February 22nd

Jordan’s Blames Israel for Deadlocked Peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Josef Federman - February 22, 2012 - 1:00am AMMAN, Jordan — King Abdullah II on Tuesday blamed Israel for deadlocked Mideast peacemaking in a meeting with U.S. Jewish leaders, the official Petra News Agency said. But the king's guests offered a more optimistic version of events, saying Abdullah had also been complimentary of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's position in recent peace talks. Jordan last month played host to talks that have subsequently been broken off. Palestinian and Israeli negotiators have blamed the other for the cut-off. » Read more

India’s rationale for Iran-Israel relations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Meena Janardhan - (Opinion) February 22, 2012 - 1:00am Though Iran’s role in the recent bombing of an Israeli diplomat’s car in New Delhi remains unconfirmed, India is under pressure to join the growing international isolation of Tehran. » Read more

Hamas Irons Out Dispute Over Palestinian Unity ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Mohammed Daraghmeh - February 22, 2012 - 1:00am CAIRO — A senior Hamas official says the leadership of the Islamic militant group has settled internal disagreements and approved a unity deal with its political rival, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Izzat al-Rishq, who is an aide to Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal, says that Hamas' Syria-based political bureau met in Cairo Wednesday and okayed the agreement. Since 2007, the rivals have run separate governments in the West Bank and Gaza. The agreement signed in Qatar between Mashaal and Abbas on Feb. 6 envisions Abbas heading an interim unity government ahead of elections. » Read more

Employees at Public Universities, Colleges on Strike ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 20, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM (Ma’an) -- Employees in public universities and colleges in the West Bank and Gaza Strip went on strike on Monday, an employee's union spokesman said. Abdul-Muhsin Qawasmi said the current semester may be canceled since the education ministry has not responded to their demands. The main demand was a salary increase to match employees working in other Palestinian universities. » Read more

Camp David pact in jeopardy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by Linda S. Heard - (Opinion) February 22, 2012 - 1:00am Relations between Cairo and Washington are on a slippery slope now that Washington's man former president Hosni Mubarak can no longer protect them. The row is over Egypt's investigation of non-profit organisations operating in the country without licence and suspected of criminally receiving foreign funding to foment unrest against the ruling military. They include Freedom House, the International Centre for Journalists as well as the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute that work closely with individuals in the US Congress. » Read more

Gaza, Ramallah Swap Accusations Over Fuel Crisis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 22, 2012 - 1:00am RAMALLAH (Ma’an) – The chair of the Palestinian Authority energy authority Omar Kittana says the Hamas-run government in the Gaza Strip is politicizing the electricity crisis in an attempt to score political points. Asked about accusations that he threatened employees at the energy authority in Gaza, Kittana said, “I refuse to comment on this as we have reached an impermissible point. I was afraid of politicization of this issue. » Read more

Palestinian Leaders to Meet in Cairo ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 22, 2012 - 1:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) – President Mahmoud Abbas is set to chair a meeting Thursday in Cairo that will encompass chiefs of Palestinian factions, PLO leaders and the speaker of the Palestinian National Council. Selected independent figures will join the meeting, which is dedicated to discussing the latest political developments and the ongoing efforts toward Palestinian reconciliation. » Read more

From Hezbollah To ‘Zionist Bully’? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Week by Stewart Ain - February 21, 2012 - 1:00am Norman Finkelstein, the son of Holocaust survivors whose anti-Israel statements and actions got him barred from the country until 2018 for suspected ties to Hezbollah terrorists, has now become the darling of pro-Israel bloggers — sort of — and a traitor to Palestinian supporters. The Brooklyn political science professor stunned supporters Feb. 9 when in a taped interview at the Imperial College London he derided the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign for concealing the fact that it is out to destroy Israel. » Read more

Israelis Seem Resigned to a Strike on Iran ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Joel Greenberg - February 22, 2012 - 1:00am TEL AVIV — A recent installment of the popular Israeli satirical television show “A Wonderful Country” captured the public mood here regarding a possible strike on Iran and its consequences: a mix of resignation and gallows humor. In one scene, a house-hunting couple is shown a Tel Aviv apartment facing a drab housing project as a real estate agent proclaims that the place will have a view of the sea. “In June, that whole row of buildings won’t be here anymore,” she cheerfully informs the prospective buyers, gazing out a window. » Read more

Nobody believes Israel as its nuclear monopoly weakens ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Michael Young - (Opinion) February 23, 2012 - 1:00am A procession of American officials has been visiting Israel lately, to persuade the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to bomb Iran before international sanctions have had time to take hold. The arguments against an operation are familiar, but they also speak to an underlying malaise in how the world views Israel. » Read more