February 24th

Israeli Farms and Villages Around Gaza See Tough Times Ahead ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Arieh O'Sullivan - February 23, 2011 - 1:00am Artist Shosh Segal is busy preparing her art gallery for the expected rush of tourists heading to southern Israel for the annual wild flower blooming in the coming weeks. The hills are already bursting with vibrant colors of anemones and turmoses, but reality has often found a way of spoiling plans, especially since she lives just a mile from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. » Read more

Obama's no different ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by George S. Hishmeh - February 24, 2011 - 1:00am Is Barack Obama, who is marking his mid-term as president, any different from his predecessors, except Dwight Eisenhower, as far as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is concerned? Expectations were high when Obama walked into the White House. After his triumphant trips overseas, especially to Cairo, there was hope that he will usher a new positive era in US relations with the Muslim world and resolve the 63-year-old conflict between Israelis and Arabs. » Read more

A major factor for governments ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Michael Jansen - February 24, 2011 - 1:00am Palestinians’ and Israelis’ response to the uprisings across the Arab world has been deafening silence at the people’s power level. When I asked Palestinian friends celebrating the dozen or so “revolutions” boiling in this region why Palestinians living under the repressive Israeli occupation are not out in the streets, they shrugged, saying they are “tired”. » Read more

Accountability Beyond Rhetoric ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Huffington Post by Ziad Asali - (Blog) February 23, 2011 - 1:00am The recent uprisings in the Arab world, including some regime changes, call for a meaningful reassessment of current policy. One would expect the usual demands for democracy, human rights, freedom of expression and regularly scheduled elections as well as a heightened commitment to the people of the region, that their rights and aspirations will be reflected in this new vision. Furthermore, it would not be surprising if all these were packaged as part of an initiative to address the Palestine/Israel conflict and a commitment to the establishment of a state of Palestine. » Read more

February 23rd

Accountability beyond rhetoric ATFP World Press Roundup Article from by Ziad Asali - (Opinion) February 23, 2011 - 1:00am The recent uprisings in the Arab world, including some regime changes, call for a meaningful reassessment of current policy. One would expect the usual demands for democracy, human rights, freedom of expression and regularly scheduled elections as well as a heightened commitment to the people of the region, that their rights and aspirations will be reflected in this new vision. Furthermore, it would not be surprising if all these were packaged as part of an initiative to address the Palestine/Israel conflict and a commitment to the establishment of a state of Palestine. » Read more

Ayalon: Diplomats will tour Hebron ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Roni Sofer - February 23, 2011 - 1:00am Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon announced Wednesday that all new Israeli ambassadors and Foreign Ministry cadets will be forced to visit "Jewish heritage sites" in the West Bank, including the Cave of Patriarchs. Ayalon's message came just a few days after Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced a new plan for school trips to Hebron, also including a visit to the sacred Jewish site. » Read more

Palestinian FM: Statehood by September ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Felice Friedson - (Interview) February 23, 2011 - 1:00am In an interview conducted on eve of UN Security Council vote on a resolution condemning settlement construction, Dr. Riyad Al-Malki, the foreign minister of the Palestinian Authority, spoke to The Media Line about Iranian backing for Hamas, Palestinian statehood on-track for a September declaration and growing international support. The Media Line: Yasser Abed-Rabo said to me the other day that Mahmoud Abbas will not run for president. So, who will? » Read more

Obama expected to appoint Dan Shapiro Ambassador to Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - February 22, 2011 - 1:00am U.S. President Barack Obama intends to appoint his adviser Dan Shapiro to the position of U.S. Ambassador to Israel, according to the website Politico. Shapiro, considered to be the White House point person for Israel, has served as the main go-between for the U.S. government and Prime Minister Netanyahu. A White House source told Haaretz on Monday, "I cannot confirm the report, but neither can I disclaim it." » Read more

Netanyahu's new best friend and his greatest enemy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Aluf Benn - (Editorial) February 23, 2011 - 1:00am When I was in the army I learned that assignment interviews with the commanders end in one of two ways. When you bend the system, they send you off with your assignment order with neither a blessing nor a hug; they just want you gone. When the system screws you the interview summary always concludes with the words, “I wished the soldier success on his chosen path.” » Read more

Sheikh Raed Salah arrested for arson ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yair Altman - February 22, 2011 - 1:00am Head of the Islamic Movement's northern branch, Sheikh Raed Salah, is in hot water once again: Salah was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly damaging and setting fire to a Eucalyptus forest in Southern Israel two weeks ago. Jerusalem police, which arrested Salah on Highway 1, suspec he took part in the arson in protest of the Jewish National Fund project's taking place in the area. Salah was released from the Ayalon Prison in Ramla last December after spending five months behind bars for attacking a policeman. » Read more