'Israel doesn't need recognition as Jewish state'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Greer Fay Cashman - (Opinion) February 27, 2012 - 1:00am

Former Mossad Chief Efraim Halevy doesn't think that Israel needs to insist on having the Palestinians or anyone else for that matter recognize Israel as a Jewish state or approve its right to exist. Halevy who was speaking at Jerusalem's Kehilat Moreshet Avraham on Sunday night noted that Israel is a Jewish State and that any treaty or agreement signed with Israel by any other state or entity is tantamount to recognition. It doesn't have to be spelled out.

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Why Israel wants to bomb Iran
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by Paul Findley - (Opinion) February 24, 2012 - 1:00am

Will Iran bomb Israel into rubble, like Hiroshima and Nagasaki, if the Tehran regime is someday armed with nuclear weapons? No one of my acquaintances believes that will ever happen, nor do thoughtful Israelis. But many people believe Israel will soon use conventional bombs to disable Iranian nuclear research facilities. All of us should ponder why.

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Hamas, Egypt strike deal to end energy crisis
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
February 23, 2012 - 1:00am

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- Egyptian authorities and Hamas officials reached an agreement on Thursday to end the energy crisis in the Gaza Strip. Hamas spokesman Taher al-Nunu said a deal had been reached after "intensive negotiations" between Gaza prime minister Ismail Haniyeh, Egyptian officials, and the Islamic Development Bank. The deal included three stages, the Hamas official said. The first stipulates that Egyptian companies pump fuel directly to Gaza under the terms of contracts signed with firms.

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UN Security Council Condemns Terrorist Attacks aimed at Israel in India and Georgia
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
February 23, 2012 - 1:00am

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council is strongly condemning the terrorist attack aimed at Israel in India and the attempted terrorist attack in Georgia. The bombing in New Delhi injured the wife of an Israeli diplomat and her driver while an attempted attack the same day in Georgia was thwarted. The Security Council said late Thursday that “any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivations, whenever and by whomsoever committed.” It reaffirmed the need to combat threats to peace caused by terrorist acts.

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Israel can rely only on America and (sigh) the countries of Western Europe
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Chemi Shalev - (Opinion) February 23, 2012 - 1:00am

The New York Times reported this week that Russian President Dmitri Medvedev has bestowed a prestigious Pushkin Medal on Ali Ukla Ursan, a Syrian poet who has praised the 9/11 terrorist attacks and depicted Jews as “Nazi racists”. This is the same Russia that has been aiding and abetting mass murderers in Damascus. The same Russia that has been serving as a defensive shield for the nuclearmongers in Tehran. The same Russia that Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman would like to see as Israel’s new “strategic partner”.

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Israelis Seem Resigned to a Strike on Iran
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Joel Greenberg - February 22, 2012 - 1:00am

TEL AVIV — A recent installment of the popular Israeli satirical television show “A Wonderful Country” captured the public mood here regarding a possible strike on Iran and its consequences: a mix of resignation and gallows humor. In one scene, a house-hunting couple is shown a Tel Aviv apartment facing a drab housing project as a real estate agent proclaims that the place will have a view of the sea. “In June, that whole row of buildings won’t be here anymore,” she cheerfully informs the prospective buyers, gazing out a window.

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Palestinian Leaders to Meet in Cairo
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
February 22, 2012 - 1:00am

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) – President Mahmoud Abbas is set to chair a meeting Thursday in Cairo that will encompass chiefs of Palestinian factions, PLO leaders and the speaker of the Palestinian National Council. Selected independent figures will join the meeting, which is dedicated to discussing the latest political developments and the ongoing efforts toward Palestinian reconciliation.

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Jordan’s Blames Israel for Deadlocked Peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Josef Federman - February 22, 2012 - 1:00am

AMMAN, Jordan — King Abdullah II on Tuesday blamed Israel for deadlocked Mideast peacemaking in a meeting with U.S. Jewish leaders, the official Petra News Agency said. But the king's guests offered a more optimistic version of events, saying Abdullah had also been complimentary of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's position in recent peace talks. Jordan last month played host to talks that have subsequently been broken off. Palestinian and Israeli negotiators have blamed the other for the cut-off.

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Delegitimization: Nuisance or Threat?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Shalom Hartman Institute
by Tal Becker - (Opinion) February 22, 2012 - 1:00am

It is Israel Apartheid Week this week on campuses, but chances are you would not know it unless you just read this sentence. A study, just prepared by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, reveals that in the last four years Israel Apartheid Week was mentioned fewer than 400 times in non-Israeli, non-Jewish media outlets with an audience of 100,000 or more. Even more remarkable is that in 2011, some 65 percent of the coverage appeared in Israeli or Jewish media outlets.

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Israel Watches Syria, Hopefully, but Warily
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Ethan Bronner - February 21, 2012 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM — As Israelis watch the bloody confrontation between the Syrian people and the government of President Bashar al-Assad, they are torn by two sentiments: The downfall of Mr. Assad would deal a major blow to Iran and so would be welcome. But without a central authority, Syria could descend into being a land of chaos and terrorist bases on Israel’s northeast border. Enlarge This Image Uriel Sinai/Getty Images In the Golan Heights town of Majdel Shams, Druse men took part last week in a protest against Israel's control of the region.

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