March 6th

The legal case against attacking Iran ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Bruce Ackerman - (Opinion) March 5, 2012 - 1:00am Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington has provoked a broad debate over the military and political wisdom of an attack on Iran. But so far, there has been little attention to the legal issues involved, which are crucial. American support for a preemptive strike would be a violation of both international law and the U.S. Constitution. » Read more

Iran, Israel and the United States ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times (Editorial) March 5, 2012 - 1:00am President Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel share responsibility for the strains in their relationship. But there should be no doubt about Mr. Obama’s commitment to Israel’s security. When he warns that an Israeli attack on Iran could backfire, and that “there is still a window” for diplomacy, he is speaking for American and Israeli interests. » Read more

Hamas rules out military support for Iran in any war with Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Harriet Sherwood - March 6, 2012 - 1:00am Hamas will not do Iran's bidding in any war with Israel, according to senior figures within the militant Islamic group. "If there is a war between two powers, Hamas will not be part of such a war," Salah Bardawil, a member of the organisation's political bureau in Gaza City, told the Guardian. He denied the group would launch rockets into Israel at Tehran's request in response to a strike on its nuclear sites. "Hamas is not part of military alliances in the region," said Bardawil. "Our strategy is to defend our rights" » Read more

Power to the People: Gaza and Its Generators ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Omar Ghraieb - March 6, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA CITY, Gaza – When Ahmed Ashour finished high school two years ago he knew where his future lay. He decided to not apply to any university, even though his family could easily afford it, and instead went in to the business of selling and servicing small electric generators. » Read more

Two Palestinian children killed in W.Bank explosion ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters March 6, 2012 - 1:00am RAMALLAH, West Bank, March 6 (Reuters) - Two Palestinian children were killed when abandoned ordnance exploded in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, Palestinian officials said. Ramadan Awad, police chief in the city of Hebron, said two 12-year-old boys, Hamza and Zayed Jradat, were killed and three teenagers were injured when an old Israeli mortar exploded. The group had been playing in a field filled with scrap metal in the nearby village of Sier, Awad said. » Read more

Court delays hearing on Abbas' PM role ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 6, 2012 - 1:00am RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- A constitutional court in Ramallah on Tuesday postponed a hearing on the legality of President Mahmoud Abbas' appointment as prime minister of a unity government to March 20. Abbas and Hamas chief Khalid Mashaal agreed that the president will lead a unity government in Doha in February. PLO central council member Abdul-Jawwad Salih submitted a legal challenge to the appointment on the grounds that it is unconstitutional. » Read more

PA austerity measures 'will not solve budget crisis' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 6, 2012 - 1:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's recently introduced austerity measures will not make a serious impact on the public budget deficit, a finance ministry official warned Monday. Last week, the Ramallah-based cabinet agreed a series of cost-cutting measures on government expenses, including limiting travel to economy class and freezing purchase or rent of buildings for government purposes. » Read more

The Palestinian challenge ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) March 5, 2012 - 1:00am Something must be done, and quickly, to save the two-state solution. We are nearing the end of the road and soon there will be no one between the river and the sea who actually believes that it will be possible to partition the land into two states. » Read more

Official: Palestinian issue ignored in US ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press March 6, 2012 - 1:00am RAMALLAH, West Bank — A Palestinian peace negotiator says the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is too big to ignore, even though it was sidelined in a meeting between Israel's prime minister and U.S. President Barack Obama. Saeb Erekat told reporters Tuesday that in the Middle East, "No issue is above the Palestinian issue." He spoke after Israeli and American leaders met to discuss Iran's nuclear program. » Read more

Palestinians taken aback by Obama embrace of Israel, but expect little in US election year ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press March 5, 2012 - 1:00am RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinians say they are disappointed in President Barack Obama but not surprised by his especially warm embrace of Israel in an election year. Still, his weekend speech to the powerful pro-Israel lobby AIPAC was perceived in the West Bank as unprecedented in its show of support for Israel. It raised eyebrows even among hardened skeptics who have lost faith in Washington’s ability to serve as an honest Mideast broker. » Read more