Between two hells ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Issa Samander - (Opinion) February 20, 2012 - 1:00am One can't help but be astonished by the behavior of the United States and European governments over the vast changes occurring in Arab countries, especially their reactions towards the killing spree in Syria. They have been swift--their politicians rarely vague--in their condemnations of the Syrian regime and calls for actions by the international community. » Read more

Beating a dead horse ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Chuck Freilich - (Opinion) February 20, 2012 - 1:00am How long can you beat a dead horse? The peace process died some years ago and the only humane thing to do may be to allow it to rest in peace. Indeed, it is questionable whether this is an opportune time to consider revival, when the future of peace with Egypt and Jordan hangs in doubt, Palestinian elections portend a possible Hamas takeover in the West Bank, and Hamas' radical mini-state in Gaza is the embodiment of every Israeli nightmare. » Read more

Rapidly dwindling avenues to peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Ghassan Khatib - (Opinion) February 20, 2012 - 1:00am The regional and international environments appear increasingly less conducive to a peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, especially in the short term. The United States is preparing for coming presidential and congressional elections, and the Arab world is increasingly involved in internal revolutions that are naturally emphasizing local agendas. These factors are limiting available options and eliminating opportunities to make progress in ending our conflict peacefully. » Read more

Obama's options are important, too ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Yossi Alpher - (Opinion) February 20, 2012 - 1:00am For Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, as for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, the primary objective of 2012 with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is to get through the year without a peace process failure, without major violence, and perhaps with some marginal achievement in the context of regional developments like the "Arab spring" that position each of them better for 2013. A genuine peace process is most definitely not anybody's realistic objective. It is in this context that we can address President Barack Obama's objectives as well. » Read more

We are committed to reconciliation agreement - Hamas official ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Ali El-saleh - (Interview) February 17, 2012 - 1:00am London, Asharq Al-Awsat –Senior Hamas figure Khalil al-Hayya informed Asharq Al-Awsat that the Hamas movement is committed to the Doha Declaration, although he acknowledged that there are some “legal” issues that must be dealt with before this can be implemented. Al-Hayya, who is a member of the Hamas Political Bureau for the Gaza Strip spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat about the Doha Declaration in the wake of inflammatory comments issued by another senior Hamas figure, Mahmoud al-Zahar. » Read more

Palestinian journalists under pressure ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Roy Greenslade - (Blog) February 21, 2012 - 1:00am The International Press Institute (IPI) has registered its concern over the treatment of Palestinian journalists by both Israeli forces and Palestinian security services. The press freedom watchdog says that since the beginning of 2012, at least five journalists working in the Palestinian territories have been subjected to arbitrary arrest. Two more have had their detention periods extended. Three of those who were arrested recently were allegedly interrogated for several hours about their writing before being released. The other two remain in custody. » Read more

Q&A affecting the future of the Middle East ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) February 20, 2012 - 1:00am Over the past two weeks I have been on a speaking tour in the United States (one more week to go). I am appearing on college campuses, some, such as Johns Hopkins, American University and George Washington in the main cities of the country. » Read more

How Israeli negligence led to the death of a Palestinian car thief ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chaim Levinson - (Analysis) February 20, 2012 - 1:00am The figure at the side of the road was completely still. A pedestrian who saw him in the early morning light came close, and found the body of a young man. He was barefoot and clad in a thin hospital gown from the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer. » Read more

Israel demolishes West Bank villages as Jewish outposts remains untouched ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - (Analysis) February 21, 2012 - 1:00am It is doubtful whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has expressed great concern over the fate of Migron's residents, has heard of Tha'lah. Unfortunately for the village's residents, Tha'lah is situated in Area C, which is under Israel jurisdiction. Minister Benny Begin, who worked so tirelessly on the questionable "agreement" that will leave the Migron criminals on stolen land for a few more years (if it is ever implemented ), presumably does not know what happened to the residents of this tiny village in the Southern Hebron Hills. » Read more

Netanyahu mustn't demolish the strategic alliance with U.S. ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Sefi Rachlevsky - (Opinion) February 21, 2012 - 1:00am In an interview with The New York Times, Defense Minister Ehud Barak listed three conditions for going to war against Iran, a threefold test: Military action must significantly delay Iran's nuclear program; it must result in minimal harm to Israel's home front; and it must receive massive American and international support. As prime minister, Barak brandished the test of results as his sword, and fell on it several months later. But now, the same old song is playing again. » Read more