NEWS: PM Netanyahu is expected to win today's election in Israel. A candidate from the right wing "Jewish Home" party generates controversy with comments imagining "blowing up" Muslim holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem. The Arab League urges Palestinian citizens of Israel to vote. Palestinians say they see no hope for peace in Israel's election. UK FM Hague says without progress this year, "people will increasingly conclude that a two state solution has become impossible." The Malaysian PM is visiting Gaza. Three protesters are injured by Palestinian security services during a disturbance at a refugee camp near Ramallah. Netanyahu's relationship with Obama is expected to remain tense. The UN says trauma and PTSD have more than doubled in Gaza since the November conflict. The Economist looks at a new film about the looting of Palestinian libraries in 1948. COMMENTARY: The Washington Post urges the Obama administration to press Netanyahu to form a centrist coalition. Bernard Avishai and Sam Bahour say the parties desperately need American leadership and the second Obama term provides a huge opportunity. Sefi Rachlevsky says it's pointless voting for Netanyahu. Eitan Haber says Israelis must look for "the best of a bad lot." Gershon Baskin says Israelis are celebrating their democracy. Aluf Benn says the biggest beneficiary will probably be political newcomer Yair Lapid. Douglas Feith argues that Israelis aren't turning to the right, they're just recognizing there is no Palestinian peace partner, while Linda Heard sees Israelis as preferring aggressive policies over peace. Hussein Ibish says superficial Palestinian "unity" deals shouldn't come at the expense of vital institution-building policies.

Best of a bad lot
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Eitan Haber - (Opinion) January 22, 2013 - 1:00am


Years ago an American defense secretary told an Israeli defense minister over lunch: "We send our finest attorneys to handle the billion-dollar deals with Israel – such as the plane acquisitions - and who do you, the Israelis, send? A few clerks."


Dumping Fayyad for phoney 'unity' would be wrong
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Hussein Ibish - (Opinion) January 22, 2013 - 1:00am


 


Israelis prefer swords to doves
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
by Linda Heard - (Opinion) January 22, 2013 - 1:00am


The days when Israelis tuned into the Voice of Peace radio, broadcast from an offshore cargo vessel, and threw their support behind the Peace Now movement are long gone.


Missing Peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
(Opinion) January 22, 2013 - 1:00am


 


While you all were busy with Bennett
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Aluf Benn - (Opinion) January 22, 2013 - 1:00am


 


Our celebration of democracy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) January 22, 2013 - 1:00am


Today is the holiest day in the calendar of democracy. It is also the holiest day in the calendar year for the future of Israel. On this day we stand before ourselves, our values in hand, our world views and visions for our shared future, and we add our voice to those of millions of our countrymen and women in determining what will happen here over the next years.


A wasted vote is a vote for Bibi
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Sefi Rachlevsky - (Opinion) January 22, 2013 - 1:00am


 


U.S. Inaction, Mideast Cataclysm?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Bernard Avishai - (Opinion) January 22, 2013 - 1:00am


 


Following the elections in Israel, a reset
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
(Editorial) January 22, 2013 - 1:00am


 



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