February 25th

Young Seek to End West Bank and Gaza Schism ATFP World Press Roundup Article from December 31, 1969 - 8:00pm Young Palestinians watching the revolutions in Egypt, Tunisia and elsewhere in the region have no shortage of their own protest-worthy causes. Palestinian youths took to the streets of Ramallah in the West Bank to call for unity between Hamas and Fatah. » Read more

Young Seek to End West Bank and Gaza Schism ATFP World Press Roundup Article from by Isabel Kershner - February 24, 2011 - 1:00am Young Palestinians watching the revolutions in Egypt, Tunisia and elsewhere in the region have no shortage of their own protest-worthy causes. Palestinian youths took to the streets of Ramallah in the West Bank to call for unity between Hamas and Fatah. » Read more

February 24th

In the Middle East protests, a seismic shift ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Fareed Zakaria - (Editorial) February 24, 2011 - 1:00am We are in the midst of a revolution in the Middle East, one that has unleashed long-suppressed forces that will continue to send shock waves across an arc of countries from Morocco to Iran. We are all looking at each crisis individually as it breaks out. But if we step back we can see that this is really a seismic shift and that it will in time reverberate throughout the region. » Read more

U.S. judge dismisses defamation lawsuit by former AIPAC official ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Natasha Mozgovaya - February 24, 2011 - 1:00am A Washington D.C. Superior Court judge dismissed a lawsuit against AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, on Wednesday, for allegedly defaming its former foreign policy boss when they publicly attributed their firing of him to what they described as his sub-standard performance. Judge Erik Christian determined that the comments about Steve Rosen made by an AIPAC spokesperson and published in the New York Times did not constitute grounds for a defamation lawsuit. » Read more

Hamas growing stronger, without firing a shot ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Crispian Balmer - (Editorial) February 23, 2011 - 1:00am Hamas is having a good revolution. The unrest that has transformed the Arab world outside the tiny coastal enclave has boosted the standing of the Islamist group within Gaza and strengthened its position against the rival Palestinian Authority, which holds sway in the West Bank. Hamas greeted the downfall of Egyptian former President Hosni Mubarak with euphoria, sensing that his departure would weaken Israel's stranglehold on the impoverished territory that has crippled its economy and confined its inhabitants. » Read more

Prominent Italian author lashes out at Israel boycott proponents ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Maya Sela - February 24, 2011 - 1:00am Celebrated Italian novelist Umberto Eco yesterday challenged those who advocate cultural boycotts and said that censuring artists because of actions committed by their governments was akin to racism. Last week, British writers called on prominent British novelist Ian McEwan to reject an Israeli literary prize in protest at Israel's treatment of the Palestinians. » Read more

Israel to let 300 Palestinians in Libya into WBank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Ori Lewis - February 23, 2011 - 1:00am Israel will allow 300 Palestinians living and working in Libya to enter the West Bank in the coming days, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday. "Because of the current violence in Libya I received a personal request from (Palestinian) President (Mahmoud) Abbas ... that Israel allow a number of Palestinians to leave Libya and to enter the Palestinian territories ... so Israel will enable 300 Palestinians to enter the Palestinian areas," Netanyahu said. » Read more

Hamas to exchange terror for unity? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Elior Levy - February 24, 2011 - 1:00am Palestinian sources told the London-based al-Hayat Thursday that a plan by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to create a unity government with both rival Palestinian factions had already been approved by Fatah, and was currently awaiting the approval of Hamas. According to the plan, both factions will keep their respective authorities in the West Bank and Gaza, including security forces. » Read more

Rocket from Gaza Strip strikes Israeli city ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Ori Lewis - February 23, 2011 - 1:00am A rocket launched from the Gaza Strip landed in a residential street in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba on Wednesday, causing serious damage to houses and cars but no casualties, the city's mayor said. "One rocket fell, there are no casualties and security forces are in control of the situation," Beersheba mayor Rubik Danilovich told Channel 1 television. Earlier reports said the rocket had struck a house. Residents said they sought shelter in secure rooms after air raid sirens sounded in the area. » Read more

4 Jewish teens suspected of killing Arab ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yair Altman - February 23, 2011 - 1:00am Police reported Wednesday that it has completed its investigation of the stabbing incident that occurred two weeks ago in Jerusalem, during which 24-year-old Hussam Rawidi was killed. Four Jewish teenagers were arrested in connection to the incident, but only one is suspected of stabbing Rawidi, a resident of the northern Jerusalem neighborhood of Semiramis. The inquiry revealed that the perpetrator used a razor, and not a knife. Police will recommend he be tried for manslaughter and not murder as the stabbing was preceded by a scuffle. » Read more