Internal Israeli Politics | The American Task Force on Palestine

Religious Trash Talk Goes Mainstream in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
by Ben Lynfield - January 31, 2012 - 1:00am

With the Israeli-Palestinian peace process suspended, religious fundamentalists on both sides of the conflict are gaining wider influence. Palestinian and Israeli analysts alike warn that the trend could further complicate prospects for a resolution by turning a nationalist clash over territory into more of an absolutist religious war.

Educating Israel's children in right-wing politics
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Avirama Golan - (Opinion) January 31, 2012 - 1:00am

Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar has made a mockery of Breaking the Silence. For a year the organization has been pestering him to allow its members to lead junior high school pupils on a tour of Hebron, just like the right-wing non-profit organizations do - and finally he agreed. But before the first student had boarded the first bus the police arrived and cancelled the tour. How surprising.

Israeli government offers concessions to settlers
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Amy Teibel - January 31, 2012 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has made two overtures to West Bank settlers in the run-up to his party's leadership race on Tuesday: It's offering financial incentives to encourage people to move to settlements and opening the door to legalizing rogue settler outposts.

Israeli PM answers questions from Arab Internet surfers
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
January 31, 2012 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday answered questions on Facebook from Arab Internet users regarding issues, including the ongoing turmoil in Arab nations and the peace process with the Palestinians. For the first time, the Prime Minister's Office, through their Facebook page in Arabic, allowed users to pose questions that were answered via a translator from Hebrew to Arabic.

Terror Targets With Teflon-Coating
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
by David Rosenberg - January 30, 2012 - 1:00am

Does seeing a bus bombing or a shooting attack on television, or reading about in the newspaper, affect your state of mind? Common sense says it should. Terrorists certainly believe that small but high-profile acts of violence undermine their enemies’ morale. There is documented evidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on a mass scale after events like 9/11. But a recent study seeking a correlation of terror attacks to people’s sense of happiness begs to differ.

Hard-line Israeli settler challenges Netanyahu for ruling Likud Party leadership
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
January 30, 2012 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM — A hard-line Jewish settler who wants to pay Palestinians to leave the West Bank and Gaza is running against Israel’s prime minister in Tuesday’s ruling party primary election. Moshe Feiglin has little chance of defeating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but he could deliver an embarrassing blow to the country’s leader in his fourth try for leadership of the Likud, none of which have had a realistic shot at success.

Students must be exposed to the Israeli occupation
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
(Editorial) January 30, 2012 - 1:00am

The eighth-graders of the Hebrew University Secondary School (also known as "Leyada" ) were supposed to tour Hebron yesterday, to meet with local settlers and also with members of Breaking the Silence, a group that collects testimony about the abuse of Palestinians from soldiers who serve in the West Bank. The Education Ministry and the Israel Police approved the initiative to take the students to the occupied territories and to present them a balanced view of what's going on there.

Israel needs a few more lessons in apartheid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Salman Masalha - (Opinion) January 30, 2012 - 1:00am

Scholars of the social sciences know how to defend a public opinion survey. In their way of thinking, this is a scientific tool with which it is possible to assess feelings and understand positions and trends at any given time. Together with these "quiz shows" that supply the masses with a glimpse of the mood of the public, we are also able to familiarize ourselves with the personal feelings, points of view and tendencies of those who conduct the polls.

An alternative to Israel's High Court of Justice
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Israel Harel - (Opinion) January 26, 2012 - 1:00am

From time to time the demand is heard in Israel to establish a constitutional court, like the most advanced countries have. Ever since Chief Justice Aharon Barak expanded the right to petition the court, the High Court has been used continually by extremist organizations funded by foreign governments and groups. These front organizations are working, it is said, to change the character of the country.

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