March 1st

Israel Braces for Cyberwarfare With Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Adnan Abu Amer - (Analysis) February 28, 2013 - 1:00am A few days ago, Uzi Moscovitch, chief of the Center for Computer and Information Systems in the Israeli Computer Services Directorate, surprised security circles by declaring that Israel is preparing for information warfare with Palestinians and Arabs by establishing a new operations room to monitor and curb cyberattacks in an orderly manner. » Read more

Kerry: Turkish comments complicate Mideast process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Matthew Lee - March 1, 2013 - 1:00am U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday that comments by the Turkish prime minister equating Zionism to a crime against humanity complicate the efforts to find peace in the Middle East. Speaking at a news conference in Ankara with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Kerry stressed the "urgent need to promote a spirit of tolerance, and that includes all of the public statements made by all leaders." » Read more

More Arab Israelis Volunteer for National Service ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Linda Gradstein - February 28, 2013 - 1:00am When Nasim Awadallah finished high school two years ago, he didn’t have many prospects. His grades were not good enough to get into university. He worked at a minimum wage job for a few months but was not satisfied. So he volunteered for Israel’s national service, an alternative to army service, which is under the control of the Ministry of Defense. He works at the same school he attended in his village. In the mornings, he helps the physical education teachers and in the afternoons he coaches three separate soccer teams. » Read more

A campaign to talk up a two-state solution ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Ghaith Al-Omari, David Makovsky - (Opinion) March 1, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Croatia to pull its UN peacekeeping troops from Golan Heights citing security concerns ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Croatia will withdraw some 100 peacekeeping troops from the Syria-Israel border after reports that Syrian rebels have been armed with Croatian weapons, Croatia’s president said Friday. The government fears its troops could become targets for Syrian government soldiers fighting the rebels. President Ivo Josipovic said the security situation in the Golan Heights has deteriorated and the safety of the Croatian soldiers serving in the U.N. Disengagement Observer Force is in jeopardy. » Read more

Israel: Turk’s Remarks Criticized ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters February 28, 2013 - 1:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of » Read more

Clashes in West Bank; Salam Fayad joins Bil'in protests ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Itamar Fleishman, Elior Levy - March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Palestinians are clashing with security forces who are attempting to disperse them in Hebron, after settler's windows were broken as a result of stone throwing. » Read more

Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu suspends housing settlements ahead of Obama’s visit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Times by Cheryl K. Chumley - March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suspended all housing construction in contested areas of east Jerusalem and the West Bank as a diplomatic nod at President Obama’s upcoming visit. » Read more

Israeli troops practice repelling mass demonstrations in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Ahead of a possible escalation of violence in the West Bank, the Israeli military is training combat units on how to deal with planned protests by thousands of angry Palestinian demonstrators. During the workshop, the troops practiced using crowd-control measures largely considered non-lethal, like flash bangs, rubber- tipped bullets and stench bombs. » Read more

Medics say 3 hurt in Gaza shelling, Israel denies ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Medics said three Palestinians sustained injuries early Friday in a shelling attack in the central Gaza Strip, but Israel's army denied involvement. Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman of the Gaza health ministry, told Ma’an that two injured people were transferred to al-Shifa hospital and a third was transferred to al-Aqsa hospital. Al-Qidra said the three victims were moderately injured in a shelling attack on al-Burej refugee camp. » Read more