March 15th

Israeli Arabs plan to start rival artists association to collect royalties ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Jack Khoury - March 15, 2011 - 12:00am Several Palestinian and Israeli Arab artists and businesspeople are preparing to start a copyright protection association, with one of the businessmen behind the venture saying that the equivalent Israeli organization, ACUM, doesn't put enough money into encouraging Arab creative enterprise. "There's no doubt that the success of this project will constitute an important step toward the independence of Arab culture and creativity within Israel," the businessman said. » Read more

Regional analysts expect few change in Israeli PM's upcoming peace initiative ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Khaled Khalefe - March 14, 2011 - 12:00am Local media have widely reported in recent weeks that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will give a policy speech and launch a new round of peace initiative in May, before a joint session of the U.S. Congress when he visits the long-time ally and major sponsor of the Mideast peace process. Netanyahu's aids have started to prepare a draft for the speech. Mike Herzog and Ron Dermer, his two main political advisers, are taking part in these preparations. In addition, Yaakov Amidror has been appointed as the new national security adviser. » Read more

Hooded settlers throw stones in Palestinian village ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yair Altman - March 14, 2011 - 12:00am Some 200 settlers marched on Monday from the West Bank settlement of Itamar to the nearby Palestinian village of Awarta as an act of protest in the aftermath of Friday night's brutal murder of five members of the Fogel family. Earlier, the Palestinians reported that two officers of the Palestinian security establishment were arrested in connection with the massacre. Police said 14 of the settlers, who, according to the Palestinians, were masked, infiltrated the village and threw stones at homes. Border Guard and IDF forces entered the village and dispersed the rioting settlers. » Read more

Israel releases prominent Palestinian activist ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press March 14, 2011 - 12:00am A prominent Palestinian activist has been released from jail after serving time for his role in often violent demonstrations against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank. Abdullah Abu Rahmeh was released Monday after 16 months in jail for convictions of incitement and weapons possession. He was to be released in November, but prosecutors appealed for an extension, saying the original sentence wasn't long enough. Abu Rahmeh lead weekly protests in the Palestinian village of Bilin that often turned violent, with protesters throwing rocks and fire bombs at soldiers. » Read more

New PA cabinet to be announced next week ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 15, 2011 - 12:00am Government officials in Ramallah will meet Monday to hear appointed Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's proposal for a new Palestinian Authority cabinet, officials said. Discussions of the proposal will continue until Wednesday, when the cabinet is expected to be announced, government spokesman Ghassan Al-Khatib told Ma'an. If Fayyad does not present a proposal on Monday, Al-Khatib noted, President Mahmoud Abbas will have the option of asking another individual to form the new government. » Read more

Encountering Peace: The clock is ticking ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gershon Baskin - March 14, 2011 - 12:00am It is becoming increasingly difficult to be a peacemaker in Israel. The achievements of the Palestinian Authority of the past years in reestablishing law and order, deploying US-trained forces throughout the West Bank, and security cooperation with Israel in combating terrorism have all been erased from the public awareness and discourse in an instant following the horrific terrorist attack against the Fogel family in Itamar. » Read more

Itamar settlers erect new illegal outpost ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 15, 2011 - 12:00am Caravan homes were installed 500 meters outside the boundary of the Itamar settlement near Nablus on Tuesday morning, as grieving settlers installed an illegal outpost in memory of the slain members of the Fogel family. Witnesses reported seeing dozens of settlers from the area gather on what is locally known as Silcon hill, a half kilometer east of Itamar. An army spokesman said the settlers had a permit to demonstrate and he was unaware of any violent incident there. By late evening the village was quiet, the Israeli military and Palestinians told AFP. » Read more

Finding excuse for colony expansion ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News (Opinion) March 15, 2011 - 12:00am Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is back to his old tricks with the recent announcement that 500 new homes for colonists will be built in the West Bank. The decision follows an attack which killed an Israeli couple and three of their children in a colony — Israeli authorities are still searching for the attacker. » Read more

Netanyahu fails to appease Jewish settlers outraged by brutal attack ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Joshua Mitnick - March 14, 2011 - 12:00am The stabbing deaths of an Israeli couple and three of their children Friday night in the Jewish settlement of Itamar has stoked concern about a deterioration of a broad calm prevailing in the West Bank, as well as new blow to negotiations. Palestinian militants are suspected to be behind the attack, which took place in the northern West Bank near Nablus. » Read more

Dwarfs in charge of Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Uri Avnery - (Editorial) March 13, 2011 - 1:00am JERUSALEM IS abuzz with brilliant new ideas. The brightest minds of our political establishment are grappling with the problems created by the ongoing Arab revolution that is reshaping the landscape around us. Here is the latest crop of mind-bogglingly innovative ideas: » Read more