Keep Israel Jewish, freeze settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) March 2, 2011 - 1:00am As might have been expected, the government's decision to inform the Supreme Court of its intention to immediately demolish all unauthorized settler outposts on privately-owned Palestinian land (except for the home of the late Maj. Eliraz Peretz ) has aroused the rage of settlers and their patrons in the Knesset. The right wing has learned that in most cases a combination of violent demonstrations and political pressure is enough to turn such decisions into requests that the Supreme Court instead allow the outposts to remain, and to continue to turn a blind eye to their expansion. » Read more

Netanyahu lacks credibility in the eyes of world leaders ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Aluf Benn - (Opinion) March 2, 2011 - 1:00am Two years after returning to power, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is enmeshed in a web of onerous constraints and seeking a way out. Polls show his popularity plunging, and his Likud party's brand has been squeezed between Kadima and Yisrael Beiteinu. » Read more

Veteran Israeli diplomat: Netanyahu and Lieberman harm Israel's international standing ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - March 2, 2011 - 1:00am The diplomatic policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman are harming Israel's international standing, a senior Israeli diplomat said in his retiring letter on Tuesday, adding that he felt Israel's declared stance regarding regional peace attempts was aiding in its own delegitimization. » Read more

Hamas demands PLO reform ahead of reconciliation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua March 1, 2011 - 1:00am Hamas said on Tuesday that achieving national reconciliation requires the reform of Palestine Liberation Organization. "Any speech on reconciliation is useless without the reform of the PLO and the Palestinian National Council," said Yousef Rizka, an aide to Hamas leader Ismail Haneya in Gaza. He called on the heads of PLO's factions to start the reform immediately. Hamas is not represented in the PLO, which is dominated by the Fatah party of Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. » Read more

Abbas wants Quartet to launch "meaningful" peace process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua March 1, 2011 - 1:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday called on the European Union (EU) to urge the Quartet of Middle East peace players to launch a "meaningful" peace process. Abbas made his remarks after his meeting with Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi in the West Bank city of Ramallah. » Read more

Rightists march in Jaffa ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yoav Zitun - March 2, 2011 - 1:00am Traffic was halted on one of Jaffa's main streets Wednesday morning as 60 right-wing activists prepared to march in protest against "the Islamic Movement's operations in the city" and "the Islamic takeover". Large police forces were deployed to prevent clashes with residents. As the marchers proceeded down the street residents called out, "racists go home" and some clashes broke out. Police detained 16 left-wing activists for questioning after an officer was lightly injured in the clashes. » Read more

Settlement evacuation not a sign of Israeli new policy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Adam Gonn - March 2, 2011 - 1:00am Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday told a member of his Likud party that Israel cannot ignore world pressure over its construction of settlements in the West Bank. Netanyahu said his government is trying to maintain the current pace of building, but Israel now faces a new international reality. The comments were made one week after the United States used its veto in the UN Security Council to block a resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank, while the 14 other members of the council voted in favor. » Read more

Peace now, with Syria ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Eitan Haber - (Opinion) March 1, 2011 - 1:00am One needs to be nuts in order to endorse peace negotiations with Syria at this time, no? Today, with turmoil all around us, as Egypt burns, Libya is in flames, and the same is happening in Yemen, Oman, and Bahrain? Right now? After all, what’s so wrong with the quiet that prevails on the Syrian border? For 37 years now there have been no clashes with the Syrian army on the Golan Heights. No casualties were reported and their soldiers (or so we believe) are terrified in their own bunkers, fearing the rush of Israeli tanks into Syria. So why now of all times? » Read more

Palestinians try to create 'Facebook revolution' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Mohammed Daraghmeh - March 1, 2011 - 1:00am The mass demonstrations sweeping the Middle East are touching the Palestinian territories, where West Bank and Gaza Strip activists are trying to organize their own "Facebook revolutions." The Palestinian activists are inspired by the calls for democracy that toppled autocratic leaders in Egypt and Tunisia and threaten longtime rulers in Libya and Bahrain. » Read more

Jehan Sadat: Egypt-Israel peace treaty not in danger at all ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post March 1, 2011 - 1:00am The peace treaty between Israel and Egypt is not in danger and all opposition groups said they will respect international treaties, said Jehan Sadat Tuesday night in an interview with Channel 10 News. Jehan, the widow of former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat who signed the peace treaty with Israel in 1979, said she does not think there will be any changes made to the treaty and that "the people will not let there be any changes." » Read more