Palestinians try to create 'Facebook revolution' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Mohammed Daraghmeh - March 1, 2011 - 1:00am The mass demonstrations sweeping the Middle East are touching the Palestinian territories, where West Bank and Gaza Strip activists are trying to organize their own "Facebook revolutions." The Palestinian activists are inspired by the calls for democracy that toppled autocratic leaders in Egypt and Tunisia and threaten longtime rulers in Libya and Bahrain. » Read more

Jehan Sadat: Egypt-Israel peace treaty not in danger at all ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post March 1, 2011 - 1:00am The peace treaty between Israel and Egypt is not in danger and all opposition groups said they will respect international treaties, said Jehan Sadat Tuesday night in an interview with Channel 10 News. Jehan, the widow of former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat who signed the peace treaty with Israel in 1979, said she does not think there will be any changes made to the treaty and that "the people will not let there be any changes." » Read more

Housing for Jews approved in east Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Amy Teibel - March 2, 2011 - 1:00am Jerusalem officials approved new housing for Jews in the heart of an Arab neighborhood, officials said Wednesday, infuriating Palestinians who see the growing Jewish presence in the city's war-won eastern sector as undermining their aspirations to statehood. The approval further complicates efforts to restart deadlocked negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. The municipality said the plan to build 14 apartments in the Ras al-Amud neighborhood met all the necessary conditions for approval. » Read more

Settlers accusing Netanyahu gov’t of imposing silent building freeze ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Leslie Susser - February 28, 2011 - 1:00am Although the 10-month moratorium on building in Jewish settlements in the West Bank was lifted last September, settler leaders complain that no construction is being allowed in the large urban areas and warn that a de facto freeze on all Jewish building in the West Bank is looming. The settler leaders maintain that the Netanyahu administration is refusing to publish new tenders and that all current building is based on a limited number of permits issued years ago by previous governments. » Read more

For J Streeters, pro-Palestinian is pro-Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Uriel Heilman - March 1, 2011 - 1:00am The detractors of J Street, the “pro-Israel, pro-peace” lobbying organization, like to portray the organization's leader, Jeremy Ben-Ami, as so far to the left of mainstream American Jewish opinion as to be out of bounds. If they think Ben-Ami is too much of a lefty on Israel, just wait till they meet J Street's rank and file. » Read more

Israel might seek interim Palestinian peace deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Maayan Lubell - March 1, 2011 - 1:00am Israel is considering pursuing an interim peace agreement with the Palestinians, a senior official said on Tuesday, signalling the government might abandon efforts to secure a single, comprehensive accord. The official, who declined to be named, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might seek a "phased path" towards a permanent deal rather than a treaty that resolved all the core issues as envisaged by the United States and European allies. "Obviously Israel would prefer a final-status agreement but the consistent Palestinian refusal makes that difficult," the official said. » Read more

Realism and State Building in Palestine: Interview with Hussein Ibish ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Prospect by Charles de la Cruz - (Interview) March 2, 2011 - 1:00am As another decade is added to the over half-century of conflict in Israel and Palestine, optimism continues to be crushed under the weight of time. The breakdown of direct negotiations last September that resulted from Israel’s refusal to continue the freeze on settlements only made the future bleaker. No matter what side of the issue one sits on, it is clear that the approaches of both sides have failed to produce real solutions. New ideas and approaches are necessary if the conflict is going to be resolved in the foreseeable future. » Read more

Israel eases Gaza blockade, permits tomato exports ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Allyn Fisher-Ilan - March 2, 2011 - 1:00am Israel further eased its blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Wednesday by permitting a first truckload of cherry tomatoes destined for Europe to pass through their common frontier, officials said. Raed Fattouh, a liaison coordinator with Israel, said the truck had passed through a main crossing and its produce was to be shipped to Europe. Israel's Defence Ministry had said on Sunday the shipment was to go through with the produce scheduled to be sent to Europe, in coordination with the Dutch government. » Read more

Realism and State Building in Palestine: Interview with Hussein Ibish Interview with Hussein Ibish - Prospect - March 2, 2011 - 1:00am As another decade is added to the over half-century of conflict in Israel and Palestine, optimism continues to be crushed under the weight of time. The breakdown of direct negotiations last September that resulted from Israel’s refusal to continue the freeze on settlements only made the future bleaker. No matter what side of the issue one sits on, it is clear that the approaches of both sides have failed to produce real solutions. New ideas and approaches are necessary if the conflict is going to be resolved in the foreseeable future. » Read more

Israel army tests advanced tank weapon ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 2, 2011 - 1:00am A state-of-the-art anti-rocket system designed to protect tanks had its baptism of fire on Tuesday as Israeli forces clashed with Palestinian gunmen on the Gaza border, the army said. The military said an Israeli tank on border patrol was attacked by an anti-tank missile, but used the new equipment to neutralize the attack and did not return fire. » Read more