March 14th, 2012

UNRWA is Becoming Thick With BRICS ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Fillipo Grandi - (Opinion) March 14, 2012 - 12:00am The last summit of the so-called BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) almost exactly a year ago saw the unveiling of a compelling call to global humanitarian and development action. The final communiqué envisioned an alliance united by the “overarching common objective of a strong and shared desire for peace and security, contributing significantly to the development of humanity, establishing a more equitable and fair world.” » Read more

Diplomacy Led By Cairo is Still a Stabilising Force ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National (Editorial) March 14, 2012 - 12:00am It was Egyptian mediation that secured a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel after four days of deadly clashes. For all of the changes in Cairo since Hosni Mubarak's fall more than a year ago, there are signs that it is resuming its role as a powerhouse in the region. Especially because of the changes in Cairo, that renewed diplomacy has been a welcome development. » Read more

After Bibi’s U.S. visit, question remains: What’s Israel’s next step on Iran? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ron Kampeas - (Opinion) March 13, 2012 - 12:00am WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is waiting and watching when it comes to Iran -- although for how long, no one knows. Analysts and Jewish organizational officials who speak with Israeli and U.S. government say Netanyahu came away from his meeting last week with President Obama feeling that he has a strategic partner in seeking to keep Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. But, they say, he has yet to decide whether Obama’s tactics will do the job or if Israel must strike. » Read more

Until the Next Round ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Yaakov Katz - (Analysis) March 14, 2012 - 12:00am Israel and Islamic Jihad reached a tenuous cease-fire on Tuesday, which both sides know will likely not last longer than a few months. In a week or so, Palestinian terror groups will again begin firing rockets sporadically into Israel and the IDF will respond with the bombing of tunnels and so-called terror targets. The price in such a case would be far too high for what Israel is willing to pay. » Read more

Hamas No Longer Major Player in Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh - (Analysis) March 14, 2012 - 12:00am Hailing the latest Egyptian-brokered truce as an “achievement,” Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committees, the two groups who were behind the rocket and mortar attacks on Israel, have proven that Hamas is no longer the major player in the Gaza Strip. As of this week, Hamas will have to live with the fact that these two groups pose a challenge to the Islamist movement’s control over the Gaza Strip. » Read more

To the leftist who has no problem with rocket fire on Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Bradley Burston - (Opinion) March 13, 2012 - 12:00am War again. Rockets again. Israel assassinates the commander of a radical Palestinian militia coalition in Gaza. In retaliation, gunners in the Strip fire rockets at cities across southern Israel. Israel launches a series of air strikes targeting the launch crews. More than 20 Palestinians are killed and scores injured. In Israel, questions are raised about the wisdom and the necessity of the assassination. Sounds all too familiar. Not much new here, from the looks of it. Back pages, even in the Arab world. » Read more

Israel 'must end imputiny of violence by settlers' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Donald MacIntyre - March 14, 2012 - 12:00am EU governments, including Britain, have secretly been urged by their top diplomats in Jerusalem and the West Bank to press Israel to enforce laws against Jewish settlers responsible for an "alarming" rise in violence against Palestinians and their property. » Read more

Arabs to Play Key Role Deciding Kadima Race ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gil Hoffman - March 14, 2012 - 12:00am Two weeks ahead of the March 27 Kadima leadership primary, sources close to opposition leader Tzipi Livni and Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Shaul Mofaz said the race could be decided by the votes of Arab Israelis. More than 23,000 out of Kadima’s 95,000 members eligible to vote in the race are non- Jews. While there are no exact figures within the sector, party officials said it is split evenly among Arab Israelis and Druse. » Read more

U.S., Jordan Urge Abbas to Refrain From Threats to Dismantle Palestinian Authority ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - March 12, 2012 - 12:00am Over the last several weeks, the Palestinian issue has been pushed to the margins of both the Israeli and world media’s attention, as well as to that of the diplomatic agenda. The massacre in Syria, the presidential elections in Russia and the increasing tension with Iran captured the attention of Washington, the UN and Western Europe. » Read more

In Israel, Druze Community Divided Over Military Service ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Edmund Sanders - March 13, 2012 - 12:00am Reporting from Isfiyeh, Israel— Amal Asad began his barrier-breaking military career in the Israel Defense Forces after being drafted just days before the 1973 Yom Kippur War. He went on to become one of its first Arab paratroopers and retired as brigadier general, the second-highest rank achieved by a non-Jewish officer. » Read more