Internal Israeli Politics | The American Task Force on Palestine

Foreign policy in shadow of Holocaust
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Jonathan Rosen - (Opinion) April 18, 2012 - 12:00am

Holocaust Remembrance Day presents Israelis with an opportunity to rise above their mundane pursuits and trivial concerns to honor the memory of the victims and survivors of the Nazi death machine. No less importantly, this day is an occasion for Israeli citizens, both as individuals and as members of broader communities, to reflect on the enduring mesh of personal, national and universal lessons that are to be drawn from the Holocaust.

Israeli Official Voices Doubts on Iran Nuke Talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Diaa Hadid - April 18, 2012 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM — Israel's deputy foreign minister says the nuclear talks between Iran and Western powers in Istanbul last week may have been a stalling tactic by Tehran. Danny Ayalon, of the hawkish Israel Beitenu Party, is cautioning against "falling into the trap of a good atmosphere." He says the lapse of nearly a year and a half since a previous summit failed was "wasted" time. Ayalon is urging the international community to tighten sanctions on Tehran immediately, rather than wait until July as planned. He spoke to reporters Wednesday in Jerusalem.

Israel Cracks Down on Hunger-Striking Prisoners
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
April 18, 2012 - 12:00am

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- The PA Ministry of Detainee Affairs said Wednesday that Israel has tightened procedures against prisoners on a mass hunger-strike launched a day earlier. The ministry said in a statement that Israel's prison administration put detainees in solitary confinement without electricity. Prisoners in Ashkelon jail said detainees were threatened with transfer to a new section, and banned family visits.

Netanyahu must stop hiding behind Holocaust warnings
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
(Editorial) April 18, 2012 - 12:00am

Holocaust Remembrance Day will be marked beginning this evening by official ceremonies and speeches. As time passes, and despite the dwindling number of survivors, the Holocaust appears to be occupying a more and more prominent place in the life of the State of Israel.

Israel Fighting the Wrong War, Overreacts to Activist 'Flightilla'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor
by Nahman Shay - (Opinion) April 17, 2012 - 12:00am

At the end of the day, it was clear that a mountain had been made out of a molehill. Of the 1,200 activists who were supposed to land in Israel, only several dozen arrived. A few were arrested and a couple released, and the event came to a close. A sigh of relief by government officials — including those within the police and the Interior Ministry, which dealt with the affair — silently brought an end to what had seemed to be a major attack on Israel’s air space and entry point. But to what end?

Barak says Israel never ruled out attacking Iran
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Aron Heller - April 17, 2012 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM — Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Tuesday his country has never promised the United States it would hold off from attacking Iran while nuclear talks were taking place. The comments, in which Barak said that a diplomatic push to reach a compromise with Iran was a waste of "precious time," further exposed a rift between Israel and the U.S. over how to deal with the Islamic Republic and its nuclear program.

Netanyahu: Cabinet to vote on plan to legalize three West Bank outposts
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - April 17, 2012 - 12:00am

Following the recommendations of Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a meeting of Likud ministers on Tuesday that he will ask the cabinet to approve the status of the Bruchin, Sansana and Rachalim, respectively.

An occasional Palestinian Christian encounter of Israeli intolerance
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
by Baha Hilo - (Opinion) April 17, 2012 - 12:00am

The Israeli ambassador to the US appears to really believe that Palestinian Christians suffer significantly from Palestinian Muslims, and just occasionally from Israeli intolerance. Palestinian Christians' reality is the complete opposite. The ambassador's latest missives in the American press have provoked Palestinian Christian leaders to remind him and his readers that Israel really isn't all that friendly to its Christians.

Israel Police establishes unit to enforce demolition of Bedouin homes
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Yanir Yagna - April 17, 2012 - 12:00am

Israel Police is establishing a new unit to enforce demolition and evacuation orders served to scattered Bedouin villages in southern Israel, in order to deal with “trespassing into state lands.” The unit, which will be made up of 200 police officers, will be established in cooperation with the Prime Minister’s Office to enforce Israeli land laws in the Negev.

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