December 12th

Israel Turning Into Theocracy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Eric Alterman - (Opinion) December 12, 2011 - 1:00am It is becoming increasingly obvious that a break between Israel and Diaspora Jewry, particularly its American variety, is fast approaching. The reason for this is that Israel is slowly but inexorably turning into a conservative theocracy while the Diaspora is largely dedicated to liberal democracy. » Read more

Fighting democracy's erosion ATFP World Press Roundup Article from by Sami Michael - (Opinion) December 11, 2011 - 1:00am There is a special atmosphere marking this year's Human Rights Day. On the one hand, we're witnessing an awakening and a determined fight for freedom and against corruption, from Morocco, through Yemen and Syria to Israel. » Read more

The stench of occupation hovers over the Palestinian bereaved ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Gideon Levy - (Opinion) December 12, 2011 - 1:00am The face of Mustafa Tamimi was a frightful yellow. A piece of cotton covered his crushed eye, where the gas grenade fired at him from only a few meters away hit him in the skull; the other eye was closed forever. He was carried to his grave by his friends, his body wrapped in the Palestinian national flag, with only his unshaven face visible. » Read more

In Israel, the life of a Palestinian is cheap ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) December 12, 2011 - 1:00am The pictures from Friday's events in Nabi Saleh are hard to swallow: An Israel Defense Forces soldier opens the back door of an armored military jeep and, from a distance of just a few meters, fires a tear-gas canister directly at a young man who is throwing stones. After the canister is fired, the jeep continues on its way without stopping. » Read more

Newt, the Jews, and an “Invented” People ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New Yorker by David Remnick - (Blog) December 11, 2011 - 1:00am Late last week, as part of a Republican pander-fest for the Jewish vote—what Jon Stewart aptly called a “tuchus kiss-off”—Newt Gingrich, the frontrunner in Iowa and South Carolina, turned on the spigot of his pedantry and called the Palestinians an “invented” people. » Read more

Palestinians Will Invent a State Next ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bloomberg by Michael Kinsley - (Blog) December 12, 2011 - 1:00am Dec. 12 (Bloomberg) -- In November 1947, shortly after the United Nations voted for partition of the Holy Land into separate Arab and Jewish states, Chaim Weizmann was cited by the New York Times as saying that “the most important work now was to build Palestine.” What? To build Palestine? Yes, in 1947 the word “Palestinian” --if it meant anything at all -- referred to Jews living in Palestine. The Palestine Post (now the Jerusalem Post) was the Jewish English-language newspaper. » Read more

Israel's Palestinian refugee video racking up views, strong responses ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua December 11, 2011 - 1:00am A brief animated YouTube video recently released by the Foreign Ministry focusing on the Palestinian refugee issue has drawn tens of thousands of page views so far, as well as arousing strong pro and con sentiments. Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon last week posted the five- and-half-minute long clip, entitled "Israel Palestinian Conflict: The Truth About the Refugees." In it, he compares the disparity in treatment by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) of Palestinian refugees, to that of other refugee groups which have been resettled in other areas. » Read more

Statement of Senator Carl Levin Regarding Newt Gingrich’s Comments about the Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from by Carl Levin - December 10, 2011 - 1:00am Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., issued the following statement today in regards to Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich’s comments on the Jewish Channel television network regarding the Palestinian people: "Newt Gingrich is wrong to think his attempt to turn the Palestinians into a non-people with no claim to a state will appeal to his audience on the Jewish Channel on which they are apparently to be aired on Monday. » Read more

Israeli military spokesman accused of mocking dead Palestinian protester ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Telegraph by Adrian Blomfield - December 11, 2011 - 1:00am Mustafa Tamimi died on Saturday, a day after he was struck in the face by a tear-gas canister fired at close range from an armoured military jeep in Nabi Saleh, a village in the West Bank that has seen weekly protests against the Israeli occupation. Israeli military officials have been largely unapologetic for the death, releasing pictures of a sling they said was found on Mr Tamimi's body as evidence that the dead man had thrown stones. » Read more

Activists Say Tear Gas Canister Killed Palestinian ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press December 10, 2011 - 1:00am A Palestinian protester who had been struck in the face by a tear gas canister fired by an Israeli soldier at close range died of his wounds on Saturday, activists said. They accused the army of using disproportionate force. The protester, Mustafa Tamimi, 28, was hurling rocks at a military vehicle on Friday in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh when a soldier inside opened the rear door and fired at him from a few yards away, witnesses said. » Read more