IDF station in Hebron made off limits to settlers after 30 years ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Anshel Pfeffer - February 9, 2011 - 1:00am The Israel Defense Forces has finally closed one of its main outposts in Hebron to Jewish settlers. The Mitkanim outpost, adjacent to the city's Avraham Avinu neighborhood, is permanently staffed by a company of soldiers. But while all other army bases and outposts nationwide are closed to civilians unless they obtain a special permit, Mitkanim has served Avraham Avinu residents for 30 years as a shortcut to Shuhada Street, which is one of Hebron's main arteries. » Read more

NATO chief sees group's future involvement in Israeli Arab peace process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amir Oren - (Opinion) February 9, 2011 - 1:00am Anders Fogh Rasmussen discusses concerns over whether Egypt may reassess its foreign relations after Mubarak eventually steps down. The North Atlantic Alliance "supports the efforts of the Egyptian and the Tunisian peoples for the establishment of a free society and a democratically elected government," says NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who was scheduled to arrive in Israel last night for talks with senior officials. » Read more

'Netanyahu handing UN arena over to the Palestinians' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Shlomo Shamir - February 9, 2011 - 1:00am Diplomats at the United Nations on Tuesday were harshly critical of Israel's ongoing failure to appoint a permanent ambassador to the UN, saying it has essentially forfeited the arena to the Palestinians. While Israel is represented by an acting ambassador, Meron Reuben, he lacks the authority of a permanent representative. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman were unable to agree on a permanent candidate for months, and the man they finally settled on, Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan, rejected the job this week. » Read more

Charges filed against ‘Irvine 11’ ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) February 8, 2011 - 1:00am Criminal charges were filed against 11 Muslim students who disrupted a speech at the University of California, Irvine, by Israel's U.S. ambassador. During the Feb. 8, 2010 speech by Michael Oren, the 11 defendants stood one by one and shouted at the ambassador, calling him a “mass murderer” and a “war criminal,” among other insults. The disruptions, organized to protest Israeli actions in Gaza, prompted Oren to walk off the stage twice. » Read more

Overkill in Orange County ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times (Editorial) February 7, 2011 - 1:00am When 11 students affiliated with the Muslim Student Union at UC Irvine disrupted a speech by the Israeli ambassador to the United States last year, they no doubt knew there would be consequences. Rather than staging a traditional protest — by leafleting, say, or holding up signs expressing their disapproval — they attended the event as members of the audience and then stood up, one by one, and shouted the ambassador down more than a dozen times. » Read more

Israel's parliament promotes bill to strip former Arab lawmaker of pension ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Gur Salomon - February 8, 2011 - 1:00am The Israeli Knesset parliament on Tuesday voted to promote a bill that would deny pension benefits from Azmi Bishara, a former legislator suspected of assisting Hezbollah during the 2006 Lebanon war. The Knesset House Committee approved the bill, dubbed "Bishara Law," for second and third readings. The bill is expected to be brought for a second round of voting in the Knesset plenum within weeks. » Read more

News Analysis: Israel fears Islamist takeover in Egypt ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Adam Gonn - February 8, 2011 - 1:00am Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday expressed concern that the demonstrations in Egypt may lead to Islamist groups taking over if President Hosni Mubarak were to step down. Netanyahu outlined three possible scenarios for the future of Egypt, ranging from a secular democracy to an Iranian-style theocracy. There is also another possibility: that the Islamists will exploit the situation to gain power over the country and lead it backwards, Netanyahu added. » Read more

Battle over Mideast transit ads heating up across U.S. ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ben Harris - February 8, 2011 - 1:00am With public bickering over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict already having spilled over into university student senates, corporate pension boards and even local farmers markets, the latest battlefield in the debate over the conflict is municipal transit systems. » Read more

Seize the Day, Tomorrow Could Be Worse ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Forward by Leonard Fein - February 8, 2011 - 1:00am “We are witnessing a genuine grassroots revolution in Egypt and its outcome will have to reflect the will of the people, not our desires.” So writes a friend from Israel. But “the will of the people,” as awesomely impressive it has been these past days in Tahrir Square and elsewhere, inevitably becomes a chimera the morning after the old regime has been chased from power. » Read more

Face of Israel's armed forces visited UK incognito ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Dan Williams - February 8, 2011 - 1:00am The chief spokesman of Israel's armed forces said on Tuesday he had visited Britain incognito and under guard for fear of being targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters. » Read more