Palestinian Authority to Wean Itself Off Foreign Aid by 2013 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Felice Friedson - February 16, 2011 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority (PA) is undertaking a major effort to wean itself from foreign assistance, a move that will strengthen plans to declare statehood by this summer, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad told The Media Line. “The current expenditure has been reduced from $1.8 billion in 2008 to $1.1 billion in 2010 and we will gradually wean ourselves from [foreign] aid by 2013,” Fayyad said. “It is an important benchmark for reducing reliance on the need for external assistance,” he added. » Read more

Sderot conference hosts Gaza residents ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Hanan Greenberg - February 16, 2011 - 1:00am A conference that opened in Sderot Monday, called 'Gaza-Sderot', brought a number of Palestinian residents of the Strip to the nearby southern town, where they stayed the night. The delegation was meant to include 30 people, but only 15 succeeded in gaining entry into Israel after fervent security measures. Many of the Palestinians who attended the conference asked to remain anonymous, for fear they would be attacked upon returning home. » Read more

Army razes illegal settler outpost ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yair Altman - February 15, 2011 - 1:00am Six Jewish settlers were arrested on Tuesday during the razing of the illegal West Bank outpost Ramat Migron. The settlers hurled stones at security forces and tried to block their path. Soldiers arrived at the outpost in the morning and quickly took it over while additional forces blocked roads and trails leading to it to prevent rightists from disrupting the demolition works. The soldiers left after they razed five makeshift structures in two hours. » Read more

The 10 plagues of east Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Meir Margalit - February 15, 2011 - 1:00am The revolution in Cairo’s streets should raise the alarm in Jerusalem too. Like many Egyptians and Tunisians, the Arabs of east Jerusalem have been humiliated and trampled upon for years. Here too, patience is running out. The winds in east Jerusalem are the same ones blowing through Egyptian streets, and may ultimately bring down a regime that anticipated never-ending rule. » Read more

Israel should join the new reality of world diplomacy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) February 16, 2011 - 1:00am The revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, the demonstrations in Iran and Bahrain and the general feeling of an earthquake rumbling across the Middle East have thus far conferred a sense of deliverance on Israel, as it has managed to escape the spotlight. After all, who wants to deal with the peace process, dismantling settlements, marking the border between Israel and Palestine or defining security arrangements when the entire world is holding its head, uncertain how to act in the face of these budding democracies? » Read more

TV review: True Stories: War Child | Nuns Aloud ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Sam Wollaston - (Film Review) February 16, 2011 - 1:00am The Palestinian kids in True Stories: War Child (More4) lost a lot in Israeli missile attacks on Gaza. Brother and sister Mahmoud (10) and Amal (nine) lost their father, a younger brother, and their house. Amal was buried under rubble for four days and still has shrapnel in her brain. Another Mahmoud (12) saw his friend Hossam blown in half in front of him. Little Loay (10) lost his sight. Ibraheem (10) saw the family fishing boat, their livelihood, destroyed. All lost their childhoods. » Read more

Israel faces emboldened Palestinian delegation in the UN ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Shlomo Shamir - (Opinion) February 16, 2011 - 1:00am Palestinians are vigorously working to get the United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlement building passed. They are working quickly to get support from the organization's general assembly before Israel's new UN ambassador Ron Prosor, takes up his position. » Read more

Knesset committee approves bill allowing Israel boycotters to be fined ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Jonathan Lis - February 15, 2011 - 1:00am The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee approved a bill on Tuesday that calls for heavy fines to be imposed on Israeli citizens who initiate or incite boycotts against Israel, despite the Foreign Ministry's objections. The Knesset approved an initial reading of the bill over six months ago. The bill will now move on to a first reading in the Knesset for approval. If it becomes a law, the fines would apply to anyone boycotting Israeli individuals, companies, factories, and organizations. » Read more

APNewsBreak: Palestinian Authority settles RI suit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Eric Tucker - February 14, 2011 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority has settled a federal lawsuit in Rhode Island over the shooting deaths 15 years ago of a couple driving home from a wedding in Israel, according to court papers filed Monday. The documents don't reveal the terms of the settlement, and it's unclear how much, if any, money the Palestinian Authority offered to resolve the case. » Read more

With Egypt in turmoil, Israel rethinks readiness for multi-front war ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Leslie Susser - February 15, 2011 - 1:00am Although it’s still far from clear how the uprising in Egypt is going to play out, the volatility there is already raising questions in Israel about the Jewish state’s readiness for a war on several fronts. The optimistic view in Israel is that a wave of democracy will sweep the Middle East from Cairo to Tehran, making war in any form less likely. The pessimists -- there are many here -- see an ascendant Islamic radicalism taking hold in Egypt and elsewhere, thus compounding the military threats facing Israel. » Read more