated over the past several years. Undercut by Israel, undermined by his own people’s factionalism, unable to meet even once with President Obama, this dynamic Palestinian leader is now close to the end of his rope.


Bulgaria expels visiting Hamas delegation
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
February 15, 2013 - 1:00am


Bulgarian authorities forced a visiting Hamas delegation to leave the country Friday, the Palestinian Islamic movement said. In a statement, Hamas said security forces stormed the hotel where the three Hamas officials have been staying since Wednesday and transferred them to the airport. Hamas added that the move came as a result of Israel's pressure on Sofia. The delegation was expected to stay for three more days to meet with Bulgarian parliamentarians and party leaders.


Union: No date set for payment of PA salaries
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
February 15, 2013 - 1:00am


The Palestinian Authority will pay government salaries for January in a week, but has yet to specify a date, the public sector workers union said Thursday. Union chief Bassam Zakarneh insisted the PA must set a date to pay January wages, after a meeting with ministers in Ramallah. Zakarneh said in a statement that the union informed a ministerial committee that government staff were struggling to buy basic necessities and could not afford transport to work. Zakarneh called on civil servants not to strike unless further action is announced.



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