February 25th

Israeli army bracing for third intifada ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 25, 2013 - 1:00am The Israeli military is gearing for the prospect of a new Palestinian uprising, after violent clashes between security forces and Palestinians in Jerusalem and across the West Bank peaked over the weekend, local media outlets reported on Sunday. Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz convened a special situation assessment with top brass on Saturday night and instructed to complete preparations for "grave developments," meaning large-scale confrontations that could spark a third intifada, the Yediot Aharonot daily said. » Read more

The Many Scandals Of The Prisoner X Affair ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Michael Ross - (Opinion) February 21, 2013 - 1:00am There is a joke among spies that the worst curse you can bestow on a colleague is, "I hope to read about you in the newspapers one day." In the tragic case of Ben Zygier, the curse wasn't a joke, and he had to die for it to become a reality. Needless to say, the gallows humor that is a hallmark of my former profession has lost much of its luster. » Read more

Settlers in West Bank Shoot Two Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times February 23, 2013 - 1:00am Clashes erupted Saturday in the West Bank, with Jewish settlers shooting two Palestinian demonstrators in the northern village of Kusra, an Israeli military official and Palestinian resident » Read more

Dozens injured in West Bank clashes over prisoner death ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 24, 2013 - 1:00am Dozens of Palestinians were injured Sunday including two shot with live bullets at demonstrations across the West Bank to protest the death of a Palestinian in Israeli custody. At least 26 protesters sustained wounds from rubber and live bullets during clashes near Ofer prison, west of Ramallah, medics said. The 13-year-old son of a Preventive Security officer was taken to Ramallah government hospital after he was shot in the chest with a live bullet at the protest. A 19-year-old was shot with rubber-coated bullets all over his body, a Ma'an reporter said. » Read more

Palestinians protest in West Bank, Gaza to support prisoners on hunger strike ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 25, 2013 - 1:00am A strike, rallies and protests on Sunday dominated the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, in support of a hunger strike of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons which protested against a Palestinian inmate's death one day ago. Witnesses in the West Bank said most of the stores were closed Sunday, while schoolchildren and university students did not go to classes to protest the death of Arafat Jaradat, who died Saturday in Israel's Majeddo prison in the West Bank. » Read more

Prisoner's death stokes fears of third uprising ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Karin Laub - February 24, 2013 - 1:00am The mysterious death of a 30-year-old Palestinian gas station attendant in Israeli custody stoked new West Bank clashes Sunday, along with Israeli fears of a third Palestinian uprising. A senior Palestinian official alleged that Arafat Jaradat was tortured by Israel's Shin Bet security service, citing an autopsy he said revealed bruising and two broken ribs. Israel's Health Ministry said the autopsy did not conclusively determine the cause of death, but that the bruising and broken ribs were likely the result of attempts to revive the detainee. » Read more

Netanyahu’s political maneuvering may backfire ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Hassan Barari - (Opinion) February 25, 2013 - 1:00am http://arabnews.com/columns/netanyahu’s-political-maneuvering-may-back... » Read more

Palestinians Dispute Israel’s Findings on a Prisoner’s Death ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Khaled Abu Aker - February 24, 2013 - 1:00am The Israeli Health Ministry said Sunday night that preliminary autopsy findings could not determine the cause of death of a 30-year-old Palestinian prisoner, which Israeli officials had at first attributed to a heart attack. But Palestinian officials said the lack of heart damage coupled with bruising on the man’s chest, back and neck suggested that he was tortured during interrogation. » Read more

Analysis: Abbas caught between hammer and anvil ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh - (Opinion) February 25, 2013 - 1:00am Does the current wave of violence in east Jerusalem and the West Bank serve the Palestinian Authority’s interests? Or do the widespread protests, which are being described by some Palestinians as a “mini-intifada,” undermine its status? Some Palestinians believe that the PA leadership is interested in escalating tensions with Israel for various reasons. » Read more

Lawyer: Israeli officers tortured Jaradat ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 24, 2013 - 1:00am Israeli officers tortured Arafat Jaradat, a 30-year-old who died Saturday in Israeli custody, his lawyer and the Ministry of Detainee Affairs said Sunday. Kameel Sabbagh, a lawyer at the ministry, said he was present at Jaradat's last hearing on Thursday. The Israeli judge postponed the hearing for 12 days. "When I entered the courtroom I saw Jaradat sitting on a wooden chair in front of the judge. His back was hunched and he looked sick and fragile. » Read more