March 25th

Dan Rather aide: Crew harassed by Israeli security ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Amy Teibel - March 24, 2011 - 12:00am A crew for Dan Rather was harassed and humiliated by Israeli security officials, a producer for his show has said, accusing them of forcing the staffers to drop their pants for a strip search before seeing a Cabinet minister. The allegations, made in a letter to Israeli officials that was obtained by The Associated Press, add to growing complaints about how Israeli security officials treat foreign media. » Read more

Gaza militants fire rockets deep into Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Aron Heller - March 24, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian militants in Gaza fired a new wave of rockets that landed deep inside Israel Thursday, defying Israeli retaliatory attacks and threats. As the violence threatened to escalate the day after a deadly Jerusalem bombing, Israel got a boost from the visiting U.S. defense chief, who said no country could tolerate the "repugnant" attacks on its soil. » Read more

ANALYSIS-Surge in violence "arose from Hamas internal row" ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Douglas Hamilton - March 24, 2011 - 12:00am An ill-fated attempt to smooth over a dispute in Gaza's Palestinian Islamist movement was the real reason behind the salvo of mortars Hamas fired at Israel four-days-ago, triggering a flare-up of fighting, observers say. If it was a ploy, it went badly wrong. Ten people have been killed in the cycle of violence, and some on both sides fear a new war could erupt unless it is contained. On Thursday, Palestinian militants fired more rockets and Israel directed more air strikes at the enclave, as the spiral of armed exchanges showed no sign of abating. » Read more

US urges Israel-Palestinian peace as rockets fall ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Phil Stewart, Dan Williams - March 24, 2011 - 12:00am U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders on Thursday to advance stalled peace efforts, as rockets exploded near Israel's heavily populated coastal area south of Tel Aviv. Gates' visit to Israel came as surging violence raised fears of a new war, with Palestinian rockets striking deep inside Israel on Thursday and Israeli aircraft pounding targets in Gaza. » Read more

Poll: Mideast change positive for Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 24, 2011 - 12:00am The results of a public opinion poll from mid-March showed broad support for protests across the Middle East, and a decline in popularity for both the West Bank and Gaza governments, responding to documentary series run by Al-Jazeera and regional upheaval. The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research released the poll findings on Wednesday, which showed 67 percent of Gaza residents, compared to 32 percent of West Bankers, believe protests should be held to change their respective governments. » Read more

PA frees Islamic Jihad leaders arrested after bombing ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 24, 2011 - 12:00am The Palestinian Authority released on Thursday two West Bank leaders of the Islamic Jihad movement who were detained Wednesday in connection with a bombing that killed a British citizen in Jerusalem. Khaled Jaradat and Tareq Qa'dan were detained for several hours but released due to lack of evidence, Qa'dan told Ma'an. He said that "there was no direct reason for the arrest." Walid Badad, an official from the Islamic and national factions in Jenin, said the release came after a meeting in which factions "affirmed the prohibition against politically motivated arrests." » Read more

In Russia, Abbas asks Israel for 'peace, not war' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency March 24, 2011 - 12:00am President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that he hopes officials will take the Middle East Quartet meeting in April as an opportunity to push forward the peace process. Speaking from the Republic of Bashkortostan alongside his counterpart there, the president said "Palestinians are determined to achieve peace through negotiations," and that he hoped Israelis shared the sentiment. » Read more

No Spring in Palestine ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) March 24, 2011 - 12:00am Just when you thought the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was in the deep freezer, things are getting hot again. Hamas and Israel are back at each others' throats; and for the first time in four years, there's been a terror attack in Jerusalem, killing one Israeli. The bombing capped a week of Israeli-Palestinian confrontation, which resulted in a number of civilian deaths in Gaza. If I didn't know any better, I'd think that Israelis and Palestinians watching the historic changes in the Arab World just can't stand not to be the center of attention. » Read more

Why Israel is wary of getting into another Gaza war ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Joshua Mitnick - March 24, 2011 - 12:00am Fighting along the Israeli-Gaza border that has killed at least 11 people continued Thursday for the sixth-straight day, despite parallel pledges by Israel and Hamas to restore calm amid the worst violence since the 2009 Gaza war. Israeli aircraft on Thursday fired on low-profile targets such as border smuggling tunnels, while Gaza militants launched mortars and homemade rockets into southern Israel. One rocket even struck within 16 miles of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. » Read more

GAZA STRIP: Israel tank shells kill three Gaza children, one man ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Ahmed al-Dabba - March 22, 2011 - 12:00am Several Israeli tank shells landed Tuesday at a playground in Gaza City, killing three children and their grandfather and injuring 12 other children and women, hospital sources and witnesses said. Eyewitnesses said that seven tank shells slammed a playground where children were playing soccer, adding two other shells crashed through the ceiling of a nearby house, injuring six women. » Read more