February 2nd, 2012

Implementing a Negotiated Settlement on the Palestinian Refugee Question: The International Dimensions ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Chatham House by Leila Hilal - (Analysis) January 1, 2012 - 1:00am Today there are an estimated six million Palestinian refugees. Resolving their plight has been a core part of the peace agenda in the Middle East since 1948. While considerable diplomatic effort in the past two decades has centred on reaching a bilateral Israeli–Palestinian permanent status agreement, implementing any such agreement will present an equally massive challenge. » Read more 1 attachment

Hallucination of peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Ray Hanania - (Opinion) February 1, 2012 - 1:00am Two of my “friends” on Facebook started going at it, as Facebook people often do, over my recent column analyzing the failure of Palestinian activists to achieve any of their goals. The debate quickly got off-topic and started careening over the cliff of Palestinian-Israeli futility at a very high speed. It became obvious that neither was really listening to the other. Both were repeating the same old arguments that have muddled Palestinian-Israeli peace efforts. » Read more

Israel adds to its crimes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) February 2, 2012 - 1:00am Ten years ago about 50 Israeli soldiers, including some officers, refused to serve in the Occupied Territories, roughly the size about 22 per cent of the original state, Palestine, which until mid-1948 was a mandate under British rule. » Read more

MI chief: Iran can produce 4 bombs ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Neri Brenner - (Opinion) February 2, 2012 - 1:00am "Iran has enough nuclear material for four bombs," Director of Military Intelligence Major General Aviv Kochavi warned Thursday. Kochavi made a rare appearance at the 2012 Herzliya Conference, where he reviewed regional changes, the effects of the Arab Spring and the Iranian threat. "Iran is vigorously pursing military nuclear capabilities and today the intelligence community agrees with Israel on that. Iran has over four tons of enriched materials and nearly 100kg of 20% enriched uranium – that's enough for four bombs," he said. » Read more

Israel's profound choice on Iran ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Chuck Freilich - (Opinion) February 2, 2012 - 1:00am In the end it will come down to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His senior officials will make their cases, but he alone will have to make one of the most critical decisions inIsrael's history: whether to attackIran's nuclear program. I do not envy him. » Read more

Change in political landscape leaves Hamas in financial shortfall ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Hugh Naylor - February 2, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM // Keeping up with the dramatic changes in the political map of the Middle East is one reason the leaders of Hamas are buzzing around the region in an unprecedented diplomatic campaign. Another less talked about reason is money. The rulers of the Gaza Strip are desperate for it, analysts say. The group's leader, Khaled Meshaal, and its prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, have spent recent weeks visiting eight countries including Jordan and Qatar. Such trips would have been almost unthinkable before the Arab Spring. » Read more

Israel's military leaders warn against Iran attack ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Donald MacIntyre, Kim Sengupta - February 2, 2012 - 1:00am Almost the entire senior hierarchy of Israel's military and security establishment is worried about a premature attack on Iran and apprehensive about the possible repercussions, a former chief of the country's defence forces told The Independent yesterday. Lt-Gen Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, who is close to Defence Minister Ehud Barak, said there had been little analysis of what happens the "day after" when the Tehran regime and its paramilitary allies retaliate. He warned that an assault may lead to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad benefiting from popular anger against foreign aggression. » Read more

Israel asks U.S. to prod Palestinians to continue peace talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - February 2, 2012 - 1:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday asked U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to press Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to continue the talks with Israel that began last month in Amman. The Prime Minister's Office said that the conversation with Clinton lasted 45 minutes, and quoted Netanyahu as saying, "Israel is interested in continuous talks with the Palestinians while preserving the security interests of Israeli citizens." » Read more

Israel backtracks on housing benefits for West Bank settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - February 2, 2012 - 1:00am Housing benefits will not be granted to some 70 West Bank settlements unless specifically approved by the defense minister, who has authority over West Bank construction, the cabinet decided on Wednesday. The decision amended a cabinet resolution approved on Sunday that granted various housing benefits to people living in national priority areas. Since about 70 settlements are located in national priority areas, the new decision was passed to exclude them. » Read more

Germany upgrades Palestinian diplomatic status ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press February 1, 2012 - 1:00am RAMALLAH, West Bank — Germany has upgraded the Palestinian diplomatic representation in Berlin from a delegation to a mission headed by an ambassador, visiting German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle announced Wednesday. The decision followed similar steps in recent months by France, Spain, Portugal and Ireland. It was seen as a boost to the Palestinian quest for international recognition. Germany is one of the most influential countries in Europe and one of Israel's most loyal allies. » Read more