March 1st

Medics say 3 hurt in Gaza shelling, Israel denies ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Medics said three Palestinians sustained injuries early Friday in a shelling attack in the central Gaza Strip, but Israel's army denied involvement. Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman of the Gaza health ministry, told Ma’an that two injured people were transferred to al-Shifa hospital and a third was transferred to al-Aqsa hospital. Al-Qidra said the three victims were moderately injured in a shelling attack on al-Burej refugee camp. » Read more

Graves of the next intifada's victims are waiting in Dheisheh ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chaim Levinson - March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Residents of the Dheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem have prepared a cemetery plot for the fatalities of the third intifada, although speculation of another armed popular rising seemed premature in the camp this week. “We don’t want another intifada,” says Fatah leader in Dheisheh Mohammed al-Jafari, facing the rows of new, empty graves. “We are the last generation you can make peace with. There’s a five-year window of opportunity.” » Read more

Syria protests Israel's approval for oil drilling ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press February 28, 2013 - 1:00am Syria is protesting a recent decision by Israel to go ahead with a gas exploration project in the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau it captured from Syria in the 1967 war. » Read more

Lawmakers push measure on Israel's self-defense ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Donna Cassata - February 28, 2013 - 1:00am The United States would back Israel militarily if the Mideast ally were to attack Iran in self-defense, a bipartisan group of senators said Thursday in introducing a forceful resolution. "No one wants another conflict anywhere in the world militarily, but we also don't want a nuclear-capable Iran," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., at a news conference. » Read more

EU Slams Israeli Settlements, Urges Sanctions in New Report ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Common Dreams by Jacob Chamberlain - February 27, 2013 - 1:00am Illegal settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem poses the greatest threat to peace between Israel and Palestine, the European Union said in a report that urges all EU states to end all financial investments or transactions that could directly or indirectly aid the settlement-building process. » Read more

Israel Escalates Measures in Jerusalem, Says Fatah Council Member ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Palestine News Network March 1, 2013 - 1:00am Dimitri Diliani, a Member of Fatah Revolutionary Council, said on Thursday, 28 February, that Israel is constantly escalating its oppressive measures against the Palestinians of East Jerusalem, especially in Silwan and Issawiya. He said that Israeli police regularly raid the homes of Palestinians, arrest children and teens, and assault women and the elderly. Diliani said that in Issawiya alone, about 170 Palestinians were arrested in January. In Silwan, the youngest detainee was six-year-old. » Read more

Exclusive: Hamas Official Predicts Third Intifada ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Abeer Ayyoub - February 28, 2013 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority is “dragging its feet” on reconciliation due to US President Barack Obama’s scheduled visit in March, senior Hamas leader and Gaza parliamentarian Salah Bardawil told Al-Monitor in an exclusive interview. Bardawil touched on this along with the latest disputes between Hamas and Fatah and said that little progress is expected until after the Obama trip.  » Read more

UN's Ban: Erdogan's Zionism comment 'hurtful' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews March 1, 2013 - 1:00am UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's description of Zionism as a crime against humanity was "hurtful and divisive", adding to criticism of comments that risk deepening Turkey's rift with Israel.   » Read more

Kerry to chide Turkish PM over Zionism comments ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Arshad Mohammed - March 1, 2013 - 1:00am U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will upbraid Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on Friday for his description of Zionism as a crime against humanity, comments which could overshadow his first trip to a Muslim nation since taking office. Kerry is meeting Turkish leaders in talks meant to focus on Syria's civil war and bilateral interests from energy security to counter-terrorism. But Erdogan's comment at a U.N. meeting in Vienna this week, condemned by his Israeli counterpart, the White House and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, has clouded his trip. » Read more

Israel undermining own security with settlements, allies warn ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Los Angeles Times by Carol J. Williams - March 1, 2013 - 1:00am As Israel pursues an expanded settlement agenda in Palestinian territory, even its friends are beginning to sound like its adversaries. » Read more