April 14th

Arab-Israeli row thwarts Med water deal in Barcelona ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News April 14, 2010 - 12:00am The Mediterranean Union conference in Barcelona had hammered out 99% of a draft text, delegates said. But the deal failed when Israel and Arab countries disagreed over how to describe the Palestinian territories. Israel objected to "occupied territories", while "territories under occupation" did not suit the Arab bloc. The United Nations has warned that almost 300 million people in the Mediterranean region will face water shortages by 2025. » Read more

Israel warns citizens to leave Sinai amid terror fears ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News April 13, 2010 - 12:00am The prime minister's office said it had "concrete evidence" that terrorists were planning to attempt to kidnap Israelis in the peninsula. Israel took the unusual step of calling on families of the Israelis who are visiting Sinai to contact them. It fears that Palestinian militants will transfer hostages to Gaza through tunnels under the border. The warning by Israel's security agencies came after a rumour that an Israeli had been kidnapped in Sinai. The Israeli emergency service Zaka later said that rumour was untrue. » Read more

PM’s pullout from nuke summit draws spotlight ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Hilary Leila Krieger - (Analysis) April 13, 2010 - 12:00am When Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu pulled out of this week’s conference on nuclear security near midnight Thursday, Israeli officials put out word he wanted to avoid efforts by Muslim countries to use the forum to attack Israel’s undeclared nuclear arsenal. Officials told The Jerusalem Post that by not attending, other countries’ ability to focus on Israel would be greatly reduced since it would “not be the same” without Netanyahu in the delegation. » Read more

Petraeus: Israel vital strategic ally ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post April 14, 2010 - 12:00am US Gen. David Petraeus reiterated Tuesday that "Israel is - has been, is and will be a - an important strategic ally of the United States." In an address to Washington based think tank the "Woodrow Wilson Center," Petraeus, commander of the US military’s Central Command, said reports claiming that he was seeking to relocate both Israel and Palestinian Territories from the European Command to his Central Command were “not correct". » Read more

US senators press Clinton on Mideast peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews April 14, 2010 - 12:00am An overwhelming majority of US senators urged Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday "to do everything possible" to shore up ties with Israel and thaw the frozen Middle East peace process. Seventy-six of the 100 US senators signed a letter urging Clinton to ease tensions over Israel's decision to build more settlements in east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians seek as the capital of their future state. 'Unbreakable bonds.' Clinton and Netanyahu (Archive photo: Amos Ben-Gershom, GPO) » Read more

IDF concerned over 'Fayyad intifada' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Hanan Greenberg - April 14, 2010 - 12:00am The IDF has been relaying messages to the Palestinian Authority asking that it work towards curbing riots and demonstrations in the West Bank, particularly those surrounding the security barrier. The army fears the protests may lead to further escalation, and IDF Central Command chief Major-General Avi Mizrahi has ordered a series of measures aimed at defusing tensions. » Read more

Israel is to blame for Jerusalem's rising Arab population ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Shaul Arieli - (Opinion) April 14, 2010 - 12:00am The conduct of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet marks a new peak in the government's march of stupidity on Jerusalem. In the best case this march will put Israel in an inferior position when negotiations with the Palestinians are renewed. In the worst case it will advance the transformation of Jerusalem into a capital with an Arab majority of a single state between the Jordan River and the sea. » Read more

Prospect unpromising as U.S. Middle East envoy to return to push talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by David Harris - April 14, 2010 - 12:00am The United States special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell is expected back in the region next week to try once again to advance the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. Israel dispatched its senior negotiators to Washington on Monday for consultations with members of the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama. Back in Jerusalem, senior Israeli government ministers met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday night to consider their formal response to a series of pointed questions from Obama. » Read more

Israel's West Bank deportation order comes into force amid controversy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 14, 2010 - 12:00am Two military orders that authorized Israeli army to deport Palestinian residents from the West Bank came into effect on Tuesday, revealed Israeli human rights organization HaMoked. "Signed but not revealed by Israeli authorities, the orders are worded so broadly, such as theoretically allowing the military to empty the West Bank of almost all its Palestinian inhabitants," said HaMoked. The military orders, with prevention of infiltration and security provisions, view anyone who is present in the West Bank without an Israeli permit as an "infiltrator," said the rights watchdog. » Read more

Hamas orders Gaza smuggling tunnels shut ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Karin Laub - April 14, 2010 - 12:00am Gaza's Hamas rulers have ordered residents to shut smuggling tunnels along the border with Egypt indefinitely, cutting off the economic lifeline for 1.5 million Palestinians in the impoverished territory, residents and tunnel operators said Wednesday. Forces of the Islamic militant Hamas moved into the border area late Tuesday and ordered tunnel operators to cease operations until further notice. The operators were allowed to retrieve food and other perishable goods, but otherwise barred from the area on Wednesday. » Read more