Now that Netanyahu is surrounded by veteran unilateral withdrawers, is a surprise in store?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Yossi Verter - (Opinion) June 1, 2012 - 12:00am

For many long minutes on Wednesday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak stood at the podium at Tel Aviv's Institute for National Security Studies. He spoke lucidly about everything - Iran, the Palestinians, Syria, the budget, the Tal Law, party primaries. His main message related to the Iranian threat. "You can't sleep quietly at night with a sword hanging over your neck," he declared.


Shin Bet chief reports spike in terror plots against Israeli, Jewish targets
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
May 31, 2012 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Militant groups have stepped up efforts to strike both Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide during the past year, says the director of Israel's Shin Bet security service. "We've seen a significant acceleration in attempts to act against Israeli and Jewish targets in the world," Yoram Cohen said in a briefing to parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Wednesday.

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Ehud Barak: If negotiations fail, Israel must consider unilateral withdrawal from West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - May 30, 2012 - 12:00am

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Wednesday that Israel should consider unilateral moves if negations with the Palestinians fail to bear fruit. "We are a coalition of 94 MKs, this is the time to lead a diplomatic process," Barak said Wednesday morning in a speech at Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies. "But if it isn't possible to reach a permanent agreement with the Palestinians, we must consider an interim arrangement or even a unilateral move."

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Israel’s Defense Minister Calls for More Action Against Assad
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Jodi Rudoren - May 30, 2012 - 12:00am

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Wednesday praised the United States and other countries for ousting Syrian diplomats but said it was not sufficient, declaring that the massacre of 100 people in Houla “compel the world to take action — not just talk, but action.”

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Israel gas finds launch navy into troubled waters
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Dan Williams - May 29, 2012 - 12:00am

When Israeli economists contemplate their country's untapped natural gas finds far out in the Mediterranean, they dream of energy independence and lucrative export deals. Those charged with Israel's defence, however, worry that the navy - small and long a middling priority in budgets - may be hard put to protect the multinational drilling platforms and rigs out at sea.

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Israel steps up security ties with China
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Josef Federman - May 25, 2012 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM — After a prolonged chill, security ties between Israel and China are warming up. With Israel offering much-needed technical expertise and China representing a huge new market and influential voice in the international debate over Iran's nuclear program, the two nations have stepped up military cooperation as they patch up a rift caused by a pair of failed arms deals scuttled by the U.S.

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U.S. to reaffirm commitment to Israel's security
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
May 25, 2012 - 12:00am

WASHINGTON, May 24 (Reuters) - A senior State Department official will travel to Tel Aviv on Friday to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to Israel's security following just-concluded talks between world powers and Iran over its nuclear program. Wendy Sherman, undersecretary of state for political affairs, will discuss bilateral and regional issues with senior Israeli officials during her visit, the State Department said in a statement on Thursday.

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Sleepless in Jerusalem
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
by Oren Kessler - (Opinion) May 24, 2012 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM – Egypt's first round of presidential voting wrapped up on Thursday with the crop of viable candidates down to just a handful. Official results won't be ready until Tuesday, but next door in Israel, policymakers are already scrambling to sort the bad options from the worse.

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Settlers 'attack village' near Bethlehem
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
May 23, 2012 - 12:00am

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli settlers on Tuesday attacked several homes during a march through a village near Bethlehem, witnesses said. Dozens of settlers threw rocks at homes and shops in Tuqu and shut down the main road, preventing cars from entering the village, locals told Ma'an. Israeli soldiers were stationed at the entrances to Tuqu and were protecting the settlers, witnesses added. An Israeli military spokeswoman said settlers had lined up about a dozen cars in a procession through the area. She said the army was unaware of any incident.


Israel violates Egypt-brokered prisoner deal: PNA
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
May 22, 2012 - 12:00am

RAMALLAH, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) said on Tuesday that Israel has violated an Egypt-brokered prisoner deal that demands the transfer of 18 Palestinians it jailed from solitary confinement to regular cells. Palestinian Minister of Prisoners Affairs Eissa Qaraqe' said Israel is still holding one prisoner in solitary confinement, pointing to its "intention to evade the articles of the agreement. "

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