February 29th, 2012

Is it late to save East Jerusalem? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Osama Al-Sharif - (Opinion) February 28, 2012 - 1:00am In the frustrating pursuit of Palestinian-Israeli peace settlement, based on the concept of a two-state solution, one particular issue emerges as the most cumbersome and, in the view of most Israelis, non negotiable. It is the fate of Arab East Jerusalem, occupied along with the rest of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. » Read more

Pro-Israel Voices Joining Bid to Get Iranian Dissidents Group off U.S. Terror List ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ron Kampeas - February 28, 2012 - 1:00am WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Famed attorney Alan Dershowitz, former Canadian Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel -- three prominent Jewish activists who have joined with other prominent people in a bid to remove a group with a blood-soaked history from the State Department’s list of foreign terrorist organizations. The names on the growing list of influential American advocates to de-list the Mujahedin-e Khalq, or MEK -- known in English as the National Council of Resistance of Iran -- suggest an effort to give the bid a pro-Israel imprimatur. » Read more

The imminent rise of Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Emad El Din Adeeb - (Opinion) February 29, 2012 - 1:00am I recently met with Khaled Mishal, Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, at a special dinner in Cairo. The conversation was heated and extremely candid on both sides, and there was no agreement between us regarding the publication of its contents. However, I maintain the right to make some remarks that do not violate the rules of our meeting. » Read more

Adelson Reportedly Gives ‘Substantial’ New Donation to Gingrich PAC ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) February 28, 2012 - 1:00am (JTA) -- Casino and hotel magnate Sheldon Adelson reportedly has given a “substantial” new donation to a group supporting Newt Gingrich for the Republican presidential nomination. Adelson gave the donation to Winning Our Future, an independent committee, or Super PAC, that is run by former Gingrich associates, Politico reported Tuesday, one week ahead of the Super Tuesday primary vote in 10 states. Adelson and his wife already have given $11 million to the PAC. » Read more

Report: Israel’s Security Situation Worst in Decades ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Oren Kessler - February 29, 2012 - 1:00am The Arab revolts and an emboldened Iran have created the most precarious security situation for Israel since the end of the Cold War, according to a study released this week. The report, “The 2011 Arab Uprisings and Israel’s National Security,” was released by Bar-Ilan University’s Begin- Sadat Center for Strategic Studies and authored by the center’s director, Prof.Efraim Inbar. » Read more

Returning to Rabin's Zionism ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Jack Moline, Daniel G. Zemel - (Opinion) February 27, 2012 - 1:00am On a hopeful evening in early November 1995, a broad cross-section of Israel’s population gathered in Tel Aviv’s Kings of Israel Square to join together for the cause of peace. They came to hear from their leader, Yitzhak Rabin, recently awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the Oslo Accords. Rabin’s words that evening included the following statement: “Violence erodes the basis of Israeli democracy. It must be condemned and isolated.” » Read more

Hebron Funeral Becomes Target of ‘Skunk’ Weapon ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Israel News by Elior Levy - February 29, 2012 - 1:00am A funeral in Hebron this weekend became the target of a non-fatal weapon used by security forces to disperse crowds during violent protests. The funeral began as a protest marking the Cave of Patriarchs massacre's anniversary was ending. At a certain point during the rally, which was also in protest of the closing of a street to Palestinian traffic, clashes between protesters and IDF and Border Guard forces erupted. » Read more

Israel Capable of Defending Itself Against Iranian Salvos: Defense Expert ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 29, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM, Feb. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Arrow missile defense system is capable of protecting the Israeli territory from an Iranian missile barrage, a former Defense Ministry rocket expert told Xinhua on Wednesday. "I can say it with assurance: we built those abilities into the Arrow warhead," Uzi Rubin, the Arrow's chief developer and head of Israel's Homa (Barrier) Missile Defense Agency between 1991 and 1999, when the first version of the missile was deployed. » Read more

How Israel might strike at Iran ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News by Jonathan Marcus - (Analysis) February 27, 2012 - 1:00am It is this that in large part has guided the development of the Israeli Air Force (IAF) over recent years. The IAF has purchased 125 advanced F-15I and F-16I warplanes, equipped with Israeli avionics and additional fuel tanks - tailor-made for long-range strike missions. In addition, Israel has bought specialised bunker-busting munitions; developed large, long-endurance, unmanned aircraft; and much of its training has focused on long-range missions. Israel has a track-record of pre-emptive strikes against nuclear targets in the region. » Read more

Fatah: Chief Justice Dies After Raid on Home ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 29, 2012 - 1:00am RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- The chief justice of the Palestinian high religious court died Tuesday of a heart attack two days after soldiers raided his home, the Fatah movement said. Sheikh Fahmi Asaad Jaradat died after soldiers occupied his home in the northern West Bank village of Zabuba, near Jenin, and took up positions on his roof, the movement said. Fatah said it held Israel responsible for the justice's death. The funeral, according to a statement from the movement, will be on Wednesday after midday prayer. » Read more