March 23rd

Blundering toward disaster ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by David Horovitz - (Analysis) March 23, 2010 - 12:00am They applauded her entrance. They applauded intermittently throughout her speech. The loudest and most sustained ovation, predictably, came when she demanded that “Gilad Schalit must be released immediately and reunited with his family.” Overall, the reception, if not euphoric, was warm. » Read more

Israeli settlements an economic choice, says study ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters March 23, 2010 - 12:00am Israel builds thousands of homes in the West Bank each year, with settlers drawn mainly by economic benefits, according to an analysis published on Tuesday by the Tel Aviv Macro Center for Political Economics and conducted by Dr. Roby Nathanson. The United States and European Union consider the settlements illegitimate and an obstacle to peace between Israel and the Palestinians. But Israelis are attracted by their offer of affordable housing in a pleasant landscape. » Read more

A strong Obama is good for Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - (Analysis) March 23, 2010 - 12:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet a U.S. president Tuesday who is full of vigor and satisfaction. Barack Obama managed, albeit partially, where many other capable people, including his secretary of state, failed completely. The passage of the health reform bill became a true test of the president's strength. It would not be an exaggeration to say that leaders around the world watched the vote in Congress, and while some feared for the future of the president, others hoped that he would stumble and fall. » Read more

U.S. to convey Israeli responses to Palestinians this week: official ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua March 23, 2010 - 12:00am The Palestinian leadership will on Thursday receive Israeli explanations through Washington over a U.S. offer to lead indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians, a Palestinian official said Tuesday. The offer was approved earlier this month, but Israeli plans to expand a Jewish settlement in disputed East Jerusalem shed more doubts on the success of the proximity negotiations before they started. » Read more

Jewish settler leader sees building boom ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Allyn Fisher-Ilan - (Interview) March 23, 2010 - 12:00am Jewish settlement of the West Bank could triple to one million people despite Western pressure to curb the growth of enclaves in occupied land, says a leader of the Israeli settlers' council. "It's totally viable to envisage a million Jews living in Judea and Samaria," said Naftali Bennett, using biblical names for the West Bank, where 2.5 million Palestinians aspire to create their own state, along with 1.5 million in Gaza. » Read more

International Quartet statement ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 21, 2010 - 12:00am United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, United States Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell, and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union Catherine Ashton -- met in Moscow on 19 March 2010. They were joined by Quartet Representative Tony Blair. » Read more

PA cabinet: No return to violence ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 23, 2010 - 12:00am During its weekly cabinet meeting on Monday, the Palestinian government in Ramallah condemned the killing of four Palestinians in Nablus in less than 24 hours by Israel forces. The cabinet also condemned Israeli military strikes on the Gaza Strip. » Read more

Popular committee says organizer tortured ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 23, 2010 - 12:00am An organizer of popular resistance activities in the village of Al-Ma'asara alleged he was tortured while in Israeli prison, a report from the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee said on Monday. According to a statement from the committee, Al-Ma'asara organizer Omar Ala Ad-Din was detained as he passed through the Container checkpoint, an internal West Bank military post, on 14 March. » Read more

Thirsty Gaza residents battle salt, sewage ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Erin Cunningham - March 22, 2010 - 12:00am Activists around the world are marking World Water Day today with school campaigns, films, and concerts – all designed to draw attention to the fact that access to safe drinking water is something 1 in 5 people don't enjoy, while 40 percent of the world's population doesn't have adequate sanitation. » Read more

PA cabinet: No return to violence ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 23, 2010 - 12:00am Ramallah – Ma'an - During its weekly cabinet meeting on Monday, the Palestinian government in Ramallah condemned the killing of four Palestinians in Nablus in less than 24 hours by Israel forces. The cabinet also condemned Israeli military strikes on the Gaza Strip. » Read more