How the Middle East Could Make Or Break Obama's Legacy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) November 7, 2012 - 1:00am Congratulations, Barack Obama. You now join a small club of 16 two-term presidents. (Of those, only 13 actually served out their second four-year term -- William McKinley, Abraham Lincoln and Richard Nixon weren't so lucky.) An eight-year run does count for something. There are no great one-termers. All consequential presidents require a bond with the public that the validation of a second term provides. Consider it a necessary but not sufficient condition for presidential greatness. » Read more

Appoint Bill Clinton Peace Envoy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Bernard Avishai - (Opinion) November 7, 2012 - 1:00am President Obama's next move in the Middle East is so obvious I almost hesitate to suggest it: before the Israeli election season completely unfolds, ask, cajole, or beg Bill Clinton to take on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. » Read more

Is the Palestinian Prime Minister Serious About Resigning? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from As-Safir by Hani al-Masri - (Opinion) November 6, 2012 - 1:00am Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad threatened to resign and demanded the formation of a factional government — in which top-tier leaders would participate — to confront the repercussions of the upcoming period, especially if Palestine were granted observer-state status [by the United Nations] and the Palestinians refused to be influenced by American and Israeli threats. What are the factors behind this threat to resign? » Read more

Netanyahu Sought to Provoke, Not Attack, Iran in 2010 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Yossi Melman - (Opinion) November 7, 2012 - 1:00am TEL AVIV — Sometime in 2010, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak met with their top five cabinet ministers for a routine yet secret meeting to discuss pressing security and foreign-policy issues. The group, which has no legal status and does not have the authority to make decisions,? is known as the "Secret Seven,” inspired by the “Secret Seven" series of adventure novels for children by the British author Enid Blyton. » Read more

‘The forgotten people’ ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Michael Jansen - (Opinion) November 7, 2012 - 1:00am Two years ago, Palestine was the international community’s primary regional focus. At the end of May, the Israeli navy intercepted and boarded a flotilla of ships and yachts sailing to break the blockade of Gaza and Israeli commandos killed nine Turkish activists, having boarded a Turkish ferry. » Read more

Sovereignty over occupied territories ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Kamel S. Abu Jaber - (Opinion) November 7, 2012 - 1:00am A voice is being heard loud in the wilderness of Arab politics. It carries with it the weight of experience and a deep knowledge of Arab politics. It is the voice of HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal, joined, lately, by that of Farouk Qaddoumi of the Palestine Liberation Organisation. » Read more

Netanyahu gambled, we'll pay ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Sima Kadmon - (Opinion) November 8, 2012 - 1:00am Netanyahu had a rough morning on Wednesday. Diplomatic manners cannot conceal the disappointment of someone who just got Obama in the White House for another four years, Naftali Bennett as head of the Jewish Home party and a frustrated Sara in the Prime Minister's Residence. » Read more

Obama the Second ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Gideon Levy - (Opinion) November 8, 2012 - 1:00am They could turn out to be the winning duo, the ones who bring about an agreement with the Palestinians: a furious U.S. President Barack Obama opposite a gambling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (who lost the gamble). If a second-term Obama obeys his heart and logic, his moral code and values, and American and world interests, then we can expect an old-new president in the White House. A president who will translate his anger against Netanyahu into pressure on Israel to finally end the occupation. » Read more

Obama's test ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) November 8, 2012 - 1:00am America's ceremonial political rituals played themselves out on Wednesday in all their glory before the entire world. There was the respectable appearance by the loser, who could barely conceal his disappointment but still praised the victor to the point where you wondered if perhaps he voted for him and not for himself; and the passionate address of the winner, who made similar gracious gestures to the loser and challenged the entire nation to unite and overcome together the many obstacles that lie in its path. » Read more

So sorry, President Obama, please forgive Netanyahu ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yossi Sarid - (Opinion) November 8, 2012 - 1:00am Only my closest friends are aware of the hasty steps I was contemplating if Barack Hussein Obama had been denied a second term. That would have been really much too much for me; there's a limit. Do I have strength of stone and flesh of brass? That's just what we would've needed, for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to win not just here, but there - when winning there is more important. The three-stranded rope - Sheldon Adelson, Mitt Romney and Netanyahu - would have been a wound around our necks and choked us. Now, at least, we can breathe. » Read more