Israeli PM answers questions from Arab Internet surfers
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
January 31, 2012 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday answered questions on Facebook from Arab Internet users regarding issues, including the ongoing turmoil in Arab nations and the peace process with the Palestinians. For the first time, the Prime Minister's Office, through their Facebook page in Arabic, allowed users to pose questions that were answered via a translator from Hebrew to Arabic.

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A victory for our side?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) January 31, 2012 - 1:00am

The Palestinian and Arab media reports that the Jordanian-sponsored Israeli-Palestinian talks have failed. Palestinian politicians and factions are recommending to the PLO leadership to put an end to what they call a farce. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will ask the Arab League to support the Palestinian decision to suspend the talks until Israel accepts a full settlement building freeze and agrees that negotiations on the borders must be based on the June 4, 1967, lines.

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Israeli government offers concessions to settlers
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Amy Teibel - January 31, 2012 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has made two overtures to West Bank settlers in the run-up to his party's leadership race on Tuesday: It's offering financial incentives to encourage people to move to settlements and opening the door to legalizing rogue settler outposts.

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Newt Gingrich's flip-flopping on the Middle East
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Akiva Eldar - (Opinion) January 31, 2012 - 1:00am

According to opinion polls, Republican hopeful Newt Gingrich will be receiving consolation calls from at least two of his friends tomorrow when the results of the Florida primaries are announced. He will hear from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and from billionaire Sheldon Adelson, the conservative U.S. politician's main backer and the publicist for Israel's conservative prime minister.

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Hamas Gaza leader heads for Iran
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Nidal al-Mughrabi - January 30, 2012 - 1:00am

GAZA, Jan 30 (Reuters) - The leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Ismail Haniyeh, left on Monday for a tour of Iran and Gulf states, continuing a diplomatic drive to realign the Palestinian Islamist movement after a year of political change in the Arab world. Non-Arab Iran, along with its Arab ally Syria, have been principal backers of Hamas. Iran has supplied funds and - according to Israel - weapons to use against the Jewish state.

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Educating Israel's children in right-wing politics
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Avirama Golan - (Opinion) January 31, 2012 - 1:00am

Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar has made a mockery of Breaking the Silence. For a year the organization has been pestering him to allow its members to lead junior high school pupils on a tour of Hebron, just like the right-wing non-profit organizations do - and finally he agreed. But before the first student had boarded the first bus the police arrived and cancelled the tour. How surprising.

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Israeli police arrest 3 suspects in murder of Arab Christian leader over property dispute
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
January 31, 2012 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM — Israeli police say they have arrested three suspects in the murder of a prominent Christian leader over a church property dispute. Gabriel Cadis, the head of Jaffa’s Orthodox Church Association, was stabbed in the back during a procession to mark Orthodox Christmas earlier this month by men disguised as Santa Claus. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Tuesday that the three Arab Christians from Jaffa have confessed — one for ordering the hit and two for carrying it out.

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It's time for Israel to separate religion and state
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Uri Misgav - (Opinion) January 31, 2012 - 1:00am

According to John Lennon, "God is a concept by which we measure our pain." That means that Israel is apparently a nation in great pain. According to a sensational survey by the Guttman Center, 80 percent of Israeli Jews believe in God. Ostensibly this is a harsh statistic. Gideon Levy's heartfelt moan, as expressed in his opinion piece "God have mercy on us," which appeared in this newspaper earlier this week, is understandable.

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January 30th

Meshaal's cordial visit to Jordan helps open 'new page' in relations
Media Mention of Hussein Ibish In The National - January 30, 2012 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM // The leaders of Hamas have never been known for globetrotting or an appetite for diplomatic fanfare. They were confined to the Gaza Strip, unable to leave because of the Israeli blockade of the coastal enclave. Or, if they were among the clutch of senior Hamas officials based in Damascus, they maintained a low profile to avoid testing the patience and straining the hospitality of their Syrian hosts. Those days are gone.

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NEWS: Hamas leader MIshaal makes his 1st official visit to Jordan since 1999. A hard-line settler is challenging PM Netanyahu for the leadership of the Likud party. Netanyahu may be moving towards early national elections in Israel. After an outcry of opposition, the PA is suspending tax hikes. The PLO executive committee is meeting today to discuss the impasse in negotiations with Israel, for which both sides are blaming each other. Turkey denies reports it has provided funding to Hamas. A new report says Palestinian citizens of Israel are increasingly attending higher education institutions in PA-controlled areas. 70 West Bank settlements are on the new Israeli “national priorities” list for special benefits. The New York Times profiles Gingrich benefactor Sheldon Adelson. COMMENTARY: Ha'aretz says Israel's curriculum is hiding the occupation from students. Barry Rubin dismisses the idea that Israel might attack Iran. Mohammed Najib says Mishaal maybe trying to carve out a new role for himself. Paul Harris says Adelson isn't running for office but his money could have a big impact on the Florida primary. Robert Fisk says when it comes to Middle East peace, the past trumps the present. Salman Masalha says Israeli society is permeated with discrimination. Khaled Elgindy says the Middle East Quartet has outlived its usefulness. Jackie Spinner says the dramatic reduction in US aid to the PA is a significant threat to Palestinian economic recovery in cities like Hebron.

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