Panetta: Congress decision to freeze PA aid a mistake
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Yoav Zitun - October 3, 2011 - 12:00am

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Monday that Congress's decision to freeze $200 million in aid to the Palestinians was a mistake. Panetta, who is visiting Israel for the first time since he assumed the role of US defense secretary, also noted that any Israeli strike on Iran must be coordinated with countries in the region.

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Obama Sold Israel Bunker-Buster Bombs
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
by Eli Lake - September 29, 2011 - 12:00am

While publicly pressuring Israel to make deeper concessions to the Palestinians, President Obama has secretly authorized significant new aid to the Israeli military that includes the sale of 55 deep-penetrating bombs known as bunker busters, Newsweek has learned.

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Border Control / Mideast peace can provide all the security Israel needs
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Akiva Eldar - (Opinion) September 27, 2011 - 12:00am

The main, if not the only, innovation in the prime minister's address at the UN General Assembly was the demand that the Palestinians house military bases inside their new state. This, of course, in addition to the need for "defensible borders," that is a result of Israel's narrow middle. In order to illustrate the sensitivity of this shape, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "disclosed" to the world that a fighter jet could cross the width of the country in just three seconds.

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IDF-Palestinian coordination remains effective, despite heightened tensions
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Tomer Zarchin - September 26, 2011 - 12:00am

Security coordination between the Israel Defense Forces and Palestinian security forces has proven its effectiveness in the face of heightened tensions over the Palestinian Authority's application for membership at the United Nations last week. Large-scale demonstrations in PA-controlled towns were kept from spilling over into other areas of the territories that are controlled by Israel.

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U.S. Makes Security Preparations for After Palestinian Bid at UN
Media Mention of Hussein Ibish In Bloomberg - September 23, 2011 - 12:00am

The U.S. has laid the groundwork for maintaining security in the aftermath of the Palestinian bid for statehood at the UN, including the possibility of violence. The effort includes discussions with Gulf countries, planning with Israeli and Palestinian security forces, and aid to ensure the Palestinian Authority can pay its personnel. The U.S. has made clear its intent to block a Palestinian request for United Nations recognition. To avoid needing to exercise its veto power, the U.S. has been working with Israel to persuade members of the Security Council to abstain from voting.

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U.S. Makes Security Preparations for After Palestinian Bid at UN
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bloomberg
by Nicole Gaouette - (Analysis) September 22, 2011 - 12:00am

The U.S. has laid the groundwork for maintaining security in the aftermath of the Palestinian bid for statehood at the UN, including the possibility of violence. The effort includes discussions with Gulf countries, planning with Israeli and Palestinian security forces, and aid to ensure the Palestinian Authority can pay its personnel. The U.S. has made clear its intent to block a Palestinian request for United Nations recognition. To avoid needing to exercise its veto power, the U.S. has been working with Israel to persuade members of the Security Council to abstain from voting.

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Tensions over Palestinian UN bid spur new patrols in West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
by Rebecca Collard - September 21, 2011 - 12:00am

As Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas defends his bid for statehood at the United Nations, his people are defending their land. Amid rising tensions between Palestinians and Israeli settlers in the West Bank, who both lay claim to the land, a coalition of local and foreign activists have begun setting up neighborhood watch patrols to monitor key flashpoints. The project highlights a newfound Palestinian boldness on the ground that mirrors Mr. Abbas's determination at the UN – despite American pressure.

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Israel clears embassy staff from Amman ahead of Jordan protest
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Joel Greenberg - September 15, 2011 - 12:00am

Concerned about a demonstration planned outside its embassy in Amman, the Israeli government brought its ambassador and most embassy staff back to Israel late Wednesday night. The move reflected concern about a possible repeat of an incident last Friday in Cairo, in which protesters stormed the Israeli Embassy, and Israel’s ambassador in Egypt and his staff were airlifted back to Israel. After intervention by top U.S. officials, Egyptian police and military broke up the protest and commandos extricated six Israeli security guards who were trapped in the embassy. 83 Comments

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Israel okays PA's acquisition of anti-riot gear ahead of UN vote
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amos Harel - September 15, 2011 - 12:00am

Israel has given approval for the Palestinian Authority to equip its security forces with riot-control gear, such as tear gas grenades and rubber bullets. The PA has approached Israeli firms to buy such equipment in advance of expected demonstrations on the West Bank around the Palestinians' request for United Nations recognition as an independent state.

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Israeli-Arab militant cell held
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
September 15, 2011 - 12:00am

A statement from internal security service Shin Bet said the Israeli-Arabs wanted to attack a police post, as well as a soldier and a policeman. It alleged that the attacks were planned in their village of Daburiyya, just east of Nazareth, in Galilee. A lawyer for the men was quoted as dismissing the allegations. Shin Bet said the men were part of "the Salafist jihadist stream", and had been looking at materials on how to make improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

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