Middle East News: World Press Roundup
NEWS:
The New York Times profiles Israel's new political star, Yair Lapid.
Relations between Pres. Obama and PM Netanyahu may thaw following Israel's election. The vote is seen as strengthening Obama's hand with Netanyahu. Hamas reportedly detains six journalists in Gaza. Israel arrests two senior PA officials in occupied East Jerusalem.
Palestinians say if Israel goes ahead with building in E1 and other sensitive areas of the occupied West Bank, they will have no choice but to file a complaint with the ICC. Palestinian witnesses accuse Israeli soldiers of killing a 22-year-old Palestinian woman "in cold blood." Hamas leader Haniyeh invites the Palestinian election commission to resume working in Gaza. PLO officials say they will invite Israelis for talks before the next Israeli government is formed. Amb. Rice says the US doesn't recognize the use of the term "State of Palestine" following last year's UN vote.
COMMENTARY:
The New York Times urges Obama to reengage Middle East peace, but spend the requisite political capital and lay the groundwork. Roger Cohen sees real signs of hope in the Israeli election outcome. Xinhua interviews PLO official Mohamed Ishteyah. Benedetta Berti says the Israeli election could provide the basis for improved policies towards the Palestinians. Chemi Shalev says any new centrist Israeli coalition will be quickly undone by Palestinian issues. Avner Gvaryahu says Israeli occupation forces have rules of engagement in the occupied Palestinian territories, but these are superseded by the need to dominate another people. The Forward says Netanyahu now has the final vote in the Israeli election: forming a coalition. Rachel Shabi says Lapid's strong showing in the election is a victory of celebrity over substance. The Daily Star argues it makes little difference to Palestinians who wins Israel's elections. Aaron David Miller says Obama and Netanyahu are now forced to try to get along with each other.
The Making of Israel’s New Power Broker
Article Author(s):
Jodi Rudoren
Media Outlet:
The New York Times
They pitched tents along Rothschild Boulevard and took to the streets in unprecedented numbers, hundreds of thousands demonstrating against the rising costs of gas, apartments, even cottage cheese.
Netanyahu-Obama Ties May Thaw After Israel Election
Article Author(s):
Mark Landler
Media Outlet:
The New York Times
Israeli vote may strengthen Obama hand with Netanyahu
Article Author(s):
Matt Spetalnick
Get ready for The Barack and Bibi Show, Part Two.
Gaza's Hamas rulers arrest 6 local reporters
Media Outlet:
Associated Press
Israel arrests senior PA officials in Jerusalem
Media Outlet:
Ma'an News Agency
Israeli authorities detained two senior Palestinian Authority officials on Thursday in occupied East Jerusalem, the PA's deputy prisoners minister said.
The Palestinians declared Wednesday that they will have no choice but to complain about Israel to the International Criminal Court if the Jewish state proceeds with plans to build housing on land the Palestinians want for a future state.
Witness: Israeli soldier killed woman 'in cold blood'
Media Outlet:
Ma'an News Agency
"I saw an Israeli soldier on the main road firing gunshots haphazardly, so I put my left hand on Lubna's back, and grabbed her to try and run backward.
Haniyeh invites elections commission to Gaza
Media Outlet:
Ma'an News Agency
Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Thursday invited the Central Elections Commission to the Gaza Strip, a government spokesman said.
Media Outlet:
Associated Press
The Palestinian president will invite Israeli politicians to the West Bank to try to make sure peacemaking is on the new government’s agenda, a senior official said Thursday, as a top Israeli hard-liner proposed sidelining the polarizing issue.
Rice: U.S. does not recognize use of ‘Palestine’
Media Outlet:
Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
Participation in United Nations forums that refer to a "State of Palestine" does not constitute U.S. recognition of Palestinian statehood, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice said.
Israel’s Election
Media Outlet:
The New York Times
The Israeli Center Lives
Article Author(s):
Roger Cohen
Media Outlet:
The New York Times
BIBI has the blues.
Palestinian official predicts confrontational relation with Netanyahu
A senior Palestinian peace negotiator said Thursday in a special interview with Xinhua that he expects a future confrontational relationship with Israeli right-wing leader Benjamin Netanyahu if he forms the new government in Israel.
Israel's new government could bring shift in policy on Arab Spring and Palestinians
Article Author(s):
Benedetta Berti
Media Outlet:
The Christian Science Monitor
The new, more moderate Israeli government will have a ticking political time bomb at its core
Article Author(s):
Chemi Shalev
In a contest in which 34 parties participate, it is almost a mission impossible to decipher what motivated Israelis to vote the way they did in Tuesday’s election. The permutations are endless and can be used to support theories and explanations that are often contradictory.
The real rules of engagement in the West Bank
Bibi's Deciding Vote
Media Outlet:
The Jewish Daily Forward
Israel picks celebrity over substance in a status quo election
Article Author(s):
Rachel Shabi
The same Israel
Media Outlet:
The Daily Star
For decades, Palestinians and Arabs have watched and waited as elections take place in Israel, speculating on the scenarios that might unfold if either “the left” or “the right” takes office.
Learning to Live with Bibi
Article Author(s):
Aaron David Miller
Media Outlet:
Foreign Policy
Links:
[1] http://www.americantaskforce.org/print/29909
[2] http://www.americantaskforce.org/printmail/29909
[3] http://www.americantaskforce.org/printpdf/29909
[4] http://www.americantaskforce.org/rss/wpr
[5] https://www.americantaskforce.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=1
[6] http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/24/world/middleeast/the-making-of-yair-lapid-israels-new-power-broker.html?ref=middleeast&_r=1&
[7] http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/24/world/middleeast/netanyahu-obama-ties-may-thaw-after-israel-election.html?ref=middleeast
[8] http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/israeli-vote-may-strengthen-obama-hand-with-netanyahu/
[9] http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/crime/gazas-hamas-rulers-arrest-6-local-reporters/nT5Hj/
[10] http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=558960
[11] http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/palestinians-say-may-have-no-choice-but-to-take-israel-to-hague-court/
[12] http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=558946
[13] http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=558953
[14] http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/netanyahu-ally-says-israeli-government-should-focus-on-domestic-issues-not-peacemaking/2013/01/24/55c7b770-6611-11e2-889b-f23c246aa446_story.html
[15] http://www.jta.org/news/article/2013/01/23/3117621/rice-us-does-not-recognize-use-of-palestine
[16] http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/24/opinion/israels-election.html?ref=opinion&_r=0
[17] http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/24/opinion/global/roger-cohen-the-israeli-center-lives.html?ref=opinion
[18] http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-01/24/c_132125839.htm
[19] http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2013/0123/Israel-s-new-government-could-bring-shift-in-policy-on-Arab-Spring-and-Palestinians?nav=90-csm_category-topStories
[20] http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/west-of-eden/the-new-more-moderate-israeli-government-will-have-a-ticking-political-time-bomb-at-its-core.premium-1.495971
[21] http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/the-real-rules-of-engagement-in-the-west-bank.premium-1.496092
[22] http://forward.com/articles/169771/bibis-deciding-vote/
[23] http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/israel-picks-celebrity-over-substance-in-a-status-quo-election
[24] http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Editorial/2013/Jan-24/203544-the-same-israel.ashx#axzz2IogTjeuP
[25] http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/01/23/learning_to_live_with_bibi_netanyahu_barack_obama_israel_election
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