January 29th

U.S. peace envoy rolls up his sleeves in Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Richard Boudreaux - January 29, 2009 - 1:00am George J. Mitchell, the new U.S. envoy to the Middle East, arrived in Israel on Wednesday to begin testing his axiom that there's no such thing as a conflict that cannot be ended. Yet even as Israeli and Palestinian leaders offered ideas on how the Obama administration can help bring about peace, the prevailing mood on both sides was that their decades-old fight had become almost hopelessly deadlocked. » Read more

Gaza Violence Complicates Mitchell Mission ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - January 29, 2009 - 1:00am A day after President Obama’s special Middle East envoy called for a consolidation of the fragile Gaza cease-fire, the truce came under new strain on Thursday when the Israeli military said Palestinians fired a rocket into Israel at dawn and Israel launched an air attack into southern Gaza. » Read more

January 28th

Another price of the Gaza operation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Meir Javedanfar - (Opinion) January 27, 2009 - 1:00am The recent invasion of Gaza is likely to have an impact on Barack Obama-Israel relations, both for good and bad. Hamas's provocative attacks made it very difficult for Jerusalem not to respond. The government, through Egypt, tried on several occasions to convince Hamas to stop attacking southern cities. But that failed, as did the siege of Gaza. » Read more

Top UN official blasts Hamas for 'cynical' use of civilian facilities ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz January 28, 2009 - 1:00am United Nations Humanitarian Affairs Chief John Holmes blasted Hamas Tuesday for its "cynical" use of civilian facilities during recent hostilities in the Gaza Strip. "The reckless and cynical use of civilian installations by Hamas and indiscriminate firing of rockets against civilian populations are clear violations of international humanitarian law," Holmes told the UN Security Council. » Read more

America's election message ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) January 28, 2009 - 1:00am U.S. President Barack Obama promised after his inauguration to pursue Middle East peace "actively and aggressively." Today, former U.S. senator George Mitchell arrives in Jerusalem for his first visit to the region as Obama's special envoy to the Middle East. His election-eve visit is intended to send Israeli voters and candidates the message that Obama means what he says and that the new administration will be judged by its contribution to bringing peace closer. » Read more

Among Egyptians, Mixed Feelings over Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press January 27, 2009 - 1:00am At a smoky cafe in Cairo, a group of bank employees sharing a lunch of beans, falafel and pickles discussed their anger over Israel's Gaza offensive and the images of slain children and destruction they've watched on TV. However, outrage wasn't their only feeling. In Egypt, there's also a sense of frustration with the Palestinians — and sentiment that Arabs must become more realistic in dealing with Israel. » Read more

The false promise of radicalism has again reared its ugly head ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Emile Hokayem - (Opinion) January 28, 2009 - 1:00am A dark spectre hovers over the Arab world: the cult of muqawama – resistance – and false promise of radicalism. Indeed, with every appalling Israeli bombing campaign comes a quixotic victory for Hamas and Hizbollah that leaves their societies in tatters but strengthens the sentiment elsewhere that complete victory over Israel is within reach, if only Arab governments could step aside and let the muqaweemen carry out their glorious mission. » Read more

News Laundering ATFP World Press Roundup Article from by Tariq Alhomayed - January 28, 2009 - 1:00am What’s worse than money laundering in our Arab world is news laundering. This happens around the clock without any consequences or supervision. In the world of the internet, satellite channels, and SMS text messaging, it is clear to see that news laundering is widely popular and some media organs are contributing to this whether intentionally or unintentionally. » Read more

Egypt attacks Iran and allies in Arab world ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters January 28, 2009 - 1:00am Egypt aired its grievances against Iran, the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and the Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah, saying they worked together in the fighting over Gaza to provoke conflict in the Middle East. "(They tried) to turn the region to confrontation in the interest of Iran, which is trying to use its cards to escape Western pressure ... on the nuclear file," Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said in an interview with Orbit satellite channel broadcast Wednesday. » Read more

Peace Now: Israel settlement building accelerated in 2008 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press January 28, 2009 - 1:00am Settlements and outposts in the West Bank expanded more quickly in 2008 than the previous year, a Peace Now report said Wednesday. According to the group, 1,257 new structures were built in settlements during 2008, compared to 800 in 2007, an increase of 57 percent. The group said in the report that building more than doubled in outposts, which unlike settlements are not recognized by the Israeli government. It says 261 structures were built in outposts, compared to 98 the year before. » Read more