April 2nd

Jailing of journalists 'not based on security complaint' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 2, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The recent detentions of three Palestinian journalists in the West Bank are not based on security complaints but legal charges filed by individuals, the spokesman of the West Bank security services said Sunday. "The Palestinian Authority's security services have no security-related problem with any journalist," Adnan Dmeiri told Ma’an. » Read more

Man dies of wounds from Israeli West Bank raid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 2, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- A young Palestinian man died on Monday morning from wounds suffered in an Israeli raid on his village near Ramallah last week, his family told Ma'an. Rashad Theib Shoukha, 28, was critically injured by a gunshot to the chest during a dawn raid on Rammun village on Tuesday. His brothers Anwar and Akram were also injured in the raid. An Israeli army spokeswoman said at the time that an Israeli soldier "was stabbed during routine activity ... the soldiers responded to the attackers in self defense, and three were injured." » Read more

Palestinian authorities detain woman for allegedly insulting president on Facebook ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press April 2, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, West Bank — Rights activists say a Palestinian university lecturer has been detained on accusations that her Facebook page insulted President Mahmoud Abbas. Hadeel Hneiti of the al-Haq rights group said Monday that Palestinian security forces arrested Ismat Abdul-Khaleq after they found writing on her Facebook page accusing Abbas of being a traitor and demanding he resign. Hneiti said the 37-year-old Abdul-Khaleq was taken into custody Wednesday. » Read more

Israeli deputy FM: Arab demos 'diplomatic terror' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press March 31, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Israel's deputy foreign minister says an annual protest Palestinians mounted over the weekend is "political terrorism." Danny Ayalon spoke Saturday in Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv. He said Land Day protests are "a continuation of the diplomatic terrorism (Palestinian Authority President) Abu Mazen is using against Israel in international forums." » Read more

Palestinians and Israeli Troops Clash Amid Protests ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner - March 30, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Thousands of Palestinians protested on Friday against Israeli policies of land seizure and control of Jerusalem, leading to clashes with Israeli troops in which a 20-year-old was killed and scores of others were injured. The annual protest, known as Land Day, drew demonstrators in groups of hundreds in locations within Israel as well as in the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza. There were also solidarity marches in neighboring Lebanon and Jordan. » Read more

Israel Frees Palestinian Detainee After Hunger Strike of Weeks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Fares Akram, Isabel Kershner - April 1, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — A Palestinian woman who spent more than 40 days on a hunger strike to protest her detention by Israel without charge or trial was released from an Israeli prison on Sunday and sent into temporary exile in Gaza under a deal reached with the Israeli authorities. » Read more