November 8th

Is Jerusalem Online U. A Real College? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Forward by Naomi Zeveloff - November 8, 2011 - 1:00am This past summer, Rebecca Abramson found herself a credit short of completing the sophomore-year requirements for her international affairs major at George Washington University, in the nation’s capital. Having returned recently from Israel after participating in a Hasbara Fellowship, a program that trains students to be pro-Israel activists on campus, Abramson was eager to learn more about the country. So when a family friend told her about a chance to get college credit via a website offering classes on Israel and other topics, she jumped at the opportunity. » Read more

Despite UNESCO victory, Palestinian statehood push running aground ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ron Kampeas - November 8, 2011 - 1:00am They may have scored a victory at UNESCO, but the Palestinians are running into new obstacles on their push for statehood recognition at the United Nations. The effort to pursue the issue at the U.N. Security Council has encountered a stumbling block in Bosnia, where the country’s Serbian co-president appears to have helped cost the Palestinians a crucial ninth vote. Meanwhile, U.N. officials are sending a strong message regarding any further efforts to get U.N. agencies to follow UNESCO’s lead in granting the Palestinians membership: Please stop. » Read more

Peace Now official's home vandalized with 'Price Tag' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post November 8, 2011 - 1:00am Vandals overnight Monday spray painted for the second time in two months a "price tag" message on the walls of Peace Now's Hagit Ofran's home, Army Radio reported. Ofran directs the Settlement Watch project for the organization, Army Radio reported. Among the messages left for Ofran were, "Hagit Ofran, z'l" and "Rabin is waiting for you." Tuesday evening marks the Jewish anniversary of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassination at the hands of a right-wing extremist. Swastikas were also spray painted on the building. » Read more

This building will blow up in five minutes! ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Americans For Peace Now by Ori Nir - (Opinion) November 8, 2011 - 1:00am Last night, someone pushed the intercom button at the Jerusalem building that houses Peace Now's office. A neighbor was told: "This building will explode in five minutes." The frightened residents and a Peace Now staff member immediately evacuated the building. Outside they found "Price Tag" graffiti. "Price Tag" is what the extreme settlers call their campaign to intimidate and silence Israelis and Palestinians who support a two-state solution to the conflict. Peace Now's national activity coordinator Etai Mizrav told me today: "Hard as they may try, they will not silence us!" » Read more

Israeli police arrest settlers after razing outpost ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua November 8, 2011 - 1:00am Israeli settlers scuffled with police and soldiers on Monday after security forces razed an illegal West Bank outpost. Residents of Or Zion, north of Ramallah, protested the demolition of their homes, part of a government order to dismantle all outposts deemed illegal by a recent Israel High Court ruling. Police arrested 12 residents after they hurled stones at Civil Administration workers carrying out the demolitions. The plan, slated to conclude by March 2012 following a petition by the Israeli NGO Peace Now to the High Court, will destroy the homes of about 1,000 settlers. » Read more

AP Exclusive: Palestinians face steep court fees ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman by Diaa Hadid - November 8, 2011 - 1:00am Dozens of Palestinians who lost relatives in an Israeli military offensive in Gaza three years ago have been forced to put their compensation claims on hold, saying Israel has placed near-impossible barriers to proceeding with their cases. Israeli restrictions prevent Gazans from entering Israel to testify, undergo medical exams or meet with their lawyers. But the biggest obstacle, the victims say, are steep court fees that can reach tens of thousands of dollars. » Read more

Why We Have Taken a Stand with the US Supreme Court ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Americans For Peace Now by Debra DeLee - (Opinion) November 8, 2011 - 1:00am An important case, Zivotofsky v. Clinton, is about to come before the U.S. Supreme Court. It relates to U.S. policy on Jerusalem, but isn't really about Jerusalem. Rather, it is about longstanding efforts by the U.S. Congress to wrest foreign policy-making authority away from the executive branch. How this case is decided will have far-reaching ramifications for America's policy, far beyond Jerusalem. » Read more

Sarkozy tells Obama: Netanyahu is a liar ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 8, 2011 - 1:00am French President Nicolas Sarkozy branded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "a liar" in a private conversation with US President Barack Obama that was accidentally broadcast to journalists during last week's G20 summit in Cannes. "I cannot bear Netanyahu, he's a liar," Sarkozy told Obama, unaware that the microphones in their meeting room had been switched on, enabling reporters in a separate location to listen in to a simultaneous translation. "You're fed up with him, but I have to deal with him even more often than you," Obama replied, according to the French interpreter. » Read more

Israel plans 50,000 homes in East Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 8, 2011 - 1:00am Israel's Jerusalem municipality plans to build more than 50,000 new homes in the city's occupied eastern sector over two decades, Israeli media reported on Sunday. A study commissioned by Israel's Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barakat to address housing shortages in the city, obtained by Hebrew daily Maariv, shows designs for 60,718 housing units in the city, with the majority -- 52,363 homes -- planned for East Jerusalem. » Read more

Fund transfer to PA to be renewed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Attila Somfalvi - November 8, 2011 - 1:00am Israel is likely to renew its funds transfer to the Palestinian Authority following the US Congress' decision to unfreeze some $200 million in Palestinian security assistance, Jerusalem sources told Ynet on Monday. Israel collects about $100 million in various taxes on behalf of the PA, which it transfers to Ramallah on a monthly basis. The transfer was suspended following the PA's pursuit of full membership in UNESCO. » Read more