February 10th

The bigger picture eludes Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) February 10, 2011 - 1:00am Why is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (and many other Israelis) behaving like an ostrich? He is digging his head in the sand and wondering why the Egyptian uprising, triggered by the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia, has engulfed the Middle East and posed a threat to Israel. Netanyahu and his extreme right-wing cabinet may now be regretting their failure to push harder or, at least, be more accommodating in reaching a peace agreement with the Palestinian National Authority. » Read more

Abbas says Israeli measures against Palestinian dangerous ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 9, 2011 - 1:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday described Israeli measures against people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as "dangerous." In his meeting with visiting Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez, Abbas called on Israel to stop house demolitions and settlement building in east Jerusalem, and to lift the blockade on Gaza. "These dangerous violations must stop," Abbas said. » Read more

Israeli president inaugurates Israeli-Arab hi-tech recruitment program ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 10, 2011 - 1:00am Israeli President Shimon Peres Wednesday inaugurated a 50-million-U.S.-dollar initiative to increase the numbers of Israeli-Arabs in the hi-tech workforce, called Maantech. The term "Maan" in Arabic mean "together," and in this case, that means backing by the government and two dozens leading Israeli and international firms, among them are Microsoft, IBM, Intel, Amdocs, Checkpoint, and Oracle. The Israeli government is footing 20 million dollars of the sum, with the remainder coming from private sources. » Read more

NATO offers troops after Mideast peace deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press February 9, 2011 - 1:00am NATO would offer peacekeeping services to Israelis and Palestinians if both parties request it in a peace deal, the alliance's secretary general said Wednesday Anders Fogh Rasmussen said NATO would intervene if a future peace treaty was broken or if the two sides needed assistance. Until then, NATO would "not (become) involved in the Mideast peace process and is not seeking a role in it," Rasmussen said. The NATO leader spoke at an annual security conference in the Israeli city of Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv. » Read more

NATO offers troops after Mideast peace deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press February 9, 2011 - 1:00am NATO would offer peacekeeping services to Israelis and Palestinians if both parties request it in a peace deal, the alliance's secretary general said Wednesday Anders Fogh Rasmussen said NATO would intervene if a future peace treaty was broken or if the two sides needed assistance. Until then, NATO would "not (become) involved in the Mideast peace process and is not seeking a role in it," Rasmussen said. The NATO leader spoke at an annual security conference in the Israeli city of Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv. » Read more

Gazan students hold Egypt solidarity rally ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 9, 2011 - 1:00am Several hundred Islamist students rallied in central Gaza on Wednesday in a show of solidarity with the ongoing anti-government protests in Egypt, onlookers said. "Gaza salutes the Egyptians" they shouted, denouncing embattled President Hosni Mubarak as "an American collaborator." Waving Egyptian and Palestinian flags, they also shouted angry slogans against Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman and Prime Minister Ahmad Shafiq. Earlier on Wednesday, Egyptian immigration officials told AFP they had been ordered to bar Palestinians from entering the country. » Read more

What Israel fears in Egypt ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Sallai Meridor - February 9, 2011 - 1:00am One might expect that Israelis, who live in the only democracy in the Middle East, would turn out in the squares of Jerusalem and the gardens of Tel Aviv to show solidarity with the demonstrators in Egypt. The protesters, after all, are seeking to overthrow an authoritarian regime. Israelis, however, have stayed at home, warily following events on TV and the Internet. » Read more

February 9th

IDF station in Hebron made off limits to settlers after 30 years ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Anshel Pfeffer - February 9, 2011 - 1:00am The Israel Defense Forces has finally closed one of its main outposts in Hebron to Jewish settlers. The Mitkanim outpost, adjacent to the city's Avraham Avinu neighborhood, is permanently staffed by a company of soldiers. But while all other army bases and outposts nationwide are closed to civilians unless they obtain a special permit, Mitkanim has served Avraham Avinu residents for 30 years as a shortcut to Shuhada Street, which is one of Hebron's main arteries. » Read more

NATO chief sees group's future involvement in Israeli Arab peace process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amir Oren - (Opinion) February 9, 2011 - 1:00am Anders Fogh Rasmussen discusses concerns over whether Egypt may reassess its foreign relations after Mubarak eventually steps down. The North Atlantic Alliance "supports the efforts of the Egyptian and the Tunisian peoples for the establishment of a free society and a democratically elected government," says NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who was scheduled to arrive in Israel last night for talks with senior officials. » Read more

'Netanyahu handing UN arena over to the Palestinians' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Shlomo Shamir - February 9, 2011 - 1:00am Diplomats at the United Nations on Tuesday were harshly critical of Israel's ongoing failure to appoint a permanent ambassador to the UN, saying it has essentially forfeited the arena to the Palestinians. While Israel is represented by an acting ambassador, Meron Reuben, he lacks the authority of a permanent representative. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman were unable to agree on a permanent candidate for months, and the man they finally settled on, Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan, rejected the job this week. » Read more