March 9th, 2009

Israel annexing East Jerusalem, says EU
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Rory McCarthy - March 7, 2009 - 1:00am

A confidential EU report accuses the Israeli government of using settlement expansion, house demolitions, discriminatory housing policies and the West Bank barrier as a way of "actively pursuing the illegal annexation" of East Jerusalem. The document says Israel has accelerated its plans for East Jerusalem, and is undermining the Palestinian Authority's credibility and weakening support for peace talks. "Israel's actions in and around Jerusalem constitute one of the most acute challenges to Israeli-Palestinian peace-making," says the document, EU Heads of Mission Report on East Jerusalem.

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Desert’s Sand and Rocks Become Precious Resources in West Bank Dispute
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Ethan Bronner - March 6, 2009 - 1:00am

Boulders the size of compact cars are carved out here at a vast quarry near Bethlehem and pushed noisily through grinders, producing gravel and sand that go into apartment buildings in this rapidly growing Israeli settlement and all across Israel itself. The land of the West Bank is, of course, disputed. Israel occupies it, and the Palestinians want it for a future state. But more and more of it is gone — quarried by Israeli companies and sold for building materials, a practice that is the focus of a new legal challenge.

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Palestinian Prime Minister to Resign
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
March 7, 2009 - 1:00am

The Palestinian prime minister said Saturday he submitted his resignation in a move that could help usher in a power-sharing deal between Western-backed President Mahmoud Abbas and his rivals in the militant group Hamas. Salam Fayyad's resignation was meant to be a goodwill gesture toward Hamas, but the group's officials dismissed the announcement, saying Fayyad's appointment and time in office has been unconstitutional.

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March 6th

ATFP Senior Fellow Speaks at Carnegie Institute
Press Release - Contact Information: Ghaith al-Omari - March 6, 2009 - 1:00am

On Thursday, March 5th, ATFP Advocacy Director Ghaith Al-Omari participated in a discussion of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Policy Brief on "Palestine and Israel: Time for Plan B". The paper's author, Prof. Nathan Brown presented the paper, and Mr. Al-Omari and Robert Malley, Middle East and North Africa program director at the International Crisis Group, responded.


Newly elected Jerusalem mayor Nir Barakat dismisses Secretary of State Clinton’s criticism of Palestinian home demolitions to make way for a tourist park in the city (1) (6). The Christian Science Monitor looks at how Secretary Clinton’s recent visit has been received by the Arab world (3). More reports are emerging about the ‘wanton’ destruction of Gaza homes by Israeli forces during the war (4) (15). The British Embassy in Israel cancels plans to relocate to new offices because one of the owners is believed to be involved in settlement building (5). Following his recent trip to the region Senator John Kerry outlines his proposed strategy for U.S. involvement in the Middle East (7). Hamas has reportedly demanded that Islamic Jihad stop firing rockets from Gaza (11).

Pots of urine, feces on the walls - how IDF troops vandalized Gaza homes
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from
by Amira Hass - March 6, 2009 - 1:00am

We had already visited this house, belonging to the Abu Eida family. It is the only one of the family's nine large houses that remained standing at the eastern edge of the city of Jabalya following Operation Cast Lead. The demolition of the family's houses and its four cement factories spells the loss of 40 years of hard work.

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Putting hope on the horizon
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
March 6, 2009 - 1:00am

On a recent visit to a Cairo hospital to meet children wounded in the recent Israeli operation in Gaza, I talked with 10-year-old Riad, who was recovering from serious injuries caused by an Israeli missile. Replying to my question about what he plans to do after he recovers and returns to Gaza, he said his goal is to study telecom engineering, in order to work in telecommunications. In addition to his own injuries, Riad lost several family members. Nonetheless, what he dreams of is a job and peace - not revenge.

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Congressmen try to restrict Gaza funds
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Allison Hoffman - March 5, 2009 - 1:00am

US lawmakers are seeking restrictions on US funding for $900 million in proposed reconstruction and humanitarian aid for the Palestinians over concerns that the money might wind up in the hands of terrorist groups. Sources on Capitol Hill told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday that negotiations over restrictions could complicate the process and potentially delay getting aid to organizations on the ground.

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Lieberman demanding 'full autonomy' as foreign minister
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Mazal Mualem - March 6, 2009 - 1:00am

Avigdor Lieberman, who Thursday emerged as the most likely candidate to replace Tzipi Livni as Israel's foreign minister, intends to demand that Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu grants him "full autonomy" in the new post, Haaretz has learned. Lieberman, who heads the country's third largest party, Yisrael Beiteinu, met with prime minister-designate Netanyahu Thursday at the Knesset. Neither party leader divulged information about the meeting or the issues discussed.

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Report: Hamas demands Islamic Jihad stop launching
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from World Peace Herald
by Ali Waked - March 5, 2009 - 1:00am

Hamas has asked Islamic Jihad operatives to stop firing rockets at Israel, Palestinian sources told Ynet on Thursday. Five rockets were fired on the western Negev from Gaza, following an IDF aerial strike that killed three Palestinian terrorists near Kissufim. According to reports, Hamas is trying to convince the Islamic Jihad to cease rocket fire, on the grounds that doing so while ceasefire negotiations are in progress gives Israel an excuse to escalate military operations and undermine the relative quiet of the past several days.

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