Israeli talk show host probed for describing Leftists and Arabs as 'anti-Semites' and 'Nazis'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Emilie Grunzweig - February 23, 2012 - 1:00am

Israel's broadcasting regulator body has initiated an investigation of a Tel Aviv radio show featuring a prominent attorney, over several complaints of frequently sounded on-air slurs directed at left-wing supporters and Arabs. The probe was also the result of a Justice Ministry decision, which stated that, while the opinions voiced in Yoram Sheftel's show "Sheftel Atzbani" [Sheftel is Cranky] did not necessitate a criminal investigation, The Second Authority for Television and Radio should look into the matter.

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The future of Israel lies not in international relations, but in the hands of Israelis themselves
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Daily Mail
by Alex Brummer - (Opinion) February 23, 2012 - 1:00am

When it comes to Middle East reporting, the central narrative has for several decades been Israel-Palestine. But for the past year, since the start of the Arab Spring (Israeli sources prefer to call it the Arab Winter or Arab Tempest), it is the rest of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) from Egypt to Bahrain, from Syria to Libya, that have been in the limelight. Indeed, of the 17 or so countries which make up the MENA region, almost all – including Israel with its own ‘cottage cheese’ protests – have seen some kind of protests, many of them violent and bloody.

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Israelis Seem Resigned to a Strike on Iran
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Joel Greenberg - February 22, 2012 - 1:00am

TEL AVIV — A recent installment of the popular Israeli satirical television show “A Wonderful Country” captured the public mood here regarding a possible strike on Iran and its consequences: a mix of resignation and gallows humor. In one scene, a house-hunting couple is shown a Tel Aviv apartment facing a drab housing project as a real estate agent proclaims that the place will have a view of the sea. “In June, that whole row of buildings won’t be here anymore,” she cheerfully informs the prospective buyers, gazing out a window.

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State Approves Housing Units in Shilo Post Factum
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Israel News
by Yair Altman - February 22, 2012 - 1:00am

The Civil Administration approved Wednesday the construction of 505 new housing units and legalized 190 units previously built in the West Bank settlement of Shilo. A Defense Ministry official said that any further construction would call for the government's approval and therefore they do not expect any other units to be built anytime soon. The ministry also stated that the existing housing units were not built on private lands but rather on State-owned land.

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It could be just like Switzerland
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Economist
by Hirsh Goodman - (Interview) February 22, 2012 - 1:00am

HIRSH GOODMAN is a senior research associate at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University. He is former vice president of the Jerusalem Post and founder and former editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Report. He is the author of “The Anatomy of Israel’s Survival” (2011). ECONOMIST: What don't most people know about modern Israel?

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Israel demolishes West Bank villages as Jewish outposts remains untouched
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Akiva Eldar - (Analysis) February 21, 2012 - 1:00am

It is doubtful whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has expressed great concern over the fate of Migron's residents, has heard of Tha'lah. Unfortunately for the village's residents, Tha'lah is situated in Area C, which is under Israel jurisdiction. Minister Benny Begin, who worked so tirelessly on the questionable "agreement" that will leave the Migron criminals on stolen land for a few more years (if it is ever implemented ), presumably does not know what happened to the residents of this tiny village in the Southern Hebron Hills.

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Palestinian journalists under pressure
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Roy Greenslade - (Blog) February 21, 2012 - 1:00am

The International Press Institute (IPI) has registered its concern over the treatment of Palestinian journalists by both Israeli forces and Palestinian security services. The press freedom watchdog says that since the beginning of 2012, at least five journalists working in the Palestinian territories have been subjected to arbitrary arrest. Two more have had their detention periods extended. Three of those who were arrested recently were allegedly interrogated for several hours about their writing before being released. The other two remain in custody.

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Palestinian On Hunger Strike to Be Freed Without Court Ruling
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Isabel Kershner - February 21, 2012 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM — A Palestinian who fasted for 66 days to protest his detention without charge ended his hunger strike on Tuesday after the Israeli authorities agreed to release him in mid-April, if no major new evidence is brought against him.

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Writing on the Wall: Israel and Its Christians
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
by David Rosenberg - (Opinion) February 21, 2012 - 1:00am

Graffiti on Jerusalem church points to negative attitudes among many Jews A day after it was discovered on the exterior walls of a Jerusalem Baptist church this week, graffiti declaring “Death to Christianity” had been cleaned up and a host of officials from the Israeli government had visited with apologies and expressions of concern. But for the Christian community in Israel, the environment remains inhospitable.

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Israel Watches Syria, Hopefully, but Warily
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Ethan Bronner - February 21, 2012 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM — As Israelis watch the bloody confrontation between the Syrian people and the government of President Bashar al-Assad, they are torn by two sentiments: The downfall of Mr. Assad would deal a major blow to Iran and so would be welcome. But without a central authority, Syria could descend into being a land of chaos and terrorist bases on Israel’s northeast border. Enlarge This Image Uriel Sinai/Getty Images In the Golan Heights town of Majdel Shams, Druse men took part last week in a protest against Israel's control of the region.

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