January 28th

Abbas asks Israel to let in Palestinians fleeing Syria
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Noah Browning - January 25, 2013 - 1:00am


RAMALLAH, West Bank, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas tried to get Israel to let 150,000 Palestinians fleeing war in Syria resettle in the West Bank, but dropped the request after the Jewish state demanded they first give up their right of return, he said. Syria is home to around 500,000 Palestinian refugees, some of whom have been fleeing the country because of civil war between forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and fighters seeking to topple his government.


Refugees again, Palestinians flee Syria's war
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Barbara Surk - January 28, 2013 - 1:00am


EIN EL-HILWEH, Lebanon — When Syrian warplanes bombed a Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus last December, Umm Sami rounded up her three sons, shut the windows and locked the doors so they could neither hear nor heed the call to arms by rebels and pro-government gunmen fighting in the streets.


Israel Girds for Attacks as Syria Falls Apart
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Anne Barnard, Jodi Rudoren - January 28, 2013 - 1:00am


JERUSALEM — At least one Iron Dome missile defense battery was deployed Sunday in northern Israel amid reports of intense security consultations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Syria and the possibility of chemical weapons falling into the hands of Islamist rebels or being transferred to the militant group Hezbollah.


January 25th

NEWS: The fallout from the Israeli election, especially for PM Netanyahu, is being assessed. Many believe Netanyahu will be forced to try to form a centrist coalition, and some reports indicate he may have offered political newcomer Lapid a choice between the ministries of foreign affairs or finance. The election again demonstrates the alienation of Palestinian citizens of Israel from its political system, although their 56% turnout was bigger than expected. Israel says it will boycott a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on its own record. Secretary of State-designate Kerry says it would be "disastrous" to fail to reach a two-state peace agreement. Jordan's King Abdullah says, if no progress is made, a two-state solution will only be viable for the duration of Pres. Obama second term. Hamas organizes paramilitary training for teenagers in Gaza. Palestinian protesters reconstruct a protest tent city in northwest Jerusalem. PA finance minister Qassis says the government's fiscal crisis is "structural." Israeli security services report that in 2012, for the first time since 1973, no Israeli was killed in any "terror attack" in the occupied West Bank. COMMENTARY: Alon Idan explains how, through a process of radicalization, extreme Zionists actually become anti-Zionists. Gideon Levy and Alex Levac trace the details of the killing of a Palestinian youth by occupation soldiers. Ben Caspit says, at least in terms of image, Lapid seems to be "the perfect Israeli." Michael Cohen says the Israeli election leaves Obama little to work with on pursuing a two-state solution. J.J. Goldberg says Lapid faces as many political challenges as Netanyahu. George Hishmeh says if Obama doesn't prioritize it, a two-state solution may become impossible. David Gardner says the annexationist right in Israel has been strengthened. Hassan Barari says Netanyahu is weakened and left with a precarious balancing act. Meir Javedanfar says the election won't affect Israel's Iran policies. Murat Yetkin says a new, more centrist, Israeli government could repair relations with Turkey.

A correction for Israeli politics
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Arabiya
(Opinion) January 25, 2013 - 1:00am


 


Elections Unlikely to Change Israel’s Iran Strategy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor
by Meir Javendanfar - (Opinion) January 25, 2013 - 1:00am


  The results of the recent Israeli elections are unlikely to bring much change to Israel’s current Iran strategy.


Elections weaken Netanyahu
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
by Hassan Barari - (Opinion) January 25, 2013 - 1:00am


The outcome of the most recent Israeli general elections of Tuesday has not only weakened the incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu but also made it difficult for him to do a balancing act. The results came as a worse case scenario to Netanyahu who hoped for a clear victory and a new mandate from the Israeli public. Although the list headed by Netanyahu and contested election remained the largest in the Knesset, the ascendance of the newly formed political party — Yesh Atid (there is a future) — will complicate Netanyahu’s calculations with regard to forming a new government.


Israel election outcome still not conducive for peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by David Gardner - (Opinion) January 25, 2013 - 1:00am


 


Obama’s foreign policy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) January 25, 2013 - 1:00am


To the disappointment of many, President Barack Obama seemed to downplay foreign affairs in his inaugural address, as compared to the otherwise attractive progressive plank he underlined on domestic issues during his second inaugural address on Monday.


Yair Lapid, Telegenic Kingmaker, Has Rough Road Ahead
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
by J.J. Goldberg - (Opinion) January 25, 2013 - 1:00am


  Moments after exit polls confirmed his surprise second-place showing in Israel’s January 22 parliamentary elections, political neophyte Yair Lapid faced his giddy supporters and declared: “A serious responsibility has been placed on our shoulders tonight.”



American Task Force on Palestine - 1634 Eye St. NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20006 - Telephone: 202-262-0017