Editorial: A nail in the coffin ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News (Editorial) November 29, 2010 - 1:00am By requiring a two-thirds Knesset majority to cede land in East Jerusalem to the Palestinians and the Golan Heights to Syria, a new Israeli law raises the bar for passage. Putting any such withdrawals to a national referendum will subject international law to the whims of Israeli public opinion. The bill which Israel’s Parliament has passed will complicate peace efforts with the Palestinians and Syria by making it very difficult for any Israeli government to make territorial withdrawals. » Read more

Washington bends for Israel once again ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Rami Khouri - November 27, 2010 - 1:00am The revelation in the United States Wednesday that Washington was offering Israel new security-related guarantees in return for a two-month extension of the partial moratorium on new Jewish colonies in the occupied Palestinian territories is neither surprising nor encouraging. It may reflect a continuation of the tradition in Washington that emphasizes a fawning and almost servile attitude to Israeli “security” concerns as the primary substantive issue in Arab-Israeli negotiations, which the Israelis astutely use as leverage in tactical negotiations to press their side of the negotiations. » Read more

A Crisis in the Heart of Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Hussein Shobokshi - (Opinion) November 28, 2010 - 1:00am Ever since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, its media has been trying to sell the idea that Israel is a secular state that brought together its children from the Diaspora, returning them to the Promised Land, as was promised in their scriptures and religious teachings where they can live their lives according to socialist principles in collective communities called Kibbutzim [or a Kibbutz]. This is a Yiddish language word which was spoken predominately by Jews in Eastern Europe. » Read more

Regional leaders accuse Netanyahu of 'rejecting peace' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Vita Bekker - November 27, 2010 - 1:00am TEL AVIV // Leaders from Syria, Egypt and Lebanon accused the Israeli premier yesterday of rejecting peace efforts in what appeared to be a bid to pressure Israel to accept a US plan that could lead to renewed talks with the Palestinians. Their charges came just hours after the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's predecessor, Ehud Olmert, lashed out at his successor for not heeding Washington's demand to halt new settlement projects in the occupied West Bank for three months to help restart negotiations. » Read more

Banned Textbook Offers a Lesson in Mideast Politics ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Nathan Jeffay - (Analysis) November 24, 2010 - 1:00am TEL AVIV — As Israelis and Palestinians spent recent weeks blaming each other for the breakdown in peace talks, they have found themselves in agreement on one thing: Education ministries on both sides have banned a history textbook that they deemed unsuitable for their students. What is found inside the textbook that has aroused the ire of education officials in the opposing camps? » Read more

The enemy within: life under Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Donald MacIntyre - November 28, 2010 - 1:00am He seemed to come from nowhere, walking at a fast pace across the junction where we were parked in the heart of the crowded refugee camp. Alerted to the registration number of our taxi, he opened a back door and slipped into the rear seat. "Let's get out of here," he said. "There are eyes everywhere." » Read more

Israel tries to clean up its image abroad ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Catrina Stewart - November 29, 2010 - 1:00am Israel's ultra-nationalist Foreign Minister is proposing a major new public relations drive in Europe aimed at bolstering Israel's flagging image. The campaign, expected to launch early in the new year, would rely on teams of volunteers in Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain to deliver Israel's message, while professionals from public relations and lobbying firms would also be hired to for the rebranding initiative. » Read more

B'tselem hands Naalin shooting tape to police ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Naama Cohen-Friedman - November 28, 2010 - 1:00am The B'tselem organization handed over a tape in which an IDF soldier is seen shooting at the foot of a bound Palestinian protestor in Naalin, two and a half years after it was recorded. The police are expected to give the tape, which shows Staff Sgt. Leonardo Corea firing at the order of Lt. Colonel Omri Burberg, to forensics for an objective investigation. » Read more

Beyond Green Line: Apartments instead of hotel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ronen Medzini - November 29, 2010 - 1:00am The Jerusalem Local Planning and Building Committee on Monday gave its approval to build 130 housing units in an area located beyond the Green Line, between the neighborhoods of Gilo and Beit Safafa. The area was previously designated for the construction of hotels. » Read more

Palestinians: Gaza war claim exposed by WikiLeaks is untrue ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - November 29, 2010 - 1:00am There were never any actual consultations between us and the Israelis before the Gaza war, a top aid to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday, refuting a WikiLeaks cable that claimed otherwise. One of the documents included in the over 250,000 diplomatic cables between the United States and its allies which were leaked on Sunday said that Israel tried to coordinate Operation Cast Lead with both Fatah and Egypt. » Read more