March 1st

PA not planning new intifada, says official ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh - March 1, 2012 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority is not planning a new intifada, but Israeli “provocations” and the ongoing stalemate in the peace process could trigger widespread protests in the Palestinian territories, a senior PA official in Ramallah said Wednesday. The official’s comments came in response to a Haaretz report earlier this week to the effect that the Palestinians could launch a third intifada during 2012. » Read more

Judge Rubinstein: Arabs don’t have to sing anthem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Aviad Glickman - March 1, 2012 - 1:00am Supreme Court Justice Elyakim Rubinstein expressed his unwavering support for Justice Salim Joubran's decision not to sing Israel's national anthem, Hatikva, at chief Justice Asher Grunis' induction ceremony. The anthem was sung at the end of the ceremony by all judges present, who then posed for the traditional group photo. Joubran, who is the highest-ranking Israeli-Arab on the Bench, chose to stand silently beside them. The decision was harshly criticized, but Ynet learned Thursday that Rubinstein sent a letter to all presiding judges defending the decision. » Read more

U.S. has military plan should Iran conflict erupt, says air force chief ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz March 1, 2012 - 1:00am U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz said Wednesday that Washington has prepared military options to strike Iran's nuclear sites should conflict erupt, Bloomberg reported. Just four days before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's scheduled meeting with President Barack Obama in Washington, Schwartz told reporters that military options are being prepared in the event of a conflict. “What we can do, you wouldn’t want to be in the area,” Bloomberg quoted Schwartz as telling reporters in Washington on Wednesday. » Read more

Israeli: Syrian rebels want peace with Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press February 29, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM — An Israeli lawmaker says Syrian opposition leaders have told him they want peace with Israel after Syrian President Bashar Assad falls. Israel and Syria are bitter enemies. They have fought several major wars, and Syria backs violent anti-Israel groups. Isaac Herzog said Wednesday that the Syrian opposition want to "be friends" with Israel. He refused to name his sources because he said they fear retribution by Assad. He said they are aligned with the main rebel factions. There was no confirmation from the Syrian opposition figures. » Read more

Israeli leader to US to talk about Iran tensions ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Amy Teibel - February 29, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM — Israel's prime minister sets off this week on a U.S. visit clouded by a deepening rift with Washington, which is pressing Israel to hold off on any attack against Iran's suspect nuclear program. Although Israel says it hasn't decided whether to strike, it has signaled readiness to do so — a move that would have deep worldwide implications. » Read more

PA controlled office in Gaza ransacked ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 1, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- Unidentified assailants raided the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority-controlled Civil Administration building in the northern Gaza Strip overnight Wednesday. Headquarters chief Maher Abu al-Quf told Ma'an that the Israeli side of the office alerted them to an attempted robbery at 11.30 p.m. on Wednesday evening. Personnel rushed to the site but the suspects had left the scene after damaging the offices and ransacking its contents. It is the 11th time such an incident has taken place, Abu al-Quf said. Hamas police have opened an investigation. » Read more

Israel deepens hold in West Bank heartland, quietly legalizes unsanctioned settler enclave ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press March 1, 2012 - 1:00am SHVUT RACHEL, West Bank — Israel has legalized one of the oldest and largest of the unsanctioned settler enclaves dotting the West Bank, a step denounced by the Palestinians and Israeli activists as a show of bad faith ahead of talks next week between the Israeli leader and President Barack Obama. » Read more

PA: Israel seizing broadcast frequencies ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 1, 2012 - 1:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) – The Palestinian Authority is describing Wednesday's raids on TV networks in the occupied West Bank as the possible beginning of a "frequency war" over limited broadcasting space. The confiscation of equipment from Watan TV and Al-Quds Educational TV deprives Palestinians of their right to have frequencies for building modern wireless communication networks, the PA says. Ramallah Prime Minister Salam Fayyad visited one of the stations, Watan TV in Ramallah, and said the Israeli operation was "oppressive and monstrous" and violated "all international laws". » Read more

Israeli Troops Raid Two Palestinian TV Stations in the West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner - February 29, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM — Israeli troops raided two Palestinian television stations in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank early on Wednesday, confiscating transmitters, computer hard drives and documents and eliciting angry condemnations from the Palestinian Authority. Officials at the two stations, Al Watan and Al-Quds Educational Television, said that officials from Israel’s Communications Ministry, accompanied by soldiers, spent several hours removing the equipment and documents. » Read more

Israeli forces raided AQU campus and prevented the University educational TV from Broadcasting ATFP World Press Roundup Article from ATFP by Ziad Asali - February 29, 2012 - 1:00am Dear Friends, We have received the message below from Al-Quds University and I am forwarding it to all those who are interested in resolving this conflict with simple questions: What does this mean? What message does it send? Are such Israeli actions leaving any room for the quest for peace and for those who seek dialogue and compromise? Should the campus of Al-Quds University expect thuggish smashing in lieu of search warrants? » Read more