Israel Supreme Court rules Hebron Jews can't reclaim lands lost after 1948
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Chaim Levinson - February 18, 2011 - 1:00am

The Jewish community in Hebron celebrated this week the decision of Education Minister Gideon Sa’ar to fund Jewish heritage trips for students to the city’s Tomb of the Patriarchs. But last week, the community suffered a setback when the Supreme Court ruled that Jews could not be given property which belonged to them in the city before 1948, and that they are also not entitled to be given any compensation for it.

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Israel faces emboldened Palestinian delegation in the UN
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Shlomo Shamir - (Opinion) February 16, 2011 - 1:00am

Palestinians are vigorously working to get the United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlement building passed. They are working quickly to get support from the organization's general assembly before Israel's new UN ambassador Ron Prosor, takes up his position.

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Rights org says Israel failing to control settler violence
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
February 16, 2011 - 1:00am

Israeli rights group Yesh Din released a report Wednesday, accusing Israel of "chronic failure" to enforce the law on Israeli citizens who commit offenses against Palestinians in the West Bank Nine out of 10 investigations of Israeli attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank are closed with no indictment served, the report said.

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Knesset committee approves bill allowing Israel boycotters to be fined
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Jonathan Lis - February 15, 2011 - 1:00am

The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee approved a bill on Tuesday that calls for heavy fines to be imposed on Israeli citizens who initiate or incite boycotts against Israel, despite the Foreign Ministry's objections. The Knesset approved an initial reading of the bill over six months ago. The bill will now move on to a first reading in the Knesset for approval. If it becomes a law, the fines would apply to anyone boycotting Israeli individuals, companies, factories, and organizations.

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Knesset passes 'Bishara bill' following stormy session
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Rebecca Anna Stoil - February 14, 2011 - 1:00am

Despite impassioned opposition by Meretz and the Arab parties, a law that allows the committee to revoke the salary of any MK who fails to report for questioning when summoned by the police sailed easily through its final readings on the Knesset floor Monday evening. The bill, sponsored by Yisrael Hasson (Kadima), Yariv Levin (Likud) and co-sponsored by a number of MKs empowers the House committee to vote to deny the salary, pension payment, and any additional payments paid to a current or former MK.

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Protecting Israel from its citizens
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Avirama Golan - February 14, 2011 - 1:00am

On Tuesday, a Knesset committee is due to approve on second and third readings the bill combating boycotts against Israel - another hysterical proposal by the right wing and Kadima MK Dalia Itzik designed to protect our weak and tiny country, which is being attacked from within and without.

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PM, FM at odds over UK envoy post
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Roni Sofer - February 14, 2011 - 1:00am

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Monday that he has disagreements with the prime minister but that his party has no intention of withdrawing from the coalition. He added that National Security Advisor Uzi Arad would not be appointed ambassador to London as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided. In an Yisrael Beiteinu faction meeting, the foreign minister commented on the appointment of Ron Prosor as Israel's ambassador to the United Nations. He said that he was behind the appointment and slammed the prime minister.

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Top Israeli intellectuals to state: Probe rabbi's alleged link to Rabin assassination
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Jonathan Lis - February 13, 2011 - 1:00am

Leading Israeli intellectuals and Israel Prize laureates demanded the immediate firing of a top rabbi accused of supporting a book justifying the killing of non Jews on Saturday, urging the state to investigate him for his alleged role in the assassination of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Last week, police issued a warrant for the arrest of Dov Lior, the head rabbi of Kiryat Arba and a senior figure in religious Zionism, following the rabbi's refusal to appear for questioning on the support he gave for the controversial book "Torat Hamelech."

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Lieberman mulls leaving Netanyahu government if conversion bill fails
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - February 10, 2011 - 1:00am

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is considering withdrawing from the government and bringing about a general election unless his party pushes through the military conversion bill that recently passed a preliminary reading in the Knesset. Lieberman said as much last month in a meeting with MKs from his party, Yisrael Beiteinu, at a Dead Sea hotel. The meeting was documented by journalist David Deri of Channel 10's Saturday news magazine. The report will be broadcast this Saturday.

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Why Do U.S. Officials Boycott Bethlehem's Mayor?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Huffington Post
by Daoud Kuttab - February 9, 2011 - 1:00am

Why does the US boycott one of its own citizens who happens to be the Christian mayor of Bethlehem? This has been the case regarding Victor Batarseh, the elected mayor of the Palestinian town of Bethlehem.

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