March 8th

Palestinians make risky gambit for statehood ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Edmund Sanders - March 8, 2011 - 1:00am Palestinian leaders are embarking on a risky statehood strategy that will seek to isolate Israel's hawkish government in the international community and rely less on U.S. backing, a move that reflects growing disappointment here with the Obama administration. The campaign will include U.N. resolutions such as one proposed last month on Israeli settlement building, boycotts against Israeli products, complaints in international courts and attempts to win formal recognition from as many countries as possible, Palestinian officials say. » Read more

West Bank: Clash Over Olive Trees Leaves 8 Wounded ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - March 7, 2011 - 1:00am At least seven Palestinians were wounded by gunfire and rubber bullets in clashes with Israeli settlers and soldiers in the northern West Bank on Monday, according to a Palestinian official and the Israeli military. One settler was reported wounded after being hit by a rock. Palestinians accused the settlers of having uprooted olive trees in the area. A military spokeswoman said that settlers and soldiers opened fire after being attacked by Palestinian stone throwers. » Read more

March 7th

Israel on history’s wrong side ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Uri Avnery - (Opinion) March 6, 2011 - 1:00am Of all the memorable phrases uttered by Barack Obama in the last two years, the one that stuck in my mind more than any other appeared in his historic speech in Cairo in the early days of his term. » Read more

Always time for peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times (Editorial) March 7, 2011 - 1:00am Israel says that now is not the time to reach a peace deal with the Palestinians, presumably because of the turmoil that has hit several Arab countries. The time to arrive at peace is always right, and Israel should not resort, once again, to procrastination or look for reasons not to agree to peace with the Palestinians where there are none. » Read more

Israel ranked among least popular states ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews March 7, 2011 - 1:00am More than 28,000 people were polled between December of 2010 and February of this year in a survey designed to gauge attitudes towards various countries worldwide. Just 21% of those polled expressed a positive opinion of Israel, while 49% expressed a negative attitude towards the Jewish state. However dismal, the numbers are still an improvement from last year, when just 19% were pro-Israel. » Read more

Roger Waters voices support for Israel boycott ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz March 6, 2011 - 1:00am Roger Waters, founding member, vocalist and bassist of the iconic rock band 'Pink Floyd' has voiced his support for a cultural boycott of Israel. The British musician performed in Israel in 2005, ignoring calls from Palestinian rights advocates to cancel. While in Israel, Waters visited Jerusalem and Bethlehem. He was taken to the controversial separation fence in the West Bank, which he called "an appalling edifice to behold." » Read more

Palestinian with Jewish wife and IDF veteran son denied permanent visa ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yanir Yagna - March 7, 2011 - 1:00am A Palestinian man who is married to a Jewish woman and whose son served in the Israel Defense Forces was recently informed that he is ineligible for a permanent visa to live in Israel. "I can't buy a home here like a human being, I can't open a business for fear that they'll soon kick me out," said Adel Hussein, who has lived most of his life in the West Bank city of Tul Karm, but now wants to live near his son in Israel. "There is no explanation as to why they're not letting me be a permanent citizen. My son served in a combat unit - is that not total loyalty to the state?" » Read more

Barak: Mideast peace does not go against Israel's security interests ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz March 7, 2011 - 1:00am A peace agreement with the Palestinians does not stand in contradiction with Israel's security needs, Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Israel Radio on Monday, saying that immediate action needed to be taken to advance peace efforts. Barak's comments came after sources in the Prime Minister's Office said last week that the PM was considering a plan to cooperate with the Palestinians on the establishment of a Palestinian state with temporary borders, as part of an interim peace agreement with the Palestinian Authority that would be implemented immediately. » Read more

Israel plans work at contested Jerusalem holy site ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Allyn Fisher-Ilan - March 6, 2011 - 1:00am Israel has given preliminary approval for renovations at a contested holy site in East Jerusalem where rebuilding has triggered violence in the past, a city official said on Sunday. Municipal planners last week approved the project to repair an earthen ramp near the Mughrabi Gate connecting the Wailing Wall remnant of an ancient Jewish temple to a complex revered by Muslims and Jews, both of whom claim the area as their own. » Read more

Fair solution to Palestinian issue key to Mideast security: Jordan' s king ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua March 7, 2011 - 1:00am King Abdullah II of Jordan on Sunday said the key to stability, peace and security in the Middle East is to find a just solution for the Palestinian issue, the state- run Petra new agency reported. The solution, he said, should lead to the realization of the Palestinian hopes in establishing an independent Palestinian state on the Palestinian territories. The king made his remarks at a meeting with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Sunday, when the two sides looked into developments in the region and issues of mutual concern. » Read more