Car bombs 'target Israel envoys' in India and Georgia ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News February 13, 2012 - 1:00am Bombers have targeted staff at Israeli embassies in India and Georgia, officials say, with Israel accusing Iran of masterminding the attacks. An explosion in Delhi injured one diplomat and three other people. Witnesses told local TV a motorcyclist had placed a device on the embassy's car when it stopped in traffic. A bomb underneath a diplomat's car in Tbilisi was found and defused. Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran was behind the two incidents. "Today we witnessed two attempts of terrorism against innocent civilians," he told a meeting of his Likud party MPs. » Read more

Wife of Israeli diplomat wounded in car blast near New Delhi embassy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amos Harel, Barak Ravid - February 13, 2012 - 1:00am The wife of an Israeli diplomat was moderately wounded on Monday when a car bomb exploded outside of Israel's embassy in the Indian capital of New Delhi, Haaretz has learned. The wounded woman in question is the wife of the Defense Ministry's representative to India. The incident came one day after the fourth anniversary marking the assasination of Hezbollah's deputy leader, Imad Mughniyeh, which the Islamist organization blames on Israel.

UN rapporteur slams Israeli policy of 'Judaization' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 13, 2012 - 1:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- A United Nations Special Rapporteur said Sunday that Israel is systematically implementing a discriminatory policy of housing and planning in Israel, East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. "From the Galilee and the Negev to East Jerusalem and the West Bank, the Israeli authorities promote a territorial development model that excludes, discriminates against and displaces minorities, particularly affecting Palestinian communities," Professor Raquel Rolnik, UN rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, said on Sunday. » Read more

Poll: Palestinians most concerned about economic future ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 13, 2012 - 1:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- A poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion has found that a majority of Palestinians are most concerned about their jobs and financial status, and support opposition to proposed PA tax reforms currently on hold after widespread outcry. The poll, conducted by Dr. Nabil Kukali between Jan. 22 and Feb. 4, shows 54.7 percent of Palestinians currently fear the survival of their family during economic hard times in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. » Read more

Police close Al-Aqsa, block right-wing leader ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 13, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM (Ma’an) -- Israeli police closed access to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa compound on Sunday morning, saying they feared unrest after leaflets were distributed around the city calling to remove "Israel's enemies" from the site. Police also blocked far-right Israeli politician Moshe Feiglin from entering the holy compound "for security reasons," Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said. Feiglin, who was the sole rival to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in their Likud's party leadership contest last month, said earlier this week he intended to tour the Al-Aqsa compound. » Read more

Settlers: Israel drafts deal to delay evacuating rogue settlement, despite eviction order ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press February 13, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM — Israeli settlers from an unauthorized West Bank outpost said Monday they reached a deal with the country’s government to allow them to stay put for two more years, despite Israeli Supreme Court orders to evacuate them next month. The Migron settlement, built in 2001 on what authorities say is private Palestinian land, is seen as a test case for the Israeli government’s resolve — or lack thereof — concerning unauthorized settlement outposts. » Read more

Hamas police bans pro-Syria opposition rally in Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 12, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Hamas police on Sunday prevented dozens of activists from demonstrating in solidarity with Syrian people in the Gaza Strip, witnesses said. The policemen peacefully stopped the protest shortly after it started in front of the Hamas-dominated Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza city. The demonstrators, nearly 30 of them, waved Palestinian and Syrian flags, with banners supporting the Syrian anti-government protest, before they left. » Read more

Hamas' Haniyeh: Armed resistance is the only way to fight Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press February 13, 2012 - 1:00am The only path in the Palestinian struggle against Israel is the path of armed resistance, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said during a visit to Iran on Monday, adding that the "gun is our only response to Zionist regime." Haniyeh's comments came following recent reports of a change in Hamas' declared strategy in the fight against Israel, with some of the group's officials indicating that Hamas was headed toward a path of nonviolent resistance. » Read more

Iran urges Hamas to continue fight against Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Nasser Karimi - February 12, 2012 - 1:00am TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's leaders urged the Hamas prime minister of Gaza to continue the Islamic militant group's resistance against Israel and promised support, state TV reported on Sunday. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told Hamas' Ismail Haniyeh that Iran would always stand by the Palestinian "resistance" against Israel and warned him against "compromisers." President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for his part said it was Iran's "duty" to stand by the Palestinians. » Read more

Hamas Premier Visits Iran in Sign of Strong Relations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Fares Akram, Isabel Kershner - February 10, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA — Ismail Haniya, the prime minister of the Hamas government in Gaza, arrived in Iran on Friday for a visit that suggested that relations between Hamas and Iran remained good despite reports of tensions over Syria. » Read more