April 1st

Leverage the crisis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Steven M. Goldberg - (Opinion) April 1, 2010 - 12:00am Rahm Emanuel famously proclaimed, "You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that is it's an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before." Ironically, although the president's chief of staff has proven to be a false friend of Israel, the leadership of the Jewish state would do well to heed his advice. » Read more

When friends are mad at you ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Ephraim Sneh - (Opinion) April 1, 2010 - 12:00am The current crisis between Israel and the United States is fundamental and serious. Even if a nominal solution is found, it will be temporary, until the next one, which won't be far off. These crises are harmful to our national interests, and a true, enduring solution must be implemented. To achieve this, there are 10 assumptions that must be taken into account: 1. Israel cannot keep up a confrontation with its friends for long while its legitimacy is being eroded. This will soon begin to adversely affect the economy, based as it is on exports. » Read more

EU draft document on division of Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - December 2, 2009 - 1:00am The current holder of the rotating European Union presidency, Sweden, has put together a draft document calling for the division of Jerusalem between Israel and a future Palestinian state and implying that the EU would recognize a unilateral Palestinian declaration of statehood. Haaretz has obtained a copy of the document (below) that has sparked criticism by Israel, which claims that such a move would further harm the chances of renewing the Mideast peace process. » Read more

For Israel's Arabs, Land Day is our narrative and our justice ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Ahmad Tibi - (Opinion) April 1, 2010 - 12:00am I remember the events of Land Day 1976 in particular detail. I was taking part in the demonstration in the center of Taibeh, just opposite the taxi station, when police began dispersing us with clubs, then shot and killed one of the demonstrators, Rafat Zohiri, in cold blood. As on all such days marked by the Arab population of Israel, discussions on Land Day revolve around the question of Arab citizens' place in Israeli society and also on our insistence on commemorating Nakba Day, Land Day and the riots of October 2000 every year. » Read more

Gazans celebrate Egypt's Mubarak's recovery ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua April 1, 2010 - 12:00am Dozens of Palestinians gathered at the border between southern Gaza Strip and Egypt on Wednesday to celebrate Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's recovery and return home. The rally, organized by the Islamic Hamas movement which rules the Gaza Strip, called on Mubarak to release Palestinian prisoners in Egyptian jails. "We came here today to the borderline area to send our congratulations to President Mubarak for his recovery and also to urge him to release the Palestinian prisoners in Egyptian jails," said the organizer. » Read more

Joint Palestinian-European committee to convene on supporting Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua April 1, 2010 - 12:00am A Palestinian official announced on Wednesday that the Joint Palestinian-European Committee will hold a meeting in Brussels in June to support vital projects in the Palestinian territories. A preparatory meeting was held Wednesday in the West Bank city of Ramallah, attended by both senior Palestinian and European officials. Reyad al-Malki, minister of foreign affairs in the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) government, said in a press statement that the two sides agreed to prepare a joint working plan. » Read more

Gaza militants prepare for sudden Israeli military strike ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Saud Abu Ramadan, Emad Drimly - April 1, 2010 - 12:00am Palestinian factions' armed wing on Wednesday declared a status of "preparedness" following the increasing Israeli army officials' threats to carry out a sudden military strike against its militants in the Gaza Strip, ruled by Islamic Hamas movement. Abu Obeida, spokesman of Hamas armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades expected on Wednesday that the Israeli army would carry out a sudden military strike on the Gaza Strip "in any moment" in response to last Friday's military attack southeast Gaza Strip, where two Israeli soldiers were killed. » Read more

Palestinian official: Israel to encircle Jerusalem's Old City with settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua April 1, 2010 - 12:00am A Palestinian official on Thursday warned that Israel is planning to encircle the Old City in disputed East Jerusalem with Jewish settlements. Such a move would increase tensions since the majority of residents there are Arabs and the walled compound in the Old City includes the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque. The official, Hatem Abdul-Kader, told Voice of Palestine radio that this plan was "oppressive" as some 310 Palestinian houses in nearby Arab neighborhoods would be demolished. The new project will take the shape of a crescent and would embrace the Old City, Abdul-Kader said. » Read more

Israel ends probe into Palestinian protester death ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press April 1, 2010 - 12:00am Israel's military says it will not file any charges in the death of a Palestinian protester last year. Thirty-one-year-old Bassem Abu Rahmeh was killed when a tear gas canister fired by troops hit him in the chest during a protest last April against Israel's West Bank separation barrier. The army claimed Abu Rahmeh was in a group of people throwing rocks at troops. But video footage showed the protesters shouting at soldiers, not throwing anything. The Israeli military said Thursday it closed the investigation after determining the canister was not intentionally aimed at Abu Rahmeh. » Read more

Palestinian Christians to be barred from Old City ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 1, 2010 - 12:00am Palestinians, particularly Christians will be barred from entering Jerusalem's Old City and accessing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Saturday, when eastern Orthodox Christians observe Sept An-Nour, or Saturday of light. Church officials were informed by Israeli police that only international pilgrims would be allowed to access the area, Jerusalem officials said on Wednesday. » Read more