March 8th, 2013

Carl Levin won’t run again ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) March 7, 2013 - 1:00am Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), a veteran Jewish lawmaker who had major influence on defense policy, will not seek reelection. Levin, 78, was quoted Thursday by The Associated Press as saying that his decision was "extremely difficult" but that he wanted to serve out the remainder of his term, which ends in 2014, without "distraction." Levin heads the Senate's Armed Services Committee, and in that capacity has been influential in defense policy, helping to maintain record levels of defense assistance for Israel. » Read more

Lapid likely to be Israel's next finance minister, Bennett to take trade portfolio, sources say ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Jonathan Lis - March 8, 2013 - 1:00am Yesh Atid party chairman Yair Lapid will likely take the finance portfolio, sources said Friday, while Habayit Hayehudi chairman Naftali Bennett will be Israel's next Labor, Trade and Industry minister. According to the officials, Israel's new coalition will be presented at the start of the coming week. » Read more

Gaza Sees Rise in Violence And Crime ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Hazem Balousha - March 7, 2013 - 1:00am Violence has been rife in Gaza but reached its peak in mid-2007, when clashes erupted between political rivals Hamas and Fatah, in a battle that resembled a civil war that left many wounded and dead. The Gaza Strip has also suffered from military confrontations with Israel, not to mention the political and economic blockade, which has led to increased violence in Gazan society. » Read more

Palestinian Public Opinion Poll No 46 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Palestine News Network March 7, 2013 - 1:00am In view of the financial crisis that the Palestinian Authority (PA) suffers from due to the delay in transferring tax returns from Israel and the delay of funds from the Arab countries, strikes organized by trade unions influence everyday life in the West Bank. » Read more

Females Share of Palestinian Population of 2012 is 49.2%, says Statistics Bureau ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Palestine News Network March 8, 2013 - 1:00am The estimated population of Palestine at the end of 2012 was 4.35 million of whom 2.21 million were males and 2.14 million females. Males comprise 50.8 percent of the total population compared to 49.2 percent for females. In other words, for every 100 persons there were 49 females, a sex ratio of 103.2, said Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) Thursday on the occasion of International Woman's Day, Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported. » Read more

Large rally in Rafah in solidarity with prisoners ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 8, 2013 - 1:00am Protesters in Gaza organized a massive rally Thursday in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails. Participants raised Palestinian flags, and held pictures of hunger strikers. They condemned aggressive Israeli practices. Palestinian national and Islamic factions participated in the rally. Rasmi Abu al-Ainin, a member of the the Palestinian Arabic Front political office, called for implementing national unity to support the Palestinian prisoners inside Israeli jails. » Read more

Palestinian official condemns Canadian FM's response of suing Israel at ICC ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua March 7, 2013 - 1:00am A senior Palestinian official on Thursday condemned remarks by Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird to cut aid if the Palestinians take Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC). "We do not know why Canada is showing all this hostility against us," said Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian peace negotiator. "Those who fear international courts must force Israel to stop its crimes," he said. On Sunday, Baird threatened that there will be consequences in the Canadian-Palestinian relations if a complaint that was filed by Palestinians goes to the ICC. » Read more

Hundreds of arrest warrants issued in Israel against ultra-Orthodox dodging army service ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua March 7, 2013 - 1:00am Hundreds of arrest warrants had been issued in Israel in the past few days against ultra-Orthodox youths dodging military service, the Ma'ariv daily reported Thursday. As hundreds of ultra-Orthodox youths failed to report to the induction centers as required, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) turned to the police to issue arrest warrants. » Read more

Official: Egypt never asked Hamas to quit armed struggle ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 8, 2013 - 1:00am Egypt has not asked Hamas to abandon its armed struggle against Israel, a spokesman for the party said Thursday. "Hamas will not leave the armed struggle, and will not respond to this fabricated news," Salah al-Bardawil told Ma'an. Israel's Ynet news reported Thursday that Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood leadership had asked Hamas to "implement jihad in other ways" in order to gain international legitimacy. » Read more

Israel prepares for next war with Hezbollah ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman by Daniel Estrin - March 8, 2013 - 1:00am On a dusty field in Israel's southern desert, the military is gearing up for the next battle against a familiar foe: Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. » Read more