December 1st

Anti-Arab laws and the appearance of democracy in Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Nadim Rouhana - (Opinion) December 1, 2011 - 1:00am The spate of anti-democratic bills recently introduced by the Israeli government has forced the issue onto the public agenda in Israel. This is so not because anti-democratic bills are new, but mainly because for the first time some of the proposed bills threaten democracy for Jewish citizens themselves. » Read more

Electoral politics behind Canada's Mideast policy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Mohammed Azhar Ali Khan - (Opinion) December 1, 2011 - 1:00am Such an appeal would have found receptive ears in the days when Canada supported the United Nations and sought to promote peace with justice and respect for human rights everywhere, including the Middle East. But then Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin Jr. moved away from Canada's traditional fairness in favor of unquestioned backing of Israel. Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government has gone even farther. » Read more

Al-Zahar: Inter-Palestinian reconciliation will not take place because Abbas is not serious about this ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Saleh Al-Naami - (Interview) December 1, 2011 - 1:00am Hamas strongman Mahmoud al-Zahar broke ranks last week to criticize Hamas leader Khalid Mishal on his handling of the inter-Palestinian reconciliation talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The inter-Palestinian reconciliation saw Mishal accept a Palestinian State within the 1967 borders, as well as the provision of another time-limit period for negotiations with Israel, something that al-Zahar strongly spoke out against. » Read more

New anti-Semitism directed at Israel’s liberals ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Carlo Strenger - (Opinion) December 1, 2011 - 1:00am A few days ago I was struck by a statement by MK Yaakov Katz of the Nation Union party about the law that will allow Justice Grunis to be Dorit Beinish’s successor as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: “This Law returns control to the people and wrests it away from a small, pathetic group; a bunch of Tel Avivian, secular Neturei Karta that emanates lack of love for the people of Israel, and adhere to laws of the gentiles.” » Read more

The Assault on Israel's Vibrant Democracy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Huffington Post by Abraham H. Foxman - (Opinion) December 1, 2011 - 1:00am There are many reasons why the recent spate of domestic legislation in Israel -- regarding non-governmental organizations, the media, Israel as a Jewish State, the Supreme Court -- is disturbing. In many of these cases, the Knesset is addressing real and challenging problems. But it is doing so in the wrong way. The truth is that a number of foreign governments and non-governmental organizations have been funding activities in Israel that go beyond representing a diversity of viewpoints about Israel's political and security situation. » Read more

German sub deal sealed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) December 1, 2011 - 1:00am Germany authorized the subsidized sale of a sixth naval submarine to Israel. Berlin officials said Wednesday that the Merkel government had decided to defray approximately a third of the cost of a new Dolphin submarine for Israel, clearing the way for the sale. Israel has three of the Dolphins, which are worth about $500 million each, with another two on order and awaiting delivery by 2013. » Read more

German sub deal sealed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) December 1, 2011 - 1:00am Germany authorized the subsidized sale of a sixth naval submarine to Israel. Berlin officials said Wednesday that the Merkel government had decided to defray approximately a third of the cost of a new Dolphin submarine for Israel, clearing the way for the sale. Israel has three of the Dolphins, which are worth about $500 million each, with another two on order and awaiting delivery by 2013. » Read more

Hamas supporters still targeted by Fatah ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh - December 1, 2011 - 1:00am One week after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal announced they had agreed to “open a new page” in their relations, Hamas and Fatah complained Wednesday that their supporters were still being targeted in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Following the Cairo summit between Abbas and Mashaal, representatives of the two rival parties said that the two men agreed to release all “political detainees” held by the PA in the West Bank and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. » Read more

Netanyahu scolds Livni over meeting with Abbas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gil Hoffman - December 1, 2011 - 1:00am Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Thursday scolded opposition leader Tzipi Livni in a telephone call about her meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday. Netanyahu called Livni, telling her that "if the Palestinians want to negotiate, the only way to do so is with the elected government of Israel," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement. » Read more

Obama to N.Y. Jews: No ally is more important than Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters December 1, 2011 - 1:00am President Barack Obama defended his policy toward Israel at a political fundraiser on Wednesday, saying that Israel was the U.S.'s most important ally. Obama, who has been criticized by some of Israel's U.S. supporters for being tough on a close ally and has had strained ties with Israeli Prime Benjamin Netanyahu, offered strong assurances of his commitment to Israel's security. » Read more