February 15th

UN officials voice concern over health of Palestinian detainees on hunger strike ATFP World Press Roundup Article from United Nations News Service February 13, 2013 - 1:00am Two senior United Nations officials today voiced their concern about Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody, particularly following reports of the fast deteriorating health conditions of several who have been on hunger strike. » Read more

Swedish photographer wins World Press Photo award ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Toby Sterling - February 15, 2013 - 1:00am Swedish photographer Paul Hansen won the 2012 World Press Photo award Friday for newspaper Dagens Nyheter with a picture of two Palestinian children killed in an Israeli missile strike being carried to their funeral. The picture shows a group of men marching the dead bodies through a narrow street in Gaza City. The victims, a brother and sister, are wrapped in white cloth with only their faces showing. » Read more

Chuck Hagel's confirmation and the orthodoxy of US debate on Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Michael Cohen - (Opinion) February 14, 2013 - 1:00am This week, former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel achieved a rather dubious accomplishment: he became the first nominee for Secretary of Defense to be filibustered by the United States Senate. » Read more

2 injured by Israeli fire in north Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 15, 2013 - 1:00am Two young Palestinian men were injured by Israeli fire in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, medics said. A 20-year-old man was hit in the chest by gunfire east of Beit Hanoun, and is a moderate to serious condition, Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said. Another man, aged 22, was shot in the hand in the same incident and has moderate injuries, al-Qidra said. The pair are being treated in Beit Hanoun hospital. » Read more

Palestinian stabbed to death in Rishon Lezion ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Eli Senyor - February 15, 2013 - 1:00am A stabbing at a Rishon Lezion construction site left a 25-year-old Palestinian dead. The worker was evacuated to the Assaf Harofeh Medical Center early Friday morning after sustaining knife wounds to the chest. He succumbed to his wounds while on the operating table. An initial investigation led the authorities to take one city resident in for questioning. » Read more

A Zionism of the left ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Rami Livni - (Opinion) February 14, 2013 - 1:00am The election results strengthened the following message: The left's return to power must include its renewed presence in debates about Zionism. To that end, the left must create a new, liberal and up-to-date perception of Zionism. It must be an alternative to the insular distorted Zionism of the right - disconnected from reality - which has served a minority of Jews throughout history. » Read more

4 Border Guards convicted of abusing helpless Palestinian ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Elior Levy - February 15, 2013 - 1:00am Four Border Guard officers were convicted Thursday on charges of aggravated assault and abuse of a helpless person for their involvement in a 2009 incident in which they abused a Palestinian near a Givat Ze'ev checkpoint. » Read more

The Success That Failed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Roger Cohen - (Opinion) February 14, 2013 - 1:00am The most progressive and innovative Palestinian thinker on a Middle East peace settlement has been steadily isolated over the past several years. Undercut by Israel, undermined by his own people’s factionalism, unable to meet even once with President Obama, this dynamic Palestinian leader is now close to the end of his rope. » Read more

Bulgaria expels visiting Hamas delegation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 15, 2013 - 1:00am Bulgarian authorities forced a visiting Hamas delegation to leave the country Friday, the Palestinian Islamic movement said. In a statement, Hamas said security forces stormed the hotel where the three Hamas officials have been staying since Wednesday and transferred them to the airport. Hamas added that the move came as a result of Israel's pressure on Sofia. The delegation was expected to stay for three more days to meet with Bulgarian parliamentarians and party leaders. » Read more

Union: No date set for payment of PA salaries ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 15, 2013 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority will pay government salaries for January in a week, but has yet to specify a date, the public sector workers union said Thursday. Union chief Bassam Zakarneh insisted the PA must set a date to pay January wages, after a meeting with ministers in Ramallah. Zakarneh said in a statement that the union informed a ministerial committee that government staff were struggling to buy basic necessities and could not afford transport to work. Zakarneh called on civil servants not to strike unless further action is announced. » Read more