December 1st

As the Peace Process Goes Sideways, Gaza's Economy Remains Stifled ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Time by Karl Vick - (Blog) December 1, 2011 - 1:00am Israel's grip on the Palestinian economy amounts to business as usual. Palestinians carry shekels in their pockets, and most of what they buy with the Israeli currency comes from Israel, which is said to account for at least 80% of foreign trade with the occupied territories. That is a dependence that goes unremarked until something untoward comes along, such as the recent Palestinian effort to gain recognition as a state. » Read more

Israel hurting itself ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Uri Misgav - (Opinion) December 1, 2011 - 1:00am Ever since the Palestinians were accepted into UNESCO last month, Israel has been halting fund transfers for the taxes and duties it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority in the framework of the Oslo Accords. While hundreds of millions of shekels are being held up in Jerusalem, members of Israel’s government continue to argue over what’s the right move. Let’s make it easier for them. Below is a list of conditions that make it permissible, reasonable, and preferable to continue freezing these funds: » Read more

Working to solve the conflict ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Howard Sumka - (Opinion) December 1, 2011 - 1:00am Across Israel and the Palestinian territories hard-liners empower each other and drown out voices for peace. Distrust, fear and alienation increasingly define the next generation of Israelis and Palestinians. The status quo of fatalism and political lethargy looms over them. » Read more

Anti-Arab laws and the appearance of democracy in Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Nadim Rouhana - (Opinion) December 1, 2011 - 1:00am The spate of anti-democratic bills recently introduced by the Israeli government has forced the issue onto the public agenda in Israel. This is so not because anti-democratic bills are new, but mainly because for the first time some of the proposed bills threaten democracy for Jewish citizens themselves. » Read more

Electoral politics behind Canada's Mideast policy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Mohammed Azhar Ali Khan - (Opinion) December 1, 2011 - 1:00am Such an appeal would have found receptive ears in the days when Canada supported the United Nations and sought to promote peace with justice and respect for human rights everywhere, including the Middle East. But then Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin Jr. moved away from Canada's traditional fairness in favor of unquestioned backing of Israel. Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government has gone even farther. » Read more

Al-Zahar: Inter-Palestinian reconciliation will not take place because Abbas is not serious about this ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Saleh Al-Naami - (Interview) December 1, 2011 - 1:00am Hamas strongman Mahmoud al-Zahar broke ranks last week to criticize Hamas leader Khalid Mishal on his handling of the inter-Palestinian reconciliation talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The inter-Palestinian reconciliation saw Mishal accept a Palestinian State within the 1967 borders, as well as the provision of another time-limit period for negotiations with Israel, something that al-Zahar strongly spoke out against. » Read more

New anti-Semitism directed at Israel’s liberals ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Carlo Strenger - (Opinion) December 1, 2011 - 1:00am A few days ago I was struck by a statement by MK Yaakov Katz of the Nation Union party about the law that will allow Justice Grunis to be Dorit Beinish’s successor as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: “This Law returns control to the people and wrests it away from a small, pathetic group; a bunch of Tel Avivian, secular Neturei Karta that emanates lack of love for the people of Israel, and adhere to laws of the gentiles.” » Read more

The Assault on Israel's Vibrant Democracy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Huffington Post by Abraham H. Foxman - (Opinion) December 1, 2011 - 1:00am There are many reasons why the recent spate of domestic legislation in Israel -- regarding non-governmental organizations, the media, Israel as a Jewish State, the Supreme Court -- is disturbing. In many of these cases, the Knesset is addressing real and challenging problems. But it is doing so in the wrong way. The truth is that a number of foreign governments and non-governmental organizations have been funding activities in Israel that go beyond representing a diversity of viewpoints about Israel's political and security situation. » Read more

German sub deal sealed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) December 1, 2011 - 1:00am Germany authorized the subsidized sale of a sixth naval submarine to Israel. Berlin officials said Wednesday that the Merkel government had decided to defray approximately a third of the cost of a new Dolphin submarine for Israel, clearing the way for the sale. Israel has three of the Dolphins, which are worth about $500 million each, with another two on order and awaiting delivery by 2013. » Read more

German sub deal sealed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) December 1, 2011 - 1:00am Germany authorized the subsidized sale of a sixth naval submarine to Israel. Berlin officials said Wednesday that the Merkel government had decided to defray approximately a third of the cost of a new Dolphin submarine for Israel, clearing the way for the sale. Israel has three of the Dolphins, which are worth about $500 million each, with another two on order and awaiting delivery by 2013. » Read more