February 23rd

Dubai and Hamas and the “Real Killer” ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Tariq Alhomayed - (Opinion) February 22, 2010 - 1:00am The assassination of Mahmoud al Mabhouh in Dubai has entered a new, dramatic chapter. After the Dubai Police Chief accused Israel’s Mossad of being responsible for the elimination of al Mabhouh, and following the disclosure of important details taken from images and passports used in the assassination, the story has taken on international dimensions involving Britain, France and Germany. » Read more

'PA officials involved in sale of Jerusalem assets to Jewish groups' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ali Waked - February 22, 2010 - 1:00am Former Palestinian General Intelligence chief Fahmi Shabana told a press conference in Jerusalem Monday that a senior officer in the Palestinian Authority's security apparatus sold Palestinian assets in the Old City to a Jewish organization. According to Shabana, the officer was not prosecuted despite the fact that investigators were able to gather solid evidence against him. » Read more

France's Sarkozy backs 'viable' Palestinian state ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters February 22, 2010 - 1:00am French President Nicolas Sarkozy backed the creation of a "viable" Palestinian state on Monday but was cautious about repeating his foreign minister's support for possible recognition of a state before its borders were set. Speaking at a news conference in Paris with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Sarkozy repeated France's support for statehood for Palestinians but added: "We have always said a viable Palestinian state." » Read more

Goldstone Report back on UN agenda ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yitzhak Benhorin - February 23, 2010 - 1:00am The UN General Assembly is scheduled to convene Friday in order to vote on an extension period of five months for Israel's internal investigation of Operation Cast Lead as well as the investigation announced by the Palestinian Authority following the Goldstone Report. Outcomes According to a resolution submitted by Western countries, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will be asked to once again report on the progress of the individual probes to member states after the five month period comes to an end. » Read more

Palestinians: We thwarted suicide attack against Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff - February 23, 2010 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority thwarted a suicide attack about six weeks ago that a young woman from Nablus had planned to carry out in Israel, Palestinian security sources have told Haaretz. The woman, who belongs to the Islamic Jihad, was arrested by the Palestinian security forces. A spokesman for the Palestinian forces, Adnan Damiri, said he had no information on the subject. According to Palestinian security sources, they have recently thwarted a number of attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians. Rocket handover » Read more

Dubai hit can't distract from need for Palestinian talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yoel Marcus - (Opinion) February 23, 2010 - 1:00am Okay, it was a successful operation. Maybe here and there a bit clumsy. Amos Biderman's cartoon in Haaretz in which "our fine young men" were all wearing the same glasses because there was a sale at Opticana reflects our preoccupation with the killing of one Arab, dangerous and wicked as he may be. But it doesn't solve any of the really serious problems facing the country. » Read more

Netanyahu's weakness for Jewish heritage costs lives ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - February 23, 2010 - 1:00am In an interview with Ari Shavit published Monday in Haaretz, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reported there are signs negotiations with the Palestinians would start in the foreseeable future. According to Jordanian sources, the talks between Israel and the Palestinians, mediated by the United States, are scheduled to open on March 12 and continue for three months. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) announced on Sunday in Tripoli that he received answers to the 10 questions of clarification he presented to the Americans regarding the talks. » Read more

Four Palestinians killed in southern Gaza Strip: medics ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 23, 2010 - 1:00am Four Palestinians, including three children were killed on Monday night in two separate incidents in southern Gaza Strip ruled by Islamic Hamas movement, medics in Gaza said. They said that three children, all are brothers, were killed at their home in the village of Abbassan, east of the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, when an electric generator exploded, adding that five family members were injured. » Read more

UN official "concerned" as Palestinians outraged over West Bank shrines ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 22, 2010 - 1:00am A senior UN official on Monday voiced his concern over the Israeli government's decision to include two West Bank shrines into the Jewish state's list of heritage sites. In a statement sent to the media, Robert Serry, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said he was " concerned" since the two sites are located "in occupied Palestinian territory and are of historical and religious significance not only to Judaism but also to Islam, and to Christianity as well." » Read more

Jordan condemns Israel's plans to annex West Bank sites ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 22, 2010 - 1:00am Jordan on Monday condemned Israel's plans to annex historical sites located in the West Bank to its heritage list, the state-run Petra news agency reported. On Sunday, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhau announced that Israel would annex Al-Haram Al-Ibrahimi and Rachel's Tomb in Hebron in the West Bank. Al Haram Al Ibrahimi is one of the holiest shrines in Islam and Rachel's Tomb is known to the Muslim world as Belal Mosque. The two sites are scared to both Jews and Muslims. » Read more