Middle East News: World Press Roundup

NEWS: PM Netanyahu is reportedly considering legislation to bypass the Supreme Court-ordered demolition of an “unauthorized” settlement outpost built on privately owned Palestinian land. The future of a Jewish settlement in occupied East Jerusalem appears to hinge on documents possessed by a Palestinian taxi driver. Pres. Abbas again warns Israel about the consequences of the death of any hunger striking prisoner, as one is reportedly near death. The PA says it has arrested suspects in the murder of the late Governor of Jenin. Hamas apologizes for shutting down a literary festival in Gaza. An Israeli city has reportedly banned girls from singing at an upcoming conference. In a telephone conversation, Sec. Clinton urges Netanyahu to use his new huge coalition to advance peace. Palestinians show no enthusiasm for Israel's new coalition. Ramallah’s Ashtar Theater is performing Richard II at an international Shakespeare Festival in London. COMMENTARY: Reuters interviews Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Charles Krauthammer says the new coalition means Israel is ready for war with Iran, but Nadav Eyal says Israel is probably bluffing. Natan Sachs says the revolt against Netanyahu over Iran from within Israel's security establishment should be a source of deep concern, not reassurance. Ahmed Rashid says any Israeli attack will deliver Iran massive support in the Muslim world it otherwise cannot attract. Niv Elis says his new coalition shows Netanyahu's centrist orientation, but Nir Eisikovits wonders if he will use his increased power to continue to pursue conflict with Iran or to help Israel, including by seeking peace with the Palestinians. Uri Savir says that for Israel, 2012 might be the year of cynical political decisions but 2013 must be the year of momentous national decisions. Lara Friedman says Israeli Amb. Oren correctly defined what it means to be “pro-Israel” in a recent speech. Dov Waxman says Palestinian citizens of Israel should not be forced to prove their loyalty through “National Service.”

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Netanyahu to convene special meeting to discuss bill legalizing Ulpana outpost ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua May 11, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scheduled on Thursday a special cabinet meeting for Friday with government members to debate on a law that would legalize a controversial West Bank outpost. Netanyahu called on the government members on Thursday to debate on the possibility of approving a bill to legalize the 30 Ulpana outpost homes in the West Bank, the Ha'aretz daily reported. » Read more

The Palestinian taxi driver crucial to Jewish settlement in E. Jlem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Nir Hasson - May 11, 2012 - 12:00am Mohammed Nabulsi's paper trail has been catching up with him, which is making it difficult for Jewish settlers and their state patrons to take over East Jerusalem homes. Starting in the 1970s, Nabulsi, an East Jerusalem taxi driver, provided settler organizations with affadavits claiming that Palestinian owners of East Jerusalem homes were "absentees" residing in enemy countries, which the state used over and over to expropriate the properties and turn them over to settler organizations. » Read more

Palestinian leader warns Israel over hunger strike ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press May 10, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, West Bank — The Palestinian president says his people "will not be quiet" if any harm comes to a group of Palestinian hunger strikers held by Israel. Hundreds of prisoners are striking, including two men who have not eaten for 73 days. The strikers want better conditions and an end to an Israeli system of holding them for months without charge. President Mahmoud Abbas told a West Bank rally on Thursday that if anyone is harmed, "we will not be quiet ever." He did not elaborate. » Read more

Lawyer: Halahla could die at any moment ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency May 11, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Prison doctors have told Thaer Halahla that he could die at any moment after 72 days on hunger strike, his lawyer Mona Neddaf said Thursday. Neddaf visited Halahla, 33, in Ramle prison clinic on Thursday, the prisoner rights group Addameer said in a statement. He is vomiting blood, bleeding from his gums and lips and has extremely low blood pressure, she said. His temperature is fluctuating at dangerous levels and the prison doctor said he also has an infection. He has refused food since Feb. 29 and now weighs 55 kilograms. » Read more

PA: Suspects in Jenin shooting attack detained ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency May 11, 2012 - 12:00am JENIN (Ma'an) -- Security forces on Thursday arrested the perpetrators of a shooting attack on the home of the late governor of Jenin, a spokesman said. On May 1, assailants opened fire on Qaddura Musa's home in Jenin. The governor left his home with security chiefs to investigate when he suffered a heart attack that killed him, police spokesman Mujahid Rabiya said. » Read more

Hamas shuts down Gaza literary festival, only to later apologize ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz May 11, 2012 - 12:00am A leading Palestinian human rights group has condemned the Gaza Strip's Hamas government on Thursday for violently breaking up a Palestinian literature festival. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights said that armed Hamas men cut off electricity, confiscated cameras and dispersed the Palestine Festival of Literature near Gaza City. Participants said that speakers at Wednesday night's gathering had been critical of Hamas. » Read more

Israeli city bans girls from singing at conference ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press May 10, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — An Israeli newspaper says a central city has agreed to a request by an Orthodox religious group to ban girls from singing at a youth conference next week. The Haaretz daily reported Thursday that the Kfar Sava town council imposed the ban to respect the wishes of the Bnei Akiva religious youth group. Various youth movements are set to participate in the conference. Strictly Orthodox Jewish men do not listen to women singing for reasons of religious modesty. » Read more

Clinton to Netanyahu: Use unity cabinet to advance Mideast peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - May 11, 2012 - 12:00am Washington hopes the new, expanded coalition will enable Israel to take steps to advance peace talks with the Palestinians, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a phone call to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday. Over the past few years, Netanyahu has repeatedly claimed that he couldn't make certain gestures toward the Palestinians for fear that it would topple his government, which relied on smaller parties to his right. » Read more

Can good come of it? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Economist (Analysis) May 12, 2012 - 12:00am NO SOONER had news broken of the sudden alliance in Israel between Binyamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, and Shaul Mofaz, hitherto the leader of the main opposition, than the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, called yet again for “substantive” talks to achieve a Palestinian state. Palestinian negotiators dusted off a plan Mr Mofaz first proposed in 2009 and has reiterated several times, wondering whether he might repackage it. » Read more

Ramallah’s Ashtar Theater perform Richard II in London ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Sheyma Buali - (Theater Review) May 11, 2012 - 12:00am London, Asharq Al-Awsat- Shakespeare has been translated into every major language, interpreted via every art and theater movement, has been the basis of discussions about language on multiple levels – including the formation of words and grammar. His plays and poetry have changed the way people think of romance, tragedy, comedy, fantasy and even the bizarre. His impression on lyrical works and drama has not waned in the 400 years that people of all ages have been studying and receiving his works, whether in classrooms or theaters. » Read more

Hamas says it will not go to war for Iran ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Samia Nakhoul, Michael Stott - (Interview) May 10, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA, May 10 (Reuters) - The Islamist movement Hamas will not let itself be dragged into a war against Israel if it attacks the nuclear facilities of Hamas ally Iran, Gaza leader Ismail Haniyeh said on Thursday. "Hamas is a Palestinian movement that acts within the Palestinian arena and it carries out its political and field actions in a way that suits the interests of the Palestinian people," he said at his headquarters in the enclave. » Read more

Echoes of ‘67: Israel unites ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Charles Krauthammer - (Opinion) May 11, 2012 - 12:00am In May 1967, in brazen violation of previous truce agreements, Egypt ordered U.N. peacekeepers out of the Sinai, marched 120,000 troops to the Israeli border, blockaded the Straits of Tiran (Israel’s southern outlet to the world’s oceans), abruptly signed a military pact with Jordan and, together with Syria, pledged war for the final destruction of Israel. » Read more

Is Israel Bluffing? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'ariv by Nadav Eyal - (Opinion) May 4, 2012 - 12:00am In the capitals of the world, from Washington eastward to Europe and Asia, everyone is asking the same simple question: Have the Israelis been bluffing all along? The effects of the confrontation between Dagan and Erdogan in New York were also felt in Tehran. » Read more

Israel's Spy Revolt ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy by Natan Sachs - (Opinion) May 10, 2012 - 12:00am Something has gone very wrong with Israel's posture on Iran's nuclear program. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak lead a confrontational approach -- including dramatic interviews and speeches to U.S. » Read more

What an Israeli attack on Iran will mean for the Muslims ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Ahmed Rashid - (Opinion) May 11, 2012 - 12:00am Iran's nuclear program, which could have the capacity to produce weapons-grade nuclear material sooner rather than later, remains a principal focus of international attention, despite a vast international policy crisis vis-a-vis the Middle East, due to the developments engendered by the so-called Arab Spring. » Read more

Broad coalition in Israel shows Netanyahu's centrist colors ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Niv Elis - (Opinion) May 10, 2012 - 12:00am Israel woke up to an astounding new political reality Tuesday morning, one in which religious and far-right parties had lost considerable influence. » Read more

Will Netanyahu stay obsessed with Iran or use his new coalition to help Israel? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Nir Eisikovits - (Opinion) May 10, 2012 - 12:00am Love him or hate him, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a stargazer, a strategic thinker. » Read more

National unity, but not national decisions ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Uri Savir - (Opinion) May 10, 2012 - 12:00am At the beginning of the week, I intended to write an article about the decision processes that would have been necessary in Israel and United States following the 2012 national elections in each country. The elections in the United States are still taking place; the elections in Israel have been postponed and may take place on time in 2013 or earlier. » Read more

Ambassador Oren Gets it Right on "Pro-Israel" ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Lara Friedman - (Opinion) May 10, 2012 - 12:00am Thank you, Ambassador Oren.  On Sunday you told an audience in Detroit what “pro-Israel” means.  » Read more

Uncle Herzl Wants You ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Dov Waxman - (Opinion) May 10, 2012 - 12:00am Among the justifications (or excuses) offered by Netanyahu and Mofaz for the creation of Israel’s new national unity government is that they will soon try to institute mandatory national service for all Israeli citizens. Intended to replace the much-maligned Tal Law, which allowed ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students to avoid military service and was declared unconstitutional by Israel’s Supreme Court, the promised law will ensure that all Israelis share the national burden, as Netanyahu put it. » Read more

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