Will Israel and Lebanon's new naval partnership last?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
by Allison Good - (Blog) April 12, 2012 - 12:00am

Although the Arab Spring hasn't won Israel many friends in the Middle East, Haaretz reported yesterday that its navy "recently strengthened its cooperation with the Lebanese Navy in the Mediterranean." The partnership, Israel hopes, will prevent provocations in the form of possible pro-Palestinian flotillas to Gaza on May 15, or Nakba Day, which commemorates "the displacement of Palestinians following the establishment of Israel in 1948, and on Naksa Day, which takes place in June and commemorates the displacement of Palestinians after the 1967 war."

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IDF Soldiers Suspected of Stealing Palestinian’s Gold in West Bank Raid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Gili Cohen, Avi Issacharoff - April 11, 2012 - 12:00am

The Military Police is investigating allegations that soldiers stole pieces of gold worth tens of thousands of shekels from the home of a Palestinian man during a late-night raid in a West Bank village last week. The investigation began after the head of the household, Ata Shatwi, submitted a complaint to the Civil Administration.

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IDF Admits Barring Palestinians’ Access to Own Fields
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Chaim Levinson - April 11, 2012 - 12:00am

The state has confirmed that, acting without a court order, the army has barred Palestinian villagers from freely accessing their farmland for two years. The admission was made in the state's response to a High Court petition filed last year by Beit Furik residents.

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IDF Closes Off Central Palestinian Town to Vehicles
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Oz Rosenberg - April 11, 2012 - 12:00am

The Israel Defense Forces is not allowing vehicles in or out of A-Ram, a Palestinian city of 60,000 northeast of Jerusalem, because of a recent increase in stone and firebomb throwing at army patrols by local youth, the army said. Late Sunday night, soldiers placed large boulders across all four lanes of the road at the city's main entrance to block incoming and outgoing vehicular traffic. Pedestrians are not restricted, the IDF said. The entrance to A-Ram northeast of Jerusalem, which has been blocked by the military.

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Israel endangers region by willfully courting trouble
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
by Linda Heard - (Opinion) April 10, 2012 - 12:00am

The Middle East is evolving into an ever more dangerous neighborhood largely due to Israel’s increasing belligerence and intransigence. Rather than attempt to mend diplomatic fences with its former “friends” Egypt and Turkey it is using its cash and US leverage to make new regional alliances. Israel is also flexing its muscles and openly making threats toward Iran, Lebanon and Egypt.

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Iran Media: Israel-Linked ‘Mercenaries’ Arrested
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
April 10, 2012 - 12:00am

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's official news agency says the country's intelligence department has dismantled an Israeli-linked assassination and sabotage network. The Tuesday report by Irna says several "mercenaries" were arrested in different parts of the country and that large quantities of weaponry and telecommunications equipment were seized. It said more details will be revealed at an appropriate time in the future. Iran periodically announces the capture or execution of alleged U.S. or Israeli spies, and often no further information is released.


The Israeli and Arab Dimensions of Iran's Nuclear Program
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Brookings
by Shibley Telhami - (Analysis) April 10, 2012 - 12:00am

Suzanne Maloney draws attention to many important angles of the international crisis over Iran’s nuclear program and America’s policy choices. But there are also others for Washington to consider—namely, the Israeli and Arab dimensions. Here are ten brief points for the next president to reflect on.

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West Bank: Teens Erect Outpost, Clash with Security Forces
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Itamar Fleishman - April 10, 2012 - 12:00am

Several dozen Jewish teenagers on Tuesday took advantage of the Passover holiday to erect a new outpost near the Hashmonaim community in the West Bank. The teens, who called the outpost "Or Hadash (new light)," clashed with security forces at the scene. The security forces confiscated tools that were used to build the outpost. Two teenage girls who tried to snatch the tools back were held for questioning but released a short while later after agreeing to identify themselves.

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Palestinian accuses Israel Police of beating him, hiding evidence
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Revital Hovel - April 9, 2012 - 12:00am

A 26-year-old Palestinian man from Jenin was severely beaten by Israeli police officers in Daliat al-Carmel two weeks ago and dumped at a checkpoint, according to a complaint he filed with the internal affairs unit. Police say they believe the man was in Israel illegally. The internal affairs unit is investigating the man’s allegations, but said it could not divulge details of the investigation. Doctors removed Rami Washahi’s spleen to curtail his abdominal bleeding, and he was hospitalized for four days, Washahi said.

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Israel says ready for Hezbollah attack
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from United Press International (UPI)
April 8, 2012 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM, April 8 (UPI) -- Israeli military officers say the country's armed forces are preparing for a mass incursion into Lebanon if war breaks out with Hezbollah again. Based on intelligence gathered by the military, the air force could take out targets such as training bases and rocket launching pads in a matter of days. However, officers say a ground offensive would be necessary due to Hezbollah's underground command posts and camouflaged launching pads.

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