March 28th

Court Rejects Appeal Against Abbas Premiership ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 28, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- The Palestinian Constitutional Court in Ramallah on Tuesday rejected a legal challenge to President Mahmoud Abbas' appointment as prime minister of a national unity government. Fatah leader Abbas and Hamas chief Khalid Mashaal agreed in Qatar last month that the president will lead an interim cabinet to prepare for fresh elections and end divided governments in Gaza and the West Bank. PLO central council member Abdul-Jawwad Salih submitted a legal challenge to the appointment on the grounds that it is unconstitutional. » Read more

Netanyahu is our man ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) March 27, 2012 - 12:00am We need Netanyahu. Not because a Netanyahu government will more effectively rebuild the Israeli left. Not because I believe that for it to get better it has to get a lot worse, though both may be true. But because there is no one, absolutely no one in the Israeli political arena who has the capability of delivering a peace deal that the Israeli mainstream (meaning both the peace skeptics like Kadima voters and the religious and right of center people who together compose the vast majority of Israeli society) would support. » Read more

One state – one vote: Rethinking an Israeli Spring ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Bradley Burston - (Opinion) March 28, 2012 - 12:00am A beleaguered Democratic president, beset by an unpopular war overseas and raging polarization at home, clamps heavy pressure on Israel to make a dramatic gesture over the future of the West Bank. Israel's cabinet convenes to discuss the White House initiative. A minister-without-portfolio, less than three months in his first cabinet post, asks for the floor. He has a proposal regarding the Palestinians of the West Bank: Offer them citizenship and the right to vote. » Read more

Officials: 2 Killed on Israeli-Egypt Border ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 27, 2012 - 12:00am EL-ARISH, Egypt (Ma'an) -- Two people died in a clash late Tuesday in Egyptian territory near Israel's border, a Ma'an correspondent reported and an Israeli security official confirmed. Egyptian and Israeli security officials said a group of infiltrators was spotted entering Israeli territory and fled back into Egypt, where two people were killed either by smugglers or Egyptian forces. An Israeli army spokesman said soldiers identified two infiltrators inside Israeli territory and initiated arrest procedures, but they crossed into Egypt and exchanged fire with Egyptian forces. » Read more

Absentee Ballots Considered For Israelis Living Abroad ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Batsheva Sobelman - March 27, 2012 - 12:00am REPORTING FROM JERUSALEM--It's easy to vote in Israel. No prior registration. No other paperwork. If you're a citizen, just show up at the polls and be at least 18 years old. At the same time, it's almost impossible for Israelis abroad to cast election ballots. Unlike many nations including the U.S., Israel does not allow expatriates to cast absentee ballots. Only those abroad on official business such as diplomatic service are allowed to participate in elections for parliament and prime minister without returning home to vote. In the last election, this amounted to 5,600 voters. » Read more

Israel's occupation fills an ancient Mideast need for evil ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Salman Masalha - (Opinion) March 28, 2012 - 12:00am First of all, when it comes to Iran, it should be acknowledged that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is right. Since the ayatollahs took power Iranian leaders haven't stopped talking about Israel, referring to it as "the Little Satan" at every opportunity. And when these leaders, whose spiritual world is constrained by such messianic shackles, use such a loaded expression it's clear they must take active steps to deal with such a Satan, even a little one. But in saying that Netanyahu is correct, that's as far as it goes. » Read more

Bret Stephens' Crisis of Empathy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Hussein Ibish - (Opinion) March 27, 2012 - 12:00am Sometimes crude binaries can be instructive, and it's possible to distinguish two different types of people: those who seek out generous and universalist empathy with others, and those who prefer the warm cocoon of tribal solidarity. » Read more

Kadima Party in Israel Replaces Livni as Leader ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - March 27, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Tzipi Livni, who not long ago was a popular and leading force in Israeli politics, lost the leadership of her centrist Kadima Party on Tuesday by a large margin to an archrival, according to results of the primary election. Mr. Mofaz will replace Tzipi Livni, center. The vote left Ms. Livni’s political future in doubt. » Read more

Israel's occupation fills an ancient Mideast need for evil ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Salman Masalha - (Opinion) March 28, 2012 - 12:00am First of all, when it comes to Iran, it should be acknowledged that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is right. Since the ayatollahs took power Iranian leaders haven't stopped talking about Israel, referring to it as "the Little Satan" at every opportunity. And when these leaders, whose spiritual world is constrained by such messianic shackles, use such a loaded expression it's clear they must take active steps to deal with such a Satan, even a little one. But in saying that Netanyahu is correct, that's as far as it goes. » Read more

Total change ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons (Interview) March 26, 2012 - 12:00am An interview with Samir Abdullah bitterlemons: What would trigger the collapse of the Palestinian Authority? Abdullah: The Palestinian Authority takes its legitimacy from two sources. The first is how far it can advance the political project and the search for independence. The second is to what extent it can provide good-quality services, manage a good economy, provide jobs for the unemployed, provide social security to the elderly and the handicapped, and provide a good climate for investment and so on. » Read more