March 1st

EU says PA made 'enormous progress' in statehood prep ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 1, 2010 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority has made “enormous progress” in preparing for statehood based on the rule of law and in the spirit of good governance, “even under the current difficult political environment”, said Christian Berger on Friday, the EU representative in the occupied Palestinians territories. His comments came as officials from the EU and the PA met in Brussels on Friday to continue dialogue on human rights, good governance and the rule of law in the context of the European Neighbourhood Policy. » Read more

Rafah crossing opens after two months of closure ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 1, 2010 - 1:00am Egyptian authorities opened the Rafah crossing on Monday, allowing Palestinians to both enter and exit Gaza for the first time in two months. Shortly before noon, two buses had already passed into Egypt from the Strip. The increased movement at the crossing is expected to continue for three days, officials said. » Read more

Two Dubai Suspects Traveled to U.S. ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Wall Street Journal March 1, 2010 - 1:00am At least two of the 26 suspects sought by Dubai police for the alleged killing of a top Hamas leader appear to have entered the U.S. shortly after his death, according to people familiar with the situation. Records shared between international investigators show that one of the suspects entered the U.S. on Feb. 14, carrying a British passport, according to a person familiar with the situation. The other suspect, carrying an Irish passport, entered the U.S. on Jan. 21, according to this person. Senior Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Mabhouh's body was found in a Dubai hotel room on Jan. 20. » Read more

Once seemingly impregnable, Hamas shows signs of vulnerability ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Janine Zacharia - January 27, 2010 - 1:00am Struggling to maintain its strength in the West Bank amid a crackdown by Israel and Palestinian police and suffering after the assassination of one of its top leaders, Hamas has sustained another blow with news that the son of one its founders had been spying on it for Israel. » Read more

Israeli Police Clash With Stone Throwers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner - February 1, 2010 - 1:00am Israeli police officers in Jerusalem entered the plaza containing Al Aksa Mosque on Sunday after Palestinian youths barricaded inside threw stones at visitors they believed to be radical Jewish settlers. Dozens of young Palestinians had spent the night in the compound, holy to Muslims and Jews, because of rumors that militant Jews planned to take it over during the Purim holiday, which began Sunday. The resulting clashes ended with more than a dozen youths injured, seven men detained and four police officers slightly injured. The site was calm but tense by late afternoon. » Read more

Slain Hamas Operative Was Drugged, Dubai Police Say ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Robert Worth - February 28, 2010 - 1:00am A Hamas official who was killed in his hotel room here in January was first injected with a fast-acting muscle relaxant and then suffocated, Dubai police officials said Sunday. The disclosure was the latest in a near-daily drip of information about the killing, which has riveted people across the Middle East and provided a rare level of detail about a political assassination widely believed to have been carried out by Israel’s intelligence service, the Mossad. » Read more

February 26th

Palestinians Form New Faction in Lebanon ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Rachelle Kliger - February 25, 2010 - 1:00am A group of ten Palestinian figures announced the formation of a new Palestinian faction in Beirut on Wednesday. The organization, The National Body for the Protection of Permanent Rights, aims to preserve the rights of the Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and the diaspora, including those living in refugee camps. » Read more

Go Ahead ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Tariq Alhomayed - (Opinion) February 25, 2010 - 1:00am In my previous article, entitled ‘Dubai, Hamas and the “Real Killer”’, I commented on the statements made by the Dubai Police Chief who said that an agent within Hamas had leaked information [to the Israelis] which led to the assassination of Mahmoud al Mabhouh. In the article, I also asked whether Imad Mughniyeh had been killed because a spy from within Hezbollah had informed against him in the same manner as in the al Mabhouh assassination. A reader responded by saying "Fear God, despite there being around 11 suspects to the assassination you only comment on a Hamas spy.” » Read more

Playing With Matches in Hebron ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by J.J. Goldberg - (Opinion) February 24, 2010 - 1:00am There are two ways to explain Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement of plans to renovate two sacred shrines in the West Bank and add them to his new heritage trail of Israeli historical sites. One explanation is that he wants to buy some credit with settlers and the religious right in order to shore up his right flank, because he’s preparing to enter negotiations with the Palestinians that will entail serious concessions. The other is that he‘s not prepared to make serious concessions at all right now, and he figures he can buy some time by stirring up a bit of a rumpus. » Read more

EU: Goods made at Jewish settlements are not Israeli ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News February 26, 2010 - 1:00am The European Court of Justice has ruled that Israeli goods made in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank cannot be considered Israeli. This means goods made by Israelis or Jews in the West Bank cannot benefit from a trade deal giving Israel preferential access to EU markets. EU import duties on Israeli goods from the settlements may now be imposed, making them less competitive. Jewish settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law. The EU has agreements with both Israel and the Palestinians that end customs duties. » Read more