February 15th

IDF Turns To Human Rights Watch for Help ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Gal Beckerman - February 10, 2010 - 1:00am As human rights organizations continue to be vilified by an Israeli government still smarting from the effects of the Goldstone Report, the Forward has learned that the Israeli military has been in conversation and even actively working with Human Rights Watch, the international organization that has been often — and loudly — denounced by the Jewish world. » Read more

State of denial: Robert Fisk searches for peace in Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Robert Fisk - (Opinion) February 11, 2010 - 1:00am There are no armed guards on the gate of Number 17 Ben-Gurion Boulevard in Tel Aviv, just a tired, two-storey villa set back from the street and an open door that leads to a dark kitchen and a little room with a cot on the floor. » Read more

The new McCarthyism sweeping Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Donald MacIntyre - February 13, 2010 - 1:00am It's hard, sitting on the other side of the office table from which Naomi Chazan is picking at her modest hummus and salad snack lunch, to believe that the amiable 63-year-old university professor with a self-deprecating sense of humour has suddenly become the most discussed, not to say demonised, woman in Israel. » Read more

A Palestinian arrest so ridiculous even the Israeli judges smiled ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - February 15, 2010 - 1:00am Something about 12-year-old Bassam caused two Israelis to smile. Two Palestinians noticed, but did not remember their smiles as being disparaging or arrogant. On the contrary. The Palestinians regarded the smiles as a rare moment in which two Israelis - and not just any Israelis, but military judges - realized how ridiculous the situation was. » Read more

Defense Ministry reveals West Bank settlement freeze abuses ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chaim Levinson - February 15, 2010 - 1:00am Security sources have found and made public 28 incidents of settlements violating the ten-month building freeze in the West Bank declared by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Haaretz learned on Monday. Responding to an appeal made by Meretz MK Haim Oron to clarify alleged settlement freeze infringements, deputy defense minister, Matan Vilnai, responded by that saying "The court order to halt construction has been given out. The implementation of the building freeze will be examined." » Read more

A day in the life of the Palestinian Ben-Gurion ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - February 13, 2010 - 1:00am There are tens of millions of people in the world who glory in the title "public servant," but Dr. Salam Fayyad is apparently the only one who wakes up in the morning and goes to work to build a state for his people. Fayyad, the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, is not calling for peace talks, for violent resistance to the occupation or even for civil disobedience. That's the department of PA President Mahmoud Abbas. The most violent protest in which Fayyad participated was a ceremonial bonfire of goods produced in Jewish West Bank settlements. » Read more

Israeli soldiers kill a Palestinian in Hebron: medics ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 12, 2010 - 1:00am A 41-year-old Palestinian resident of the West Bank city Hebron died of his wounds after he was shot and critically wounded by Israeli soldiers' gunfire on Friday afternoon, medical sources and witnesses said. The sources said Fayez Farraj was critically wounded after Israeli soldiers opened fire at him in the neighborhood of Bab el- Zawya. They said he died in a hospital a few hours later. However, the Israeli army said Farraj had tried to stab an Israeli soldier in the neighborhood by a knife he was carrying. » Read more

Erekat to hold talks with Hillary Clinton in Qatar late Sunday ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 14, 2010 - 1:00am Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat revealed that he will hold talks on Sunday night with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Qatar. "I will meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Doha, Qatar to receive U.S. answers to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas questions related to holding indirect peace talks with Israel," Erekat told Xinhua on telephone from Qatar. » Read more

Palestinian protesters pose as Na'vi from "Avatar" ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press February 12, 2010 - 1:00am Palestinian protesters have added a colorful twist to demonstrations against Israel's separation barrier, painting themselves blue and posing as characters from the hit film "Avatar." The demonstrators also donned long hair and loincloths Friday for the weekly protest against the barrier near the village of Bilin. They equated their struggle to the intergalactic one portrayed in the film. Israel says the barrier is needed for its security. Palestinians consider it a land grab. » Read more

Muslim firebrands challenge Hamas rule in Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Karin Laub - February 14, 2010 - 1:00am They preach global jihad, or holy war, adhere to an ultraconservative form of Islam and are becoming a headache even for Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza. Jihadi Salafis, as they are known, have organized into small, shadowy armed groups that have clashed with Hamas forces and fired rockets at Israel in defiance of Hamas' informal truce. » Read more