February 9th

Charges filed against ‘Irvine 11’ ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) February 8, 2011 - 1:00am Criminal charges were filed against 11 Muslim students who disrupted a speech at the University of California, Irvine, by Israel's U.S. ambassador. During the Feb. 8, 2010 speech by Michael Oren, the 11 defendants stood one by one and shouted at the ambassador, calling him a “mass murderer” and a “war criminal,” among other insults. The disruptions, organized to protest Israeli actions in Gaza, prompted Oren to walk off the stage twice. » Read more

Overkill in Orange County ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times (Editorial) February 7, 2011 - 1:00am When 11 students affiliated with the Muslim Student Union at UC Irvine disrupted a speech by the Israeli ambassador to the United States last year, they no doubt knew there would be consequences. Rather than staging a traditional protest — by leafleting, say, or holding up signs expressing their disapproval — they attended the event as members of the audience and then stood up, one by one, and shouted the ambassador down more than a dozen times. » Read more

Israel's parliament promotes bill to strip former Arab lawmaker of pension ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Gur Salomon - February 8, 2011 - 1:00am The Israeli Knesset parliament on Tuesday voted to promote a bill that would deny pension benefits from Azmi Bishara, a former legislator suspected of assisting Hezbollah during the 2006 Lebanon war. The Knesset House Committee approved the bill, dubbed "Bishara Law," for second and third readings. The bill is expected to be brought for a second round of voting in the Knesset plenum within weeks. » Read more

News Analysis: Israel fears Islamist takeover in Egypt ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Adam Gonn - February 8, 2011 - 1:00am Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday expressed concern that the demonstrations in Egypt may lead to Islamist groups taking over if President Hosni Mubarak were to step down. Netanyahu outlined three possible scenarios for the future of Egypt, ranging from a secular democracy to an Iranian-style theocracy. There is also another possibility: that the Islamists will exploit the situation to gain power over the country and lead it backwards, Netanyahu added. » Read more

Battle over Mideast transit ads heating up across U.S. ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ben Harris - February 8, 2011 - 1:00am With public bickering over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict already having spilled over into university student senates, corporate pension boards and even local farmers markets, the latest battlefield in the debate over the conflict is municipal transit systems. » Read more

Seize the Day, Tomorrow Could Be Worse ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Forward by Leonard Fein - February 8, 2011 - 1:00am “We are witnessing a genuine grassroots revolution in Egypt and its outcome will have to reflect the will of the people, not our desires.” So writes a friend from Israel. But “the will of the people,” as awesomely impressive it has been these past days in Tahrir Square and elsewhere, inevitably becomes a chimera the morning after the old regime has been chased from power. » Read more

Face of Israel's armed forces visited UK incognito ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Dan Williams - February 8, 2011 - 1:00am The chief spokesman of Israel's armed forces said on Tuesday he had visited Britain incognito and under guard for fear of being targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters. » Read more

The revolution isn't over yet ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Ghassan Khatib - (Blog) February 7, 2011 - 1:00am A PALESTINIAN VIEW Fourteen days into the massive public protests against Egypt's regime, it is still too early to deeply analyze the situation. Let us instead touch on some of the questions and problems that the revolution--as they call it in Egypt--is creating and trying to overcome. » Read more

10 Palestinians injured in Gaza strikes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 9, 2011 - 1:00am Ten Palestinians were injured Wednesday morning in Israeli air strikes which started after midnight and hit in a series of explosions running from the northern end of the Strip to the south. Spokesman of the higher committee of ambulance and emergency services Adham Abu Salmiya said that eight were lightly injured including two children and three women. The injured were transferred to the Kamal Odwan Hospital north of Gaza City. » Read more

Return to negotiations now ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Smadar Peri - (Blog) February 7, 2011 - 1:00am AN ISRAELI VIEW - Now, especially now, when the intifada in Egypt projects out to streets and rulers' palaces throughout the Arab world and the virus of demonstrations could land at any moment in another country--this is precisely the right time to return to the negotiating table with the Palestinians. Yes, we have demonstrated maturity and political loyalty to President Hosni Mubarak. Nor do we miss an opportunity to explain how volatile and worrisome the situation is. But this is not enough. » Read more