January 3rd

Israel has a partner ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Shimon Shiffer - (Opinion) December 28, 2011 - 1:00am Officials at the Prime Minister’s Office are again angry at Mahmoud Abbas. Did I say angry? I meant stunned. The Palestinian leader met in Turkey last week with Amna Muna, who was involved in the murder of teenager Ophir Rahum. “Those who make pretenses of making peace with Israel are going all the way to Turkey to meet a despicable murderer,” Netanyahu’s office charged. Well said. » Read more

Moving closer to Gaza war ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ron Gilran - (Opinion) January 1, 2012 - 1:00am Tensions in southern Israel remain high after the Air Force targeted an Islamic Jihad cell Friday as it prepared to fire a rocket into Israel, the latest incident in a string of tit-for-tat attacks in recent days. » Read more

Bibi and Barack ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) January 2, 2012 - 1:00am Barack Obama has an Israel problem. Almost three years in, the president still can't decide whether he wants to pander to the Israeli prime minister or pressure him. The approach of the 2012 elections makes the former almost mandatory; the president's reelection may make the latter possible. Buckle your seat belts. Unless Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu find a way to cooperate on a big venture that makes both of them look good, and in a way that allows each to invest in the other, the U.S.-Israel relationship may be in for a bumpy ride. » Read more

Interview with Salam Fayyad: To Act and Not to Fall ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Yedioth Ahronoth by Nahum Barnea - (Interview) December 30, 2011 - 1:00am One of the few privileges enjoyed by an Israeli journalist is the privilege to drive to Ramallah in his car. Going to Ramallah is going abroad while remaining close to home. For Christmas and New Year, its main streets are lit with colored lights: Red, blue and golden. On Wednesday evening, the city was very quiet. The cars did not honk their horns. The muezzins did not issue calls for prayer. One of the members of the Fatah leadership called for a third Intifada in a gathering in Ramallah, but his words were carried away by the wind. This week belongs completely to Santa. » Read more

230 more colonist homes to be built in occupied Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by Nasouh Nazzal - January 3, 2012 - 1:00am Ramallah: Israeli authorities announced the construction of 230 new colonist homes in occupied East Jerusalem. 117 homes will be built in Gabal Abu Ghunaim area close to Al Aqsa compound and the second tender of 113 homes will be built in two colonies of Gosh Etzion south of Occupied East Jerusalem. The building of more illegal Jewish homes are expected to be announced in the coming weeks which will be expanding the colonies of Gifat Hazat and Har Adar. » Read more

West Bank theatre founder wanted by Israel after amnesty deal revoked ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Harriet Sherwood - January 1, 2012 - 1:00am A former Palestinian militant who renounced violence in favour of "cultural resistance" is in custody after Israel apparently revoked an amnesty deal, in a move seen by his associates as part of a campaign of harassment against a radical West Bank theatre. Zakaria Zubeidi, a former of leader of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, is being held by Palestinian security forces after being told he would be arrested by Israeli authorities if he did not hand himself in. » Read more

Report: Assad to meet Hamas leadership ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Elior Levy - January 3, 2012 - 1:00am Syrian President Bashar Assad is expected to meet with Damascus-based representatives of the Palestinian factions in the coming days, including the heads of Hamas, Lebanon's al-Akhbar newspaper reported Tuesday. Assad's relationship with Hamas leadership has been rocky since March 2011, when Syria plunged into civil unrest. The Syrian president expressed his disapproval of Hamas' decision to relocate its politburo to another Arab country. The decision was made following the growing unrest in the country. » Read more

Anti corruption chief going after foreign accounts ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 3, 2012 - 1:00am The head of the PA anti-corruption commission said on Monday that the body is working to restore public funds stashed abroad by Palestinian officials. Rafiq al-Natsheh told Ma'an that the commission is chasing corruption suspects living outside of Palestine, pending an agreement with their countries of residence. Jordanian newspaper al-Dustour reported last week that Palestinian officials are moving deposits from Jordanian banks to foreign accounts, raising fears that suspects were trying to circumvent the corruption crackdown. » Read more

Hamas: Peaceful resistance not applicable to Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 3, 2012 - 1:00am Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahhar has cast doubt his party will take up peaceful resistance against Israel as advocated by former rivals Fatah. Under a reconciliation deal between the factions signed in May, officials called for a unified "national strategy," and Fatah officials say that Hamas chief-in-exile Khalid Mashaal agreed to adopt non-violent popular action in favor of armed struggle. But in comments to Ma'an late Monday, senior Hamas official in Gaza Zahhar stressed the situation in the Gaza Strip is different to the occupied West Bank. » Read more

Settlement outposts at root of Jewish violence in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Edmund Sanders - December 29, 2011 - 1:00am For months many Israelis shrugged off the mosque burnings, the uprooted Palestinian olive trees and even the death threats against Jewish leftists. But when young settlers this month vandalized army bases and stoned Israeli soldiers, the question of Jewish terrorism turned into a national emergency. The recent flare-up in settler violence has puzzled many because it comes when there are no peace talks that might lead to land concessions, Palestinian attacks in the West Bank have dropped to new lows, and Israel is led by a conservative government that is expanding settlement construction. » Read more