January 29th

The role of Israel in Syria ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed - (Opinion) January 29, 2013 - 1:00am THE war in Syria is also an Israeli concern and its results may be as dangerous as the October 1973 war. The fall of Bashar Assad’s regime can change the map and may perhaps threaten the existing balance of power formulated after the disengagement agreement signed by President Hafez Assad and Israel under Henry Kissinger’s auspices during the October war. » Read more

Encountering Peace: Good governments make peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) January 28, 2013 - 1:00am The most important thing any government can provide for its people is peace. Peace is the precondition for everything else. Economic growth, welfare for those in need, good education for all, culture, infrastructure, opportunity and hope are all attainable, if there is peace. Israel is the land of promise, the land of great potential. Amazing things have been achieved here over the past 65 years under very difficult circumstances. The major promise that has not been fulfilled is peace. » Read more

Yair Lapid Should Call Abu Mazen ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Shlomi Eldar - (Opinion) January 28, 2013 - 1:00am Below is the transcript of a phone call that has not yet taken place: “Hello?” “Hello Mr. Lapid, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas speaking.” “Who?” “Mahmoud Abbas, Abu Mazen.” “Ah-ha, shalom.” “Apropos of peace, do you feel like dropping by me for coffee? I am here in Ramallah, a 50-minute ride from Tel Aviv.” “Give me a minute to check …” » Read more

Will Yair Lapid divide Jerusalem? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - (Opinion) January 28, 2013 - 1:00am Throughout his election campaign Yair Lapid insisted on his adamant opposition to the partition of Jerusalem under any future peace agreement with the Palestinians. Back in February 2012, when he first began communicating with potential voters, he declared that Jerusalem "belongs to the people of Israel and no one else." Months later, giving a campaign speech in the West Bank city of Ariel in October 2012, he underlined the message: » Read more

In the end we're left with Netanyahu ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Aluf Benn - (Opinion) January 28, 2013 - 1:00am The elections are over, the votes have been counted, the banners folded away. Benjamin Netanyahu will continue as prime minister. His messages have changed slightly. During the campaign, Netanyahu wanted "a strong prime minister and a big party." Now he talks about "a broad and stable government." All the rest is as it was. It's the same Bibi, with the same worldview, the same experience and the same objectives. » Read more

Four reasons why U.K. cartoon of Netanyahu isn't anti-Semitic in any way ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Anshel Pfeffer - (Opinion) January 28, 2013 - 1:00am A cartoon that appeared in this London's Sunday Times this week depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu building a wall with blood-red colored cement, trapping in between the bricks Palestinian-looking figures, is causing the latest is-it-or-is-it-not-anti-Semitism furor. » Read more

Sitting Down With Amos Oz ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Roger Cohen - (Interview) January 28, 2013 - 1:00am AMOS Oz, the novelist whose stories and tales have probed the soul of Israel with an intimate insistence, greeted me to his book-lined apartment with a quick Hebrew lesson. I must understand that the key word, Yiddish really, is “fraiers” — or suckers. » Read more

Palestinian, Israeli officials 'to discuss tax transfers' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 29, 2013 - 1:00am Palestinian Authority Ministry of Finance officials will meet with their Israeli counterparts on Wednesday to discuss resuming the transfer of taxes withheld by Israel since November, an official said. Rami Mahdawi, PA finance ministry spokesman, told Ma'an Tuesday that the meeting will discuss Israel's position to resuming the transfer of Palestinian tax revenues, which have been withheld as punishment for the UN's acceptance of Palestine as a non-member state in November. » Read more

Medics: Israeli forces shoot, injure man in north Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 29, 2013 - 1:00am Israeli forces shot and injured a man in north Gaza on Tuesday, medics said. Medical sources told Ma'an that Israeli soldiers stationed near the border opened fire at a laborer collecting scrap metal near Beit Hanoun. The man was transferred to hospital for treatment. An Israeli army spokeswoman said that "Palestinians gathered near the security fence and damaged it in the northern Gaza Strip. Security forces first fired warning shots in the air, and the suspects distanced themselves." » Read more

'Hamas leader Mashaal seeking presidency of PLO' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post January 29, 2013 - 1:00am Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal is seeking to take over the presidency of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, currently chaired by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, the London-Based daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported on Monday. According to the report, Mashaal's desire to chair the PLO is behind his decision not to stand for reelection to his position as chairman of Hamas's Political Bureau. » Read more