November 9th

Divided on Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Nicholas Goldberg - (Opinion) November 9, 2011 - 1:00am When our youngest son was born in Jerusalem in 1995, a number of questions faced us. First was whether we should accept Israeli citizenship for him, which would grant him a second passport and the ability to work (and take refuge, if necessary) in a foreign land — but which would come with a military service requirement in a country that wouldn't really be his home. We opted against it. » Read more

Fight over aid to Palestinian Authority heating up ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy by Josh Rogin - November 8, 2011 - 1:00am A group of House lawmakers is making the case for continuing U.S. support to the Palestinian Authority (PA), despite the Palestinian bid to seek full membership in the United Nations. "Maintaining U.S. assistance to the Palestinian Authority is in the essential strategic interest of Israel and the United States," wrote 44 lawmakers, all Democrats, in a letter today to House Appropriations State and Foreign Ops subcommittee heads Kay Granger (R-TX) and Nita Lowey (D-NY). The letter was spearheaded by Reps. David Price (D-NC) and Peter Welch (D-VT). » Read more

Gilad Shalit and the Rising Price of an Israeli Life ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ronen Bergman - (Opinion) November 9, 2011 - 1:00am On the afternoon of June 27, 1976, Palestinian and German terrorists hijacked an Air France flight originating from Israel and directed it eventually to Entebbe Airport in Uganda, where most of the non-Israelis on board were immediately released. More than 100 hostages remained, 83 of whom were Israeli. They were held for the next six days, until an elite team of Israel Defense Force commandos freed them in the famous raid known as Operation Entebbe. » Read more

November 8th

Rivlin: ‘Price tag’ is terrorism – but don’t blame settlers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Lahav Harkov - (Analysis) November 8, 2011 - 1:00am Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin planned to slam “price tag” vandalism, calling it “Jewish terrorism,” during a special Knesset session in memory of former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin on Wednesday. Rivlin released on Tuesday his speech for the upcoming memorial session, during which Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres, Supreme Court President Dorit Beinish and opposition leader Tzipi Livni (Kadima) were scheduled to speak. » Read more

Is Jerusalem Online U. A Real College? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Forward by Naomi Zeveloff - November 8, 2011 - 1:00am This past summer, Rebecca Abramson found herself a credit short of completing the sophomore-year requirements for her international affairs major at George Washington University, in the nation’s capital. Having returned recently from Israel after participating in a Hasbara Fellowship, a program that trains students to be pro-Israel activists on campus, Abramson was eager to learn more about the country. So when a family friend told her about a chance to get college credit via a website offering classes on Israel and other topics, she jumped at the opportunity. » Read more

Despite UNESCO victory, Palestinian statehood push running aground ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ron Kampeas - November 8, 2011 - 1:00am They may have scored a victory at UNESCO, but the Palestinians are running into new obstacles on their push for statehood recognition at the United Nations. The effort to pursue the issue at the U.N. Security Council has encountered a stumbling block in Bosnia, where the country’s Serbian co-president appears to have helped cost the Palestinians a crucial ninth vote. Meanwhile, U.N. officials are sending a strong message regarding any further efforts to get U.N. agencies to follow UNESCO’s lead in granting the Palestinians membership: Please stop. » Read more

Peace Now official's home vandalized with 'Price Tag' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post November 8, 2011 - 1:00am Vandals overnight Monday spray painted for the second time in two months a "price tag" message on the walls of Peace Now's Hagit Ofran's home, Army Radio reported. Ofran directs the Settlement Watch project for the organization, Army Radio reported. Among the messages left for Ofran were, "Hagit Ofran, z'l" and "Rabin is waiting for you." Tuesday evening marks the Jewish anniversary of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassination at the hands of a right-wing extremist. Swastikas were also spray painted on the building. » Read more

This building will blow up in five minutes! ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Americans For Peace Now by Ori Nir - (Opinion) November 8, 2011 - 1:00am Last night, someone pushed the intercom button at the Jerusalem building that houses Peace Now's office. A neighbor was told: "This building will explode in five minutes." The frightened residents and a Peace Now staff member immediately evacuated the building. Outside they found "Price Tag" graffiti. "Price Tag" is what the extreme settlers call their campaign to intimidate and silence Israelis and Palestinians who support a two-state solution to the conflict. Peace Now's national activity coordinator Etai Mizrav told me today: "Hard as they may try, they will not silence us!" » Read more

Israeli police arrest settlers after razing outpost ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua November 8, 2011 - 1:00am Israeli settlers scuffled with police and soldiers on Monday after security forces razed an illegal West Bank outpost. Residents of Or Zion, north of Ramallah, protested the demolition of their homes, part of a government order to dismantle all outposts deemed illegal by a recent Israel High Court ruling. Police arrested 12 residents after they hurled stones at Civil Administration workers carrying out the demolitions. The plan, slated to conclude by March 2012 following a petition by the Israeli NGO Peace Now to the High Court, will destroy the homes of about 1,000 settlers. » Read more

AP Exclusive: Palestinians face steep court fees ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman by Diaa Hadid - November 8, 2011 - 1:00am Dozens of Palestinians who lost relatives in an Israeli military offensive in Gaza three years ago have been forced to put their compensation claims on hold, saying Israel has placed near-impossible barriers to proceeding with their cases. Israeli restrictions prevent Gazans from entering Israel to testify, undergo medical exams or meet with their lawyers. But the biggest obstacle, the victims say, are steep court fees that can reach tens of thousands of dollars. » Read more