March 22nd

MESS Report / Can anything douse the flames of West Bank unrest? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amos Harel - (Opinion) March 22, 2010 - 12:00am The recent deterioration of calm in the West Bank, which involved two unpleasant incidents that occurred in less than 24 hours, are continuing to raise the heat of the West Bank barometer. Advertisement A week after the failed Palestinian attempt to ignite riots in Jerusalem and the West Bank over the building in the East Jerusalem neighborhood Ramat Shlomo, Israel is now fanning the flames with the deaths of four unarmed Palestinians at the hands of Israel Defense Forces soldiers. » Read more

In Gaza, theatre gives critics a rare voice ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Nidal Al-Mughrabi - March 22, 2010 - 12:00am Live theatre is rare in the Gaza Strip; public criticism of its Islamist rulers is rare too. So perhaps it was no surprise that a play which gives vent to Palestinian's frustrations with their leaders should be a hit. "The Cord", which opened this month to audiences of 1,000 or more in Gaza's main auditorium, takes aim at all the parties involved in the bitter, sometimes bloody, divisions that have hobbled the drive for an independent Palestinian state. » Read more

PA distributes assistance to poor, disabled ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 22, 2010 - 12:00am The Office of the President distributed financial assistance to a number of needy families and people with disabilities on Thursday, in cooperation with the Al-Bireh and Ramallah governorate. The assistance was provided to 40 families, and distributed by the head of the president's Office of Humanitarian Assistance, the director of public affairs and the head of the economic and social affairs section. » Read more

'Pitchfork remained on ground during purported attack' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Hanan Greenberg - March 22, 2010 - 12:00am Was a pitchfork attack thwarted? Many serious question marks are brought up by the IDF's initial investigation into the functioning of the soldiers involved in Sunday's incident next to Awatra in which two Palestinians carrying a pitchfork were killed by IDF soldiers. At the end of the debriefings on the incident and on the incident that took place on Saturday in which two other Palestinians were killed during a protest near Nablus, investigation material will be passed on to the military prosecutor, where it will be decided whether the military police will launch an investigation. » Read more

Ban shocked at persisting ruin of Gaza Strip ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 22, 2010 - 12:00am On his first visit to Gaza since the end of Israel's Operation Cast Lead, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the ongoing siege "not sustainable" adding that the continued closure "is wrong." More than a year after he spoke in front of the smoldering remains of the UN warehouse in Gaza City, hit by Israeli missiles during the December 2008-January 2009 war, Ban addressed Gazans in Khan Younis, saying they "are striving to provide for their families amid unacceptable, unsustainable conditions." » Read more

Security sources say settlers behind fire on Israeli patrol car ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 22, 2010 - 12:00am Palestinian security source cast doubt Monday on Israeli news reports alleging young men opened fire at an Israeli patrol car south of Hebron overnight. The incident, where young men were said to have attacked an Israeli military patrol car near the Nahal Negohot settlement, was reported by several Israeli media outlets, all unsourced. The Palestinian security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said security services learned from the Israeli liaison department that the news reports about shooting in the area were false. » Read more

Taking cue from US anger, Mahmoud Abbas digs in heels ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Joshua Mitnick - March 22, 2010 - 12:00am With Israel-US ties in crisis and tensions subsiding after the worst riots in Jerusalem in years, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas dug in his heels on peace talks on Wednesday. Sharing US anger over the announcement of a 1,600 home building project in East Jerusalem during Vice President Joe Biden's visit last week, Abbas retreated to a prerequisite that he dropped just a week ago in order to give a chance to a US initiative for indirect negotiations. » Read more

EU condemns Israel over e. J'lem intent ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press March 22, 2010 - 12:00am The European Union on Monday condemned Israel's intent to continue building in east Jerusalem, saying it represents a roadblock to international peace efforts. "The European Union has condemned all the settlement activities," said Spanish Foreign Miguel Angel Moratinos, whose nation holds the EU's rotating presidency. "We ask for a total freeze of settlement activity. We will pursue this policy." EU foreign ministers met in Brussels a day after Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced that Israel will not restrict construction in east Jerusalem. » Read more

Israeli-Palestinian peace hopes rise as US envoy prepares to get talks moving ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Luke Harding - March 19, 2010 - 12:00am The US special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, is due to fly to the region on Sunday to try to secure a resumption of Israeli-Palestinian talks amid optimism about a breakthrough. Mitchell had been due to visit Israel on Tuesday but his trip was cancelled – a victim of US-Israeli tensions. It was reinstated after Israel's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, bowing to US pressure, phoned the secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, last night to offer concessions.Mitchell is scheduled to see Netanyahu in Israel and the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, in Ramallah. » Read more

Strains in US 'special relationship' with Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Joshua Mitnick - (Analysis) March 22, 2010 - 12:00am Amid unusually high tensions between the US and its closest ally, Israel, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today addresses AIPAC – the strongest Israel lobby in Washington. At issue is just how far the US should push Israel to make difficult choices in the name of peace. Nearly half of Israel supports Quartet call for Israeli settlement freeze US Israel settlements fight marks lowest point since 1970s: ambassador Netanyahu faces 'moment of truth' after US slams Israel 'insult' Clinton call to Netanyahu: Israel settlement move a 'deeply negative signal' » Read more