February 28th, 2013

Palestinian fishermen mystified after bloodied Mobula ray fish wash up on Gaza beach ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent February 28, 2013 - 1:00am Palestinian fisherman have been left mystified after hundreds of bloodied Mobula Ray fish were found washed up on a Gaza beach. Around 220 of the fish appeared on the Gaza City beach yesterday, the Times of Israel has reported. It is thought to be the first time in five years that fishermen are catching the ray fish in waters off Gaza. » Read more

Oxford student union votes down Israel boycott ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Alona Ferber - February 27, 2013 - 1:00am The Oxford University Student Union voted down a motion on Wednesday calling for a boycott of Israel, its institutions, goods and produce. According to the record of the vote at the prestigious university, 69 voted against the motion, 10 voted in favor, and 15 abstained. » Read more

Aid Hurting Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Inter Press Service (IPS) by Jillian Kestler-D'Amours - February 28, 2013 - 1:00am Local food for local people. That’s the idea behind Sharaka (‘partnership’, in Arabic), an entirely volunteer-run, Palestinian organisation that aims to bring locally grown products directly to Palestinian dinner tables. » Read more

Analysis: Egyptian foreign policy hasn't changed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Ariel Ben Solomon - (Analysis) February 28, 2013 - 1:00am Despite public declarations this week condemning Israel over the death of Palestinian prisoner Arafat Jaradat, Egypt is attempting to maintain its role as the mediator the US turns to in the region. Under ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, Egypt also spoke out in support of the Palestinians, but maintained working relations with Israel behind the scenes. » Read more

Israel wields Bible's soft power as far afield as Brazil ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Christa Case Bryant - February 27, 2013 - 1:00am On a crisp winter morning in Jerusalem, a group of American Christian leaders with Bibles under their arms walk the hilltop where many believe King David first established the Jewish capital some 3,000 years ago. » Read more

At UN conference, Erdogan calls Zionism 'crime against humanity' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - February 28, 2013 - 1:00am Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Zionism a "crime against humanity" at a United Nations conference in Vienna Wednesday, even as efforts at reconciliation continue between Jerusalem and Ankara. In his speech about Islamophobia in Europe, delivered at the opening session of the fifth United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, he argued the UN and European Union are not doing enough to fight hatred of Muslims and intolerance of other cultures. But Zionism was mentioned in passing. » Read more

News Analysis: Positive signs show Israel-Turkey ties warming up ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 28, 2013 - 1:00am Ties between Israel and Turkey have been strained ever since the Israel intercepted the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara in May 2010, however lately there have been signs that an improvement might be in sight. Last week an Israeli defense contractor Elta exported equipment for four Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircrafts to Turkey, however the equipment was part of the deal Turkey signed with the American company Boeing and Elta is a sub-contractor for Boeing. » Read more

PA liaison says secured release of teens from Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 28, 2013 - 1:00am Palestinian Authority liaison officials secured the release of four teenagers detained Wednesday by Israeli forces, Palestinian officer Osama Mansour said Thursday. Israeli forces detained Ibrahim Dawod 16, Ahmad Dawod 15, and Sabi Abed al-Raman, 16, from Ein Yabrud village north of Ramallah, and 15-year-old Tahrir from Jericho. The three teenagers from Ramallah were accused of throwing stones and Tahrir was suspected of trying to enter an Israeli settlement, said Mansour, who heads the liaison office in Ramallah. » Read more

How long will US President Barack Obama ignore Israel’s policy of oppression? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) February 27, 2013 - 1:00am It is shocking that most western nations, especially the US, have failed to respond with punitive measures against the right-wing regime of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu despite Israel’s continuous attacks on Palestinian freedoms. » Read more

Two Books Offer Dueling Peace Roadmaps as Obama Prepares for Trip to Middle East ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Nathan Guttman - (Opinion) February 27, 2013 - 1:00am As President Obama prepares for his first presidential visit to Israel and the West Bank, he can choose from two books, both just out, to read on the plane ride over. Each is produced by veteran presidential advisors on the Middle East. But each offers a starkly different perspective. » Read more