Israel investing more, but not enough, in Arab sector ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua March 7, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM, March 7 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli-Arab lobbying group led a Knesset parliament discussion this week on the socioeconomic status of the country's million and a half Arab residents, who make up more than 20 percent of the population. The Haifa-based Mossawa advocacy group presented it's comprehensive findings at a ministerial-level conference organized by lawmaker Talab al-Sana of the United Arab List-Ta'al, who sits on the Knesset Finance Committee. » Read more

Iran and U.S. Election-Year Politics ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Aaron David Miller - March 7, 2012 - 1:00am Myths and facts conflate all too easily in our opinion-driven politics. One of the most dangerous these days is that President Obama’s Iran policy has been taken hostage by election year pandering to Israel and the pro-Israel community in America. It’s a pernicious trope that runs counter to reality. If anything, election year uncertainties will work far more to make Obama a cautious warrior when it comes to green lighting an Israeli attack against Iran or launching one of his own. » Read more

NGO asks Israel's AG to probe alleged Shin Bet abuse of Palestinian women ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chaim Levinson - March 7, 2012 - 1:00am The Public Committee Against Torture In Israel submitted affidavits by Palestinian women to Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein on Monday describing their treatment during interrogation by the Shin Bet security service. The watchdog group asked Weinstein to direct interrogators to maintain the women's dignity during questioning. Nine individual complaints were sent to the division of the Justice Ministry that investigates the police, and eight complaints were filed with the Military Advocate General. » Read more

Rabbis warn Jews against going to Temple Mount ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Jeremy Sharon - March 6, 2012 - 1:00am Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, along with several other senior rabbis, issued a public statement on Tuesday warning the public that visiting the Temple Mount is forbidden by Jewish law. According to the statement, the warning is being issued at this time because of increased organized attempts to go up to the holy site. The Temple Mount is Judaism’s holiest site, but Jewish law requires those going up to certain sections of the mount to be ritually pure – a status only obtainable through a ceremony that cannot be performed today. » Read more

Profile: Nasser al-Kidwa ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat March 6, 2012 - 1:00am London, Asharq Al-Awsat – Nasser al-Kidwa has been appointed as deputy to Kofi Annan, the joint UN-Arab League special envoy to Syria. For the first time since being entrusted with the post last month, Annan will visit Damascus on 10 March in an effort to promote a political solution to the Syrian crisis, with al-Kidwa expected to accompany him. » Read more

Top U.S. army official: Mideast peace stalemate endangers American interests in region ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amir Oren - March 7, 2012 - 1:00am During an annual briefing Tuesday in the U.S. Congress, Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis, head of the Central Command, issued a warning about a continued impasse in the Israel-Palestine conflict. He said that the political awakening in the Arab world has caused regimes in the region to be more attentive than ever to the emotions of their populations. The current stalemate between Israel and the Palestinians, he declared, cannot continue; what is needed is the renewal of an Israeli-Arab drive for peace based on a two-state solution. » Read more

Can rival Palestinian factions reach unity deal? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from CNN by Fionnuala Sweeney - March 7, 2012 - 1:00am Jerusalem (CNN) -- The recent visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington primarily focused on Iran's nuclear program -- a long way from previous meetings that had, more often than not, focused on Israeli-Palestinian relations. There is little talk about a peace process these days. » Read more

UN: Gaza exports long way off despite trial ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Karin Laub - March 6, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The U.N.'s World Food Program is exporting 140 tons of date bars to the West Bank from Gaza this week, hoping this first shipment in nearly five years will help revive a vital trade route, an official said Tuesday. An Israeli official said a resumption of regular exports from Gaza to the West Bank is unlikely, citing security concerns and a desire not to reward Gaza's Hamas rulers. » Read more

Palestinians to give Israelis deadline on talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star March 6, 2012 - 1:00am JERICHO, West Bank: Palestinian officials said Saturday they plan to give a deadline to Israel to accept ground rules for negotiations, and suggested that a 'no' will allow them to shelve Mideast talks until it does. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is to spell out the requirements in a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki. He said he did not know by when Netanyahu would have to respond. » Read more

Chief Palestinian negotiator says Mideast does not need more wars ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Maher Abukhater - March 6, 2012 - 1:00am REPORTING FROM RAMALLAH, WEST BANK –- The Middle East needs "winds of peace" instead of "drums of war," the chief Palestinian negotiator said Tuesday. Saeb Erekat was commenting on the meeting a day earlier between President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and their speeches before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Erekat did not seem worried that the Palestinian issue was overshadowed in the meeting by the conflict over Iran's nuclear program. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict remains the most destabilizing factor in the Middle East, he said. » Read more