Is Israel the only possible homeland for Jews? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Jonathan Power - (Opinion) January 19, 2011 - 1:00am Israel allows its settler movement to go on and on claiming more of the West Bank. Is there nothing that can be done? The might of America, combined with the influence of the European Union and the Arab world, have not been able to halt the territorial growth of Israel. » Read more

Is Israel the only possible homeland for Jews? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Jonathan Power - (Opinion) January 19, 2011 - 1:00am Israel allows its settler movement to go on and on claiming more of the West Bank. Is there nothing that can be done? The might of America, combined with the influence of the European Union and the Arab world, have not been able to halt the territorial growth of Israel. » Read more

The lost art of stepping down ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed - (Opinion) January 19, 2011 - 1:00am Former Arab leaders who can peacefully walk the streets of the country they once ruled are something of a rarity. In fact, there are very few former Arab leaders around today. Everyone highlights the example of [Abdel Rahman] Swar al-Dahab, who ruled Sudan for less than one year [1985-86], before voluntarily handing power over to his successor, and returning to his normal life. It is true that al-Dahab is an exception to my earlier statement, but we should not also forget that he came to power via a military coup. » Read more

Does Arab Money Fund Left-wing Israeli NGOs? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Nathan Jeffay - January 19, 2011 - 1:00am In the context of Israeli politics, it is the most incendiary charge made thus far against human rights groups and other left-wing nongovernmental organizations: that some of the money that funds their work comes from Arabs — or even from terrorists. As the Knesset steams ahead with plans to probe the country’s human rights groups, critics of the NGOs are now seeking to advance this charge with a study that purports to supply supporting data. » Read more

Israel needs a coherent opposition ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Naomi Shepherd - (Opinion) January 19, 2011 - 1:00am This week Ehud Barak, defence minister of the most rightwing government in Israel's history, abandoned the Labour party to form a new centrist faction, which remains in the coalition with four ministerial portfolios. In the immediate future, this could strengthen Binyamin Netanyahu's government. But with Labour out of the government, there is now a clear alignment of left and centre parties: a much-needed opposition. The coalition may look more uniform without Labour, but it barely holds together: » Read more

Israeli tanks take part in deadly Gaza Strip raid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News January 18, 2011 - 1:00am Israeli tanks have entered the northern Gaza Strip, sparking fighting that killed one Palestinian and injured two. AFP news agency reported that seven tanks had made a limited incursion 200m into Palestinian territory on Tuesday, sparking a shootout with militants. Other reports suggested armoured vehicles and bulldozers were involved. Hamas emergency services spokesman Adham Abu Salmiya said Amjad al-Zaanein, 23, had been killed by Israeli tank fire east of Beit Hanoun. » Read more

PA to Stop Court-Martialing Civilians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by David Miller - January 19, 2011 - 1:00am Palestinian human rights organization have saluted a decision by the Palestinian Authority to halt political arrests in the West Bank, but expressed concern security forces would continue their crackdown on opponents on criminal grounds. » Read more

UN met only 52% of target for Palestinian aid in 2010 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Tovah Lazaroff - January 20, 2011 - 1:00am First time such large gap exists between initial aid request, amount of money donated since UN began humanitarian appeal to member states, international organizations in 2003. The UN was only able to fund 52 percent of the humanitarian aid it wanted to provide to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza in 2010, according to statistics it released on Wednesday at a press conference in Jerusalem. » Read more

Teens protest against racism in Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yair Altman - January 19, 2011 - 1:00am Hundreds of members of the left-wing HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed (Working and Studying Youth) movement protested in downtown Jerusalem Wednesday evening against the growing racism in Israel. The rally was organized by 11th and 12th graders who recently returned from a trip to Poland. "As teenagers who love this country we fear the racism that is seeping into people's hearts and the indifference displayed by the public and its leaders," youth movement member Tal Kedmi said. "We've decided not to stand by and watch as darkness threatens to take over," she said. » Read more

IDF discharges soldier involved in Hamas raid which left Palestinian civilian dead ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz January 20, 2011 - 1:00am The Israel Defense Forces said on Wednesday that they have discharged a soldier who was involved in a raid on a West Bank Hamas cell, during which an elderly Palestinian civilian was killed. The IDF raided Hebron earlier this month in order to re-arrest five Hamas members that the Palestinian Authority had released only the day before. » Read more