January 30th

Israel Skips U.N. Review on Rights, a New Move ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Nick Cumming-Bruce - January 29, 2013 - 1:00am Israel became the first country to withhold cooperation from a United Nations review of its human rights practices on Tuesday, shunning efforts by the United States and others to encourage it to partic » Read more

Palestinians face growing food crisis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 30, 2013 - 1:00am Fluctuating prices, poverty and border restrictions mean growing numbers of Palestinians are facing food insecurity this year -- one of the key priorities in the humanitarian community’s annual appeal for the occupied Palestinian territory. This year’s Consolidated Appeal Process is for $401.6 million, a slight decrease on last year’s $416.7 million, only 68 percent of which was financed. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which helped coordinate the CAP, estimates that 1.3 million Palestinians do not have enough food. » Read more

PNA criticizes Israel for limited release of tax revenues ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua January 30, 2013 - 1:00am The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on Wednesday criticized Israel's decision to release only parts of withheld Palestinian tax revenues. "The decision is incomplete because it only transfers the funds of one month out of four," said an official from Palestinian Ministry of Finance, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official added that the released amount, estimated around 100 million U.S. dollars, would help ease the PNA's financial crisis, which deepened in the past two years due to a drop in international aid. » Read more

Israel to Transfer Tax Funds to Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - January 30, 2013 - 1:00am Israel has decided to transfer tax and customs revenues collected last month on behalf of the Palestinian Authority to help ease the economic crisis there, a senior Israeli government official said on Wednesday. » Read more

January 29th

Trudy Rubin: Little settled by Israeli vote ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Philadelphia Inquirer by Trudy Rubin - (Opinion) January 29, 2013 - 1:00am Here's a pop quiz for those who have been too busy to notice the surprising results of Tuesday's Israeli election: Was the key issue (1) Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu's testy relationship with President Barack Obama; (2) whether Israel should bomb Iran's nuclear sites; or (3) whether to revive the mummified peace process? » Read more

Time has come for 2 states ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Gilead Sher - (Opinion) January 29, 2013 - 1:00am In about a month and a half Israel's 33rd government will be sworn in, and, regardless of the make-up of the next coalition, it must succeed in determining the country's borders. » Read more

New Class of Palestinians Get Rich On Gaza Tunnel Trade ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Omar Shaban - (Opinion) January 28, 2013 - 1:00am One of the challenges for reconciliation between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority (PA) is to reaccommodate 55,000 PA employees — who had been asked to refuse to work with the Hamas government — in the Gaza Strip.  Another important challenge is how to assimilate hundreds of newly rich Palestinians who have amassed vast fortunes from illegal trade as well as legal economic activities, and re-incorporate hundreds who had halted economic activity because of the blockade. The tunnels are not new » Read more

The role of Israel in Syria ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed - (Opinion) January 29, 2013 - 1:00am THE war in Syria is also an Israeli concern and its results may be as dangerous as the October 1973 war. The fall of Bashar Assad’s regime can change the map and may perhaps threaten the existing balance of power formulated after the disengagement agreement signed by President Hafez Assad and Israel under Henry Kissinger’s auspices during the October war. » Read more

Encountering Peace: Good governments make peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) January 28, 2013 - 1:00am The most important thing any government can provide for its people is peace. Peace is the precondition for everything else. Economic growth, welfare for those in need, good education for all, culture, infrastructure, opportunity and hope are all attainable, if there is peace. Israel is the land of promise, the land of great potential. Amazing things have been achieved here over the past 65 years under very difficult circumstances. The major promise that has not been fulfilled is peace. » Read more

Yair Lapid Should Call Abu Mazen ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Shlomi Eldar - (Opinion) January 28, 2013 - 1:00am Below is the transcript of a phone call that has not yet taken place: “Hello?” “Hello Mr. Lapid, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas speaking.” “Who?” “Mahmoud Abbas, Abu Mazen.” “Ah-ha, shalom.” “Apropos of peace, do you feel like dropping by me for coffee? I am here in Ramallah, a 50-minute ride from Tel Aviv.” “Give me a minute to check …” » Read more