May 14th, 2012

PLO officials: Netanyahu letter on peace a non-starter ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency by Ali Sawafta - May 14, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (Reuters) -- The formal response of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Palestinian grievances over frozen peace negotiations contains nothing that could revive the talks, Palestinian officials said on Sunday. Netanyahu's reply on Saturday to a letter he received last month from Mahmoud Abbas rejected the Palestinian president's demand to halt Jewish settlement building in occupied territories and repeated a call for an unconditional return to talks that collapsed in 2010, according to the officials. » Read more

Israel's military looks to the sea ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Edmund Sanders - (Analysis) May 11, 2012 - 12:00am TEL AVIV — With the acquisition this month of a sixth German-made submarine, Israel is seeking to position itself as the region's undisputed naval powerhouse. From spying on enemies to intercepting illegal arms shipments to blockading the Gaza Strip, Israel's naval capabilities are playing a more prominent role in the nation's security. The latest advanced German sub, with a price tag of more than $500 million, is Israel's most expensive piece of military equipment. » Read more

Palestinian forces seize ex-fighter in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Mohammed Ballas - May 13, 2012 - 12:00am JENIN, West Bank — Palestinian security forces detained a prominent ex-fighter Sunday, stepping up a campaign of arrests following the death of the governor of the northern West Bank district of Jenin, residents said. Masked security men seized Zakariya Zubeidi in Jenin after halting his car, blindfolding him and shackling him before bundling him into another car and speeding away, residents said. » Read more

Palestinian prisoners portraits underscore absence ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Dusan Vranic - May 13, 2012 - 12:00am KUFR RAI, West Bank — For the thousands of Palestinian families who have a relative in Israeli detention, a photograph is the only real contact with their loved ones. In homes, the images are usually decked in elaborate frames alongside the portraits of dead ancestors, marking the conspicuous absence of the prisoners. » Read more

Deal looks near to end Palestianian hunger strike ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Ian Deitch - May 13, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Egyptian and Palestinian officials said Sunday they were close to reaching a deal with Israel that would end a mass hunger strike by Palestinians in Israeli jails. Some 1,600 Palestinian prisoners are on strike, most for a month, but three have refused food for more than 70 days. They launched the strike to press their demands for better conditions and an end to detention without trial. » Read more

Tony Blair urges Israel to keep hunger strikers alive ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Donald MacIntyre - May 14, 2012 - 12:00am Tony Blair has stepped into the crisis triggered by a mass hunger strike of Palestinian prisoners, pressing Israel to take steps to prevent the "tragic" outcome of any of them dying. » Read more

West Bank Leader Says Security Forces Can’t Get Guns ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Jodi Rudoren - May 12, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, West Bank — President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority said Saturday that his security forces were struggling because » Read more

May 11th

Uncle Herzl Wants You ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Dov Waxman - (Opinion) May 10, 2012 - 12:00am Among the justifications (or excuses) offered by Netanyahu and Mofaz for the creation of Israel’s new national unity government is that they will soon try to institute mandatory national service for all Israeli citizens. Intended to replace the much-maligned Tal Law, which allowed ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students to avoid military service and was declared unconstitutional by Israel’s Supreme Court, the promised law will ensure that all Israelis share the national burden, as Netanyahu put it. » Read more

Ambassador Oren Gets it Right on "Pro-Israel" ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Lara Friedman - (Opinion) May 10, 2012 - 12:00am Thank you, Ambassador Oren.  On Sunday you told an audience in Detroit what “pro-Israel” means.  » Read more

National unity, but not national decisions ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Uri Savir - (Opinion) May 10, 2012 - 12:00am At the beginning of the week, I intended to write an article about the decision processes that would have been necessary in Israel and United States following the 2012 national elections in each country. The elections in the United States are still taking place; the elections in Israel have been postponed and may take place on time in 2013 or earlier. » Read more