Is Israel Better Off With Assad in Power? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Rafi Noy - (Opinion) November 13, 2012 - 1:00am Nobody knows who the insurgents really are or the kind of Syria Israel will have to grapple with once they seize power. With the incumbent regime, by contrast, we’ve been getting along for dozens of years.  » Read more

Obama in his Second Term: No Escaping the Middle East ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Hayat by George Semaan - (Opinion) November 13, 2012 - 1:00am The United States cannot quit its responsibilities, regardless of the obstacles and the internal and objective difficulties getting in the way of the performance of its leading role around the world, knowing it does not wish to relinquish this position, which it has occupied since the end of the Cold War. » Read more

From his West Bank Italian villa, Palestinian billionaire Munib al-Masri calls for peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ben Sales - (Analysis) November 13, 2012 - 1:00am NABLUS, West Bank (JTA) -- Dozens of photographs line the wall of a room on the first floor of Palestinian billionaire Munib al-Masri's West Bank villa, depicting a man of global influence but also of divergent impulses. » Read more

State of Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post (Editorial) November 13, 2012 - 1:00am Our political leaders are reassessing their options in the wake of the latest escalation in the South. Israel’s current policy is to react to each new barrage from Gaza by identifying and singling out the specific terrorist organization that fired at our civilians, targeting rocket-launching crews and arms caches. » Read more

No Arabs allowed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Zvi Barel - (Opinion) November 14, 2012 - 1:00am The Soho restaurant in Rishon Letzion apparently refused an Israeli couple's request for a reservation. Landlords deny requests from Arab citizens to rent their apartments. Businesses look for excuses to fob off Israeli applicants who seek employment, and residential communities make sure that only certain Israelis can live there. » Read more

Obama II and Israel: The faultlines are starting to show ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Daniel Levy - (Analysis) November 14, 2012 - 1:00am Ever since the U.S. news networks placed Ohio in the blue column last Tuesday night, the speculation has been as feverish as it was predictable - how will a re-elected Barak Obama square off to Sheldon Adelson’s more successful political investment, Benjamin Netanyahu? » Read more

An open letter to Akiva Eldar: Looking beyond the two-state solution ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Carlo Strenger - (Opinion) November 14, 2012 - 1:00am Dear Akiva. » Read more

We Already Are Politically "Normalized" ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by James J. Zogby - (Opinion) November 13, 2012 - 1:00am There is a wonderful old Indian tale about three blind men who come upon an elephant and ask, "What is this?" One grabbing the elephant's tail says, "I think it is a rope." Another putting his arms about the elephant's leg says, "No, it is more like a tree." While the third touching its side says, "I think it is like a huge, smooth rock." The elephant, of course, is more than it's individual parts. » Read more

US vote a painful reminder for divided Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency by Sufian Abu Zaida - (Opinion) November 11, 2012 - 1:00am I didn't follow the United States elections due to my belief that in the Palestinian subject particularly, and US policy in the Middle East in general, the difference between the candidates is negligible. » Read more

Mishal still a contender for Hamas leadership – Source ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Ali El-saleh - November 13, 2012 - 1:00am London, Asharq Al-Awsat - Contrary to recent reports that Khalid Mishal, head of the Hamas movement’s Political Bureau, would not nominate himself for a fifth term to the post he’s held since 1996, an informed Palestinian source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Mishal's name is still on the table. » Read more