Date

Israel unlikely to retaliate after Bulgaria report
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Tia Goldenberg - February 5, 2013 - 1:00am


Israel on Tuesday welcomed a Bulgarian report implicating Hezbollah in the deaths of five Israelis in a bus bombing last summer, signaling that it will use the findings to focus on a diplomatic battle rather than military retaliation against the Lebanese militant group. Israel has long blamed Hezbollah for the attack, which targeted a bus carrying Israeli tourists in the Black Sea resort town of Burgas.


PA security man found dead in Ramallah
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Khaled Abu Toameh - February 6, 2013 - 1:00am


The body of a Palestinian security officer was discovered on Tuesday in his apartment in Ramallah. The officer, Hassan Jalayta, 40, from Jericho, had been summoned for questioning by his commanders. Jalayta left his family home in Jericho on Tuesday morning and was supposed to report for questioning, but did not show up, a Palestinian Authority security source said. The source did not say why the officer, who worked for the Preventive Security Service, had been summoned for questioning in Ramallah.


Israel's Netanyahu hits snags in building team
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Josef Federman - February 5, 2013 - 1:00am


As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to take office for a third time, his attempts to form a new coalition government have gotten off to a rocky start.


Finance minister: PA budget $3.6 billion for 2013
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
February 5, 2013 - 1:00am


The Palestinian Authority government is working on a draft budget of $3.6 billion for 2013, set for approval by the end of the month, the PA finance minister said Tuesday. The budget contains a number of measures to try and reduce the budget deficit and increase revenues, Nabil Qassis told Ma'an. “We decided to adopt a united taxation system in attempt to limit tax evasion. In addition, we raised taxes on car imports and purchase, and these procedures are expected to yield $50 million a year,” he said.


A time to dream in Washington, D.C.
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
by Rami Khouri - (Opinion) February 6, 2013 - 1:00am


We will find out in coming months whether the second term of the Obamaadministration will herald any significant changes in 


Gaza rights groups question police use of force
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
February 6, 2013 - 1:00am


Human rights groups in the Gaza Strip are calling for authorities to investigate police use of force against civilians after the death of a suspected drug trafficker last week. Atiya Suleiman Qishta, 41, was killed on Saturday after he was shot in the back by an anti-drug unit of the Gaza police force. Police sources told the Palestinian Center for Human Rights that eight officers laid an ambush for the car as part of an attempted drug bust, but when Qishta stepped out of the vehicle he refused police orders to stop and attempted to flee.


Ahmadinejad: Iran already a nuclear state, but has no intention of launching attack on Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Jack Khoury - February 6, 2013 - 1:00am


Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says that while Iran is already a nuclear state, it has no intention of attacking Israel.


Obama's Israel visit may mark rebirth of 'centrality' of the Palestinian conflict
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Chemi Shalev - (Opinion) February 6, 2013 - 1:00am


As George Mallory famously said about Mount Everest, President Obamais going to visit Israel, first and foremost, “because it’s there.” After the heaps of criticism and mounds of condemnation hurled at him for avoiding Israel after his Cairo speech and throughout his first term, there was no way that Obama was going to let Air Force 1 enter Middle East air space wit


Argentine foreign minister accuses Israel of giving 'ammunition to anti-Semites,' sources say
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - February 6, 2013 - 1:00am


Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman accused Israel of giving "ammunition to anti-Semites who accuse Jews of dual loyalty" as part of an exceptionally harsh dressing down of Israel's ambassador Dorit Shavit, sources say. The incident was sparked by Israel's efforts to obtain explanations about an agreement Argentina and Iran signed around two weeks ago.


Burden of proof
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
(Editorial) February 6, 2013 - 1:00am


Tuesday’s news, that Bulgaria is investigating Hezbollah’s possible responsibility for a deadly bombing there last year comes at a critically important time for the party.



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