Middle East News: World Press Roundup

NEWS: Israeli officials claim injuries to a Palestinian who died in custody are consistent with heart attack resuscitation attempts. (New York Times) The PA says it is going to try to ensure that an independent physician evaluates the case. (Ma'an) Israel's allies increasingly warn it that it is undermining its own security in the occupied Palestinian territories. (LA Times) A Hamas official predicts a third intifada. (Al Monitor) A local Fatah leader tells Israelis they must either make peace with his generation of leaders or face a future of open-ended conflict. (Ha'aretz) Israeli troops practice combating mass protests in the occupied West Bank. (Xinhua) Israel may be suspending highly controversial settlement construction in the occupied territories in advance of Pres. Obama's visit. (Washington Times) PM Fayyad joins a protest at a village deeply affected by Israel's West Bank separation barrier. (YNet) PM Netanyahu criticizes reported comments about Zionism by PM Erdogan. (Reuters) PM Erdogan is sharply criticized for comments equating Zionism with other trans-historical evils. (AP) Sec. Kerry will reportedly raise the issue with him. (Reuters) UNSG Ban calls the comments "hurtful." (YNet) A Fatah official says Israel is increasing "oppressive measures" in occupied East Jerusalem. (PNN) Republicans push a congressional bill ensuring the United States would support Israel in a confrontation with Iran. (AP) Syria protests an Israeli decision to go ahead with oil exploitation in the occupied Golan Heights. (AP) Palestinian doctors say three are wounded in Israeli shelling of Gaza, but Israel denies this. (Ma'an) Croatia says it's going to pull its peacekeeping troops from the border with the occupied Golan Heights. (AP) More Palestinian citizens of Israel are volunteering for National Service. (The Media Line) According to a new poll, most Americans sympathize with Israel, but want equal treatment for Israel and the Palestinians. (Real Clear World)

COMMENTARY: David Makovsky and Ghaith al-Omari say the rhetoric of leaders is crucial to laying the groundwork for renewing progress towards peace. (Washington Post) Gideon Levy and Alex Levac ask what really happened to Arafat Jaradat, the Palestinian prisoner who died in Israeli custody. (Ha'aretz) Yossi Sarid says it's absurd that the issue of National Service for the ultra-Orthodox in Israel is overshadowing the question of the occupation. (Ha'aretz) Alon Pinkas says with Sec. Hagel, Israel has a friend in the Pentagon. (YNet) Yehuda Bauer says "Netanyahu doesn't know history." (Ha'aretz) Adnan Abu Amer says Israel is preparing for cyber warfare with Palestinians. (Al Monitor) Jonathan Schanzer says Palestinians aren't ready for a third intifada… Yet. (Foreign Policy) Peter Beinart asks if Pres. Obama has lost interest in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Daily Beast) Amos Harel says tensions between Israel and Palestinians are continuing to accumulate and simmer. (Ha'aretz)

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Israel: Autopsy of Detainee Shows Signs of ‘Resuscitation Attempts’ ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - February 28, 2013 - 1:00am The Health Ministry said Thursday that tests showed that the hemorrhages and fractured ribs found during the autopsy of a Palestinian prisoner who died in Israeli detention last weekend were “characteristic of the resuscitation attempts that were performed on the deceased,” efforts that lasted for 50 minutes. » Read more

PA: Independent doctor to investigate detainee's death ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Israel will grant a request from the Palestinian Authority to bring an independent doctor to investigate the death of a detainee who died in Israeli custody, an official said Friday. Civil Affairs Minister Hussein al-Sheikh told Ma’an that the foreign doctor would investigate the death of Arafat Jaradat, who died last week in an Israeli prison. “This is the first time Israel agrees that a non-Israeli doctor will participate in an issue related to Palestinians in Israeli jails,” al-Sheikh told Ma'an. » Read more

Israel undermining own security with settlements, allies warn ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Los Angeles Times by Carol J. Williams - March 1, 2013 - 1:00am As Israel pursues an expanded settlement agenda in Palestinian territory, even its friends are beginning to sound like its adversaries. » Read more

Exclusive: Hamas Official Predicts Third Intifada ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Abeer Ayyoub - February 28, 2013 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority is “dragging its feet” on reconciliation due to US President Barack Obama’s scheduled visit in March, senior Hamas leader and Gaza parliamentarian Salah Bardawil told Al-Monitor in an exclusive interview. Bardawil touched on this along with the latest disputes between Hamas and Fatah and said that little progress is expected until after the Obama trip.  » Read more

EU Slams Israeli Settlements, Urges Sanctions in New Report ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Common Dreams by Jacob Chamberlain - February 27, 2013 - 1:00am Illegal settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem poses the greatest threat to peace between Israel and Palestine, the European Union said in a report that urges all EU states to end all financial investments or transactions that could directly or indirectly aid the settlement-building process. » Read more

Graves of the next intifada's victims are waiting in Dheisheh ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chaim Levinson - March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Residents of the Dheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem have prepared a cemetery plot for the fatalities of the third intifada, although speculation of another armed popular rising seemed premature in the camp this week. “We don’t want another intifada,” says Fatah leader in Dheisheh Mohammed al-Jafari, facing the rows of new, empty graves. “We are the last generation you can make peace with. There’s a five-year window of opportunity.” » Read more

Israeli troops practice repelling mass demonstrations in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Ahead of a possible escalation of violence in the West Bank, the Israeli military is training combat units on how to deal with planned protests by thousands of angry Palestinian demonstrators. During the workshop, the troops practiced using crowd-control measures largely considered non-lethal, like flash bangs, rubber- tipped bullets and stench bombs. » Read more

Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu suspends housing settlements ahead of Obama’s visit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Times by Cheryl K. Chumley - March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suspended all housing construction in contested areas of east Jerusalem and the West Bank as a diplomatic nod at President Obama’s upcoming visit. » Read more

Clashes in West Bank; Salam Fayad joins Bil'in protests ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Itamar Fleishman, Elior Levy - March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Palestinians are clashing with security forces who are attempting to disperse them in Hebron, after settler's windows were broken as a result of stone throwing. » Read more

Israel: Turk’s Remarks Criticized ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters February 28, 2013 - 1:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of » Read more

Kerry to chide Turkish PM over Zionism comments ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Arshad Mohammed - March 1, 2013 - 1:00am U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will upbraid Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on Friday for his description of Zionism as a crime against humanity, comments which could overshadow his first trip to a Muslim nation since taking office. Kerry is meeting Turkish leaders in talks meant to focus on Syria's civil war and bilateral interests from energy security to counter-terrorism. But Erdogan's comment at a U.N. meeting in Vienna this week, condemned by his Israeli counterpart, the White House and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, has clouded his trip. » Read more

UN's Ban: Erdogan's Zionism comment 'hurtful' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews March 1, 2013 - 1:00am UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's description of Zionism as a crime against humanity was "hurtful and divisive", adding to criticism of comments that risk deepening Turkey's rift with Israel.   » Read more

Israel Escalates Measures in Jerusalem, Says Fatah Council Member ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Palestine News Network March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Dimitri Diliani, a Member of Fatah Revolutionary Council, said on Thursday, 28 February, that Israel is constantly escalating its oppressive measures against the Palestinians of East Jerusalem, especially in Silwan and Issawiya. He said that Israeli police regularly raid the homes of Palestinians, arrest children and teens, and assault women and the elderly. Diliani said that in Issawiya alone, about 170 Palestinians were arrested in January. In Silwan, the youngest detainee was six-year-old. » Read more

Lawmakers push measure on Israel's self-defense ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Donna Cassata - February 28, 2013 - 1:00am The United States would back Israel militarily if the Mideast ally were to attack Iran in self-defense, a bipartisan group of senators said Thursday in introducing a forceful resolution. "No one wants another conflict anywhere in the world militarily, but we also don't want a nuclear-capable Iran," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., at a news conference. » Read more

Syria protests Israel's approval for oil drilling ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press February 28, 2013 - 1:00am Syria is protesting a recent decision by Israel to go ahead with a gas exploration project in the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau it captured from Syria in the 1967 war. » Read more

Medics say 3 hurt in Gaza shelling, Israel denies ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Medics said three Palestinians sustained injuries early Friday in a shelling attack in the central Gaza Strip, but Israel's army denied involvement. Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman of the Gaza health ministry, told Ma’an that two injured people were transferred to al-Shifa hospital and a third was transferred to al-Aqsa hospital. Al-Qidra said the three victims were moderately injured in a shelling attack on al-Burej refugee camp. » Read more

Croatia to pull its UN peacekeeping troops from Golan Heights citing security concerns ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Croatia will withdraw some 100 peacekeeping troops from the Syria-Israel border after reports that Syrian rebels have been armed with Croatian weapons, Croatia’s president said Friday. The government fears its troops could become targets for Syrian government soldiers fighting the rebels. President Ivo Josipovic said the security situation in the Golan Heights has deteriorated and the safety of the Croatian soldiers serving in the U.N. Disengagement Observer Force is in jeopardy. » Read more

More Arab Israelis Volunteer for National Service ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Linda Gradstein - February 28, 2013 - 1:00am When Nasim Awadallah finished high school two years ago, he didn’t have many prospects. His grades were not good enough to get into university. He worked at a minimum wage job for a few months but was not satisfied. So he volunteered for Israel’s national service, an alternative to army service, which is under the control of the Ministry of Defense. He works at the same school he attended in his village. In the mornings, he helps the physical education teachers and in the afternoons he coaches three separate soccer teams. » Read more

Majority of Americans Want Equal Treatment for Israel, Palestinians but Sympathize More with Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Real Clear World by Greg Scoblete - February 28, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

History professor Yehuda Bauer: 'Netanyahu doesn't know history' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Dalia Karpel - February 21, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

A friend in the Pentagon ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Alon Pinkas - (Opinion) February 28, 2013 - 1:00am Let's begin by making it clear that new US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is a friend of Israel and is attentive to the Jewish state's vital security and diplomatic interests. » Read more

Israel actually suffers from a litany of burdens ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yossi Sarid - (Opinion) March 1, 2013 - 1:00am What does Yesh Atid MK Yael German, formerly of Meretz and the Geneva Initiative, have to do with the Hebron cemetery where the Jewish murderer is buried alongside Zionism, may the Holy One avenge its blood? » Read more

What killed Arafat Jaradat? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Gideon Levy - (Opinion) March 1, 2013 - 1:00am It has been many years since last I saw a mourners' pavilion in the territories as large and as busy as the one for Arafat Jaradat, a previously obscure gas-station attendant from the town of Sa'ir. He was 30 years old, with two children; his wife is four months' pregnant. Jaradat was suspected of having thrown stones and a Molotov cocktail at Israeli forces and was arrested. He died last weekend after six days of detention and interrogation in an Israeli prison, and his death has become a national symbol. » Read more

A campaign to talk up a two-state solution ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Ghaith Al-Omari, David Makovsky - (Opinion) March 1, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Israel Braces for Cyberwarfare With Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Adnan Abu Amer - (Analysis) February 28, 2013 - 1:00am A few days ago, Uzi Moscovitch, chief of the Center for Computer and Information Systems in the Israeli Computer Services Directorate, surprised security circles by declaring that Israel is preparing for information warfare with Palestinians and Arabs by establishing a new operations room to monitor and curb cyberattacks in an orderly manner. » Read more

It’s Not an Intifada ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy by Jonathan Schanzer - (Opinion) February 28, 2013 - 1:00am Don't call it an intifada. Not yet, anyway. » Read more

Has Obama Lost Interest in the Israel-Palestinian Conflict? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Peter Beinart - March 1, 2013 - 1:00am As John Kerry begins his first overseas trip as secretary of State, foreign observers are beginning to suggest that, maybe, just maybe, the Obama administration will make the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a priority after all. » Read more

Israeli-Palestinian tensions could ultimately spark a major confrontation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amos Harel - (Opinion) March 1, 2013 - 1:00am As though 25 years hadn’t gone by, the Israel Defense Forces this week went back to using some of the terminology of the first intifada. Beginning this morning, a special alert was to be declared in the territories, with security forces deployed there ahead of an expected wave of demonstrations, revolving around the prayer services in the mosques. The police, too, will beef up their presence, with an eye on the weekly prayers on the Temple Mount. » Read more

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