March 1st, 2013

Israel: Turk’s Remarks Criticized ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters February 28, 2013 - 1:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of » Read more

Clashes in West Bank; Salam Fayad joins Bil'in protests ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Itamar Fleishman, Elior Levy - March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Palestinians are clashing with security forces who are attempting to disperse them in Hebron, after settler's windows were broken as a result of stone throwing. » Read more

Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu suspends housing settlements ahead of Obama’s visit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Times by Cheryl K. Chumley - March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suspended all housing construction in contested areas of east Jerusalem and the West Bank as a diplomatic nod at President Obama’s upcoming visit. » Read more

Israeli troops practice repelling mass demonstrations in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Ahead of a possible escalation of violence in the West Bank, the Israeli military is training combat units on how to deal with planned protests by thousands of angry Palestinian demonstrators. During the workshop, the troops practiced using crowd-control measures largely considered non-lethal, like flash bangs, rubber- tipped bullets and stench bombs. » Read more

Medics say 3 hurt in Gaza shelling, Israel denies ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Medics said three Palestinians sustained injuries early Friday in a shelling attack in the central Gaza Strip, but Israel's army denied involvement. Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman of the Gaza health ministry, told Ma’an that two injured people were transferred to al-Shifa hospital and a third was transferred to al-Aqsa hospital. Al-Qidra said the three victims were moderately injured in a shelling attack on al-Burej refugee camp. » Read more

Graves of the next intifada's victims are waiting in Dheisheh ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chaim Levinson - March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Residents of the Dheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem have prepared a cemetery plot for the fatalities of the third intifada, although speculation of another armed popular rising seemed premature in the camp this week. “We don’t want another intifada,” says Fatah leader in Dheisheh Mohammed al-Jafari, facing the rows of new, empty graves. “We are the last generation you can make peace with. There’s a five-year window of opportunity.” » Read more

Syria protests Israel's approval for oil drilling ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press February 28, 2013 - 1:00am Syria is protesting a recent decision by Israel to go ahead with a gas exploration project in the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau it captured from Syria in the 1967 war. » Read more

Lawmakers push measure on Israel's self-defense ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Donna Cassata - February 28, 2013 - 1:00am The United States would back Israel militarily if the Mideast ally were to attack Iran in self-defense, a bipartisan group of senators said Thursday in introducing a forceful resolution. "No one wants another conflict anywhere in the world militarily, but we also don't want a nuclear-capable Iran," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., at a news conference. » Read more

EU Slams Israeli Settlements, Urges Sanctions in New Report ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Common Dreams by Jacob Chamberlain - February 27, 2013 - 1:00am Illegal settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem poses the greatest threat to peace between Israel and Palestine, the European Union said in a report that urges all EU states to end all financial investments or transactions that could directly or indirectly aid the settlement-building process. » Read more

Israel Escalates Measures in Jerusalem, Says Fatah Council Member ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Palestine News Network March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Dimitri Diliani, a Member of Fatah Revolutionary Council, said on Thursday, 28 February, that Israel is constantly escalating its oppressive measures against the Palestinians of East Jerusalem, especially in Silwan and Issawiya. He said that Israeli police regularly raid the homes of Palestinians, arrest children and teens, and assault women and the elderly. Diliani said that in Issawiya alone, about 170 Palestinians were arrested in January. In Silwan, the youngest detainee was six-year-old. » Read more