February 23rd

Israeli talk show host probed for describing Leftists and Arabs as 'anti-Semites' and 'Nazis' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Emilie Grunzweig - February 23, 2012 - 1:00am Israel's broadcasting regulator body has initiated an investigation of a Tel Aviv radio show featuring a prominent attorney, over several complaints of frequently sounded on-air slurs directed at left-wing supporters and Arabs. The probe was also the result of a Justice Ministry decision, which stated that, while the opinions voiced in Yoram Sheftel's show "Sheftel Atzbani" [Sheftel is Cranky] did not necessitate a criminal investigation, The Second Authority for Television and Radio should look into the matter. » Read more

Hamas suspends decision to tax Gaza imports ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 22, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Public and local criticism pushed Gaza's Hamas government to suspend a decision to tax particular goods that merchants import through Israel. The critics were popular societies, business associations and rights group. Their rejection stemmed from the legality of the taxes in Gaza's exceptional circumstances, where an Israeli blockade has taken toll on almost all sectors of the society. » Read more

Hamas, Egypt strike deal to end energy crisis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 23, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- Egyptian authorities and Hamas officials reached an agreement on Thursday to end the energy crisis in the Gaza Strip. Hamas spokesman Taher al-Nunu said a deal had been reached after "intensive negotiations" between Gaza prime minister Ismail Haniyeh, Egyptian officials, and the Islamic Development Bank. The deal included three stages, the Hamas official said. The first stipulates that Egyptian companies pump fuel directly to Gaza under the terms of contracts signed with firms. » Read more

Israel Approves Building Plan for 600 Homes in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press February 22, 2012 - 1:00am Israel gave preliminary approval on Wednesday to a plan to build 600 new homes in a settlement deep inside the West Bank, a move that drew rebukes from the United Nations and Palestinians. Israeli officials tried to play down the decision about building in Shiloh, saying that construction was years away at best. But Yariv Oppenheimer, director of Peace Now, called it the biggest settlement construction plan in the West Bank since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took office three years ago. » Read more

February 22nd

Israeli Leader Wrongly Blames UN and Arab States for Palestinian Refugees ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Atlantic by Leila Hilal - (Opinion) February 21, 2012 - 1:00am At the end of 2011, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, posted the third video in his YouTube series about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. These polished presentations are produced by an Israeli public relations firm in collaboration with StandWithUs, a U.S.-based group that counters criticism of Israeli policies regarding Palestinian. The series is promoted as "explanations of the historical facts" of the core issues of the conflict -- thus far covering the peace process, the West Bank, and most recently, refugees. (A fourth video on Jerusalem is said to be forthcoming.) » Read more

‘Bad guy’ or not, Adnan hunger strike was about due process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from 972 Magazine by Mairav Zonszein - (Opinion) February 22, 2012 - 1:00am As Khader Adnan’s case took over the news cycle this week, I noticed comments by thoughtful readers, generally on my Facebook feed, pointing out Adnan’s association with terror. They have circulated a video in which Adnan asks who the next suicide bomber will be, pointed to his affiliation with Islamic Jihad, and asked: How can you root for a terrorist? How can supposed progressives like us rally around him? » Read more

Theater review: 'Sarah's War' at the Hudson Mainstage ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Los Angeles Times by Philip Brandes - (Theater Review) February 21, 2012 - 1:00am Amid the endless polarized chaos and bloodshed in the Gaza Strip, is there any space between protecting human rights and supporting terrorists? Seeking that elusive territory of meaningful compassion is the goal of Valerie Dillman's thoughtful and heartfelt original drama, "Sarah's War," a Freedom Theatre West production at the Hudson Mainstage. » Read more

Palestinians Hear the Water ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Inter Press Service (IPS) by Jillian Kestler-D'Amours - (Opinion) February 21, 2012 - 1:00am "On its face, the new rule allows the occupier (in a long-term occupation) to make endless use of the variety of objects found in the occupied territory," Israeli human rights group Yesh Din stated. "To pump its water sources, to transfer its archeological artifacts to elsewhere outside the territory, to use areas within it for garbage disposal, to sell public real estate, and more." In late December of last year, the Israeli Supreme Court dismissed a petition put forth by Yesh Din, challenging the legality of Israeli mining and quarrying operations taking place in the occupied West Bank. » Read more

State Approves Housing Units in Shilo Post Factum ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Israel News by Yair Altman - February 22, 2012 - 1:00am The Civil Administration approved Wednesday the construction of 505 new housing units and legalized 190 units previously built in the West Bank settlement of Shilo. A Defense Ministry official said that any further construction would call for the government's approval and therefore they do not expect any other units to be built anytime soon. The ministry also stated that the existing housing units were not built on private lands but rather on State-owned land. » Read more

When children are 'terrorists', Israel's story rings hollow ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Ali Khaled - (Opinion) February 22, 2012 - 1:00am It's one of the 20th century's most celebrated images of individual courage. Very few people are unfamiliar with the photograph of the lone Chinese protester facing down a line of army tanks in Tiananmen Square in 1989. Despite his anonymity, "Tank Man" or the "Unknown Rebel", as he came to be known, is a lasting symbol of that student rebellion that was so brutally crushed. » Read more