Middle East News: World Press Roundup

NEWS: Israeli occupation forces evict Palestinian protesters from the site of the controversial E1 settlement expansion, and PM Netanyahu vows to complete the project. Some Palestinian activists see such nonviolent protests as the wave of the future. Palestinian factions may be moving closer to a unity agreement, and Egypt says they have agreed to implement previous agreements. An American couple of Jewish origins are taken aback by aggressive security measures by Israel's airline. The EU details its planned drive for revivified peace talks in 2013. Jordan's King urges renewed Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Aid groups in "Area C" must strictly follow Israeli occupation rules or risk having their projects destroyed. Palestinian officials, including PM Fayyad, call on Arab states to rescue the PA from its financial crisis. Palestinian refugees are reportedly starting to return to a beleaguered camp near Damascus. An Israeli soldier is charged with assaulting a Palestinian citizen of Israel at a checkpoint. The JTA profiles Yair Shamir, a possible successor to the indicted FM Lieberman as head of the Yisrael Beiteinu party. COMMENTARY: Dan Fleshler looks at threats facing Israeli-Palestinian security coordination. Shlomo Avineri says constructive unilateral steps by Israel and the Palestinians are now the only way forward. AP looks at tensions between Pres. Obama and Netanyahu. Amira Hass says the E1 protest marks a change of tactics for Palestinian activists. Karl Vick says Palestinians are adopting settler tactics. Aeyal Gross says it's the Israeli governments settlement policies, not Palestinian protesters, that are violating the law. Oudeh Basharat says Arab citizens in Israel must vote. Aluf Benn looks at the new film "The Gatekeepers." Alon Ben-Meir says lack of trust is a key reason for the impasse between Israel and the Palestinians. Uri Savir proposes a national emergency cabinet for the next Israeli government. Rajab Abu-Sariyyah says the Egyptian initiative for Palestinian national reconciliation is a failure. Larry Derfner profiles MK Zoabi, "the most hated woman in Israel." David Remnick profiles extremist Israeli politician Naftali Bennett.

---

---

---

Clearing Palestinian protesters from West Bank site, Netanyahu pledges to build settlement ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Joel Greenberg - January 13, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Palestinian activists initiate peaceful struggle against Israeli settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua January 14, 2013 - 1:00am   "It is one of the strongest popular messages sent to Israel against the construction of the illegal settlements on the occupied Palestinian territories," one of the Palestinian activists who erected tents in the controversial E1 area between Jerusalem and the West Bank in protest of Israeli settlement expansion said Sunday, as Israeli soldiers were evacuating the activists' newly-set encampment. » Read more

Palestinian factions move closer to pact ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Hugh Naylor - January 11, 2013 - 1:00am   Leaders of the two main Palestinian factions yesterday moved a step closer to mending a rift that has divided their people and hindered international ties for almost six years. » Read more

Egypt says Fatah, Hamas agree to enact unity deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 10, 2013 - 1:00am An Egyptian official said the leaders of Hamas and Fatah factions had agreed at talks in Cairo on Wednesday to implement a long-delayed reconciliation pact, although it was unclear if the deal would extend beyond holding more talks. » Read more

U.S. couple with Jewish roots didn't expect El Al's inquisition ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - January 13, 2013 - 1:00am   The El Al security checkers abroad are apparently trained to treat anyone who doesn’t come under the category of Jewish ‏(or Christian Zionist‏) tourist with extreme suspicion. This is the conclusion to be drawn from the treatment meted out to 32-year-old Rebecca and her partner Rafiq, 34, who flew from New York to Tel Aviv on December 23. » Read more

Report: EU developing 2013 Mideast peace plan ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 13, 2013 - 1:00am The European Union is developing a proposal to restart peace talks between Israel and Palestine that it will put forward in March, Israeli media reported on Sunday. » Read more

Aid agencies tread gingerly in Area C ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 12, 2013 - 1:00am As night descends in the Jordan Valley in the occupied Palestinian territory, a family in the village of Ras Al-Ahmar lights a small paraffin lamp in the tent they call home. » Read more

Palestinian premier urges Arabs to pay pledged aid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press January 13, 2013 - 1:00am   The Palestinian prime minister warned Sunday that his government could fail to meet its obligations to its people because of a cash crunch, and urged Arab countries to deliver on promised aid. » Read more

Interview: Palestinian official calls on Arab states to rescue PNA from financial crisis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua January 13, 2013 - 1:00am   A senior Palestinian official on Sunday called on Arab states to immediately act to rescue the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) from a severe financial crisis and unprecedented economical and political challenges. » Read more

Palestinian group: Refugees returning to Damascus camp ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 14, 2013 - 1:00am Palestinian refugees are beginning to return to a Damascus camp they fled late last year, a Palestinian group in Syria says. » Read more

IDF officer charged with assaulting Israeli citizen at army checkpoint ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Gili Cohen - January 14, 2013 - 1:00am   An IDF officer was indicted for seriously assaulting an Israeli citizen of Bedouin origin after the latter complained for being detained at a military checkpoint. The indictment was filed by the military prosecution on Thursday. » Read more

Meet Yair Shamir, the political scion who could replace Avigdor Liberman ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ben Sales - January 14, 2013 - 1:00am   Yair Shamir says he doesn’t discuss hypotheticals. » Read more

The Future Of Palestinian-Israeli Security Cooperation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Dan Fleshler - (Opinion) January 11, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Striving for an illusion-free Middle East peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Shlomo Avineri - (Opinion) January 13, 2013 - 1:00am   This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Oslo Accords. The amount of time that has passed since their signing is the same that passed between the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 and the outbreak of the Six-Day War in 1967. In both cases, roughly a generation's worth of time, although for most people it might feel that the Oslo Accords were only signed yesterday. » Read more

Obama, Netanyahu: Bad blood between key allies ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Steven R. Hurst - (Opinion) January 14, 2013 - 1:00am     » Read more

E-1 protest marks change of tactics by Palestinian activists ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - (Opinion) January 14, 2013 - 1:00am   The idea of setting up a protest tent village in E-1 gained momentum over the past few weeks among members of the Palestinian Popular Committees - the same committees that for 10 years have been organizing weekly demonstrations in the West Bank against the Israeli occupation in general, and against the separation fence and settlements in particular. » Read more

When Palestinians Use Settler Tactics: A Beleaguered Netanyahu Responds ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Time by Karl Vick - (Opinion) January 14, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

The Palestinian right of return to E-1 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Eyal Gross - (Opinion) January 14, 2013 - 1:00am   On Friday, as part of the petition against the eviction order of the "outpost" established by Palestinians in the E-1 corridor between Jerusalem and Ma'aleh Adumim, High Court Justice Neal Hendel granted a temporary order prohibiting the evacuation or destruction of tents erected by Palestinians on the lands of A-Tur, unless there was "an urgent security need." » Read more

Arabs in Israel must vote ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Oudeh Basharat - (Opinion) January 14, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

The Shin Bet sewer cleaners ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Aluf Benn - (Opinion) January 13, 2013 - 1:00am   "The Gatekeepers” isn’t just another leftist protest film against the occupation. Far from it. Dror Moreh’s documentary is the semi-official history of Israel’s Shin Bet security service since 1967, told from the mouths of six of its former leaders. This is the service’s version of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This is also the story of “the old elite,” which is fed up with the eternal war. » Read more

Distrust and the reality of coexistence ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Alon Ben-Meir - (Opinion) January 13, 2013 - 1:00am  One of the main impediments to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the lack of trust between the two sides. » Read more

A national emergency government ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Uri Savir - (Opinion) January 13, 2013 - 1:00am I do not envy Binyamin Netanyahu on the morning of January 23.He will most probably wake up as a reelected prime minister with a hangover from a euphoric Netanyahu-style self-congratulatory victory speech. » Read more

Failures of Palestinian Reconciliation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Rajab Abu Sariya - (Opinion) January 14, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

The Most Hated Woman in Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy by Larry Derfner - (Opinion) January 11, 2013 - 1:00am   Sitting in a barren, slightly mildewy campaign office in this Arab village, I asked Haneen Zoabi, an Arab member of the Israeli Knesset, what it was like being the country's most hated politician. "It doesn't bother me at all," she said. » Read more

The Party Faithful ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New Yorker by David Remnick - (Opinion) January 14, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

---

---