Mr. Obama Goes to Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Thomas L. Friedman - (Opinion) March 12, 2013 - 12:00am

In case you haven’t heard, President Obama leaves for Israel next week. It is possible, though, that you haven’t heard because it is hard for me to recall a less-anticipated trip to Israel by an American president. But there is a message in that empty bottle: Little is expected from this trip — not only because little is possible, but because, from a narrow U.S. point of view, little is necessary. Quietly, with nobody announcing it, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has shifted from a necessity to a hobby for American diplomats.

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The three issues that could torpedo Obama's visit to Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Eric H. Yoffie - March 12, 2013 - 12:00am

During President Obama’s upcoming visit to Israel, the reactions of the average American will range from mild interest to indifference.  Most Americans are not very concerned about foreign policy.  Still, they have good feelings about Israel and will likely see the trip positively.

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The Case For Incrementalism
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Week
by Martin Raffel - (Opinion) March 12, 2013 - 12:00am

Secretary of State Kerry and President Obama are hitting the road to the Middle East this month, and, among other important strategic objectives, they will try to revive Israeli-Palestinian negotiations that can lead expeditiously to a permanent peace agreement.

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Why Israel Is Calling For Jonathan Pollard's Release Now
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
by J.J. Goldberg - March 12, 2013 - 12:00am

In advance of President Obama’s scheduled March 20 visit, Israeli society at every level is waging an unprecedented, all-out public effort to press for the release of Jonathan Pollard, the American Jew serving a life sentence for spying for Israel. The past month has seen figures as diverse as President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, far-right Likud lawmaker Moshe Feiglin and former Hamas hostage Gilad Shalit calling on Obama to commute Pollard’s sentence to time served and set him free.

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Lots of listening, no grand initiatives expected on Obama’s Mideast trip
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
by Ron Kampeas, Ben Sales - March 12, 2013 - 12:00am

When President Obama visits Israel next week, Gavriel Yaakov wants him to jump-start the peace process. “I’m excited,” said Yaakov, 67, sitting in a Tel Aviv mall. “I want negotiations to get to an agreement on a long-term peace with the Palestinians.” Yaakov said he trusts Obama, but his friend, Yossi Cohen, is more skeptical. “I’m not excited,” said Cohen, 64, who charged that the president supports Islamists and “hasn't done anything” to prevent an Iranian nuclear weapon.

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Abbas to push PA prisoner issue during Obama visit
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Khaled Abu Toameh - March 12, 2013 - 12:00am

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has decided to place the issue of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel at the top of his agenda during the planned meeting with US President Barack Obama, a PA official in Ramallah said Monday. The official’s announcement came as families of Palestinian prisoners stepped up their protests in the West Bank, staging demonstrations and rallies calling on Abbas not to resume the peace talks unless Israel released their sons.

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Settlers fear Obama visit spells construction freeze
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Itamar Fleishman - March 12, 2013 - 12:00am

United States President Barack Obama's visit to Israel next week has sent Israeli entrepreneurs and future homeowners in the West Bank to a building frenzy, fearing the

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Analysis: Iran, Palestinian talks, Netanyahu ties to dominate Obama trip to Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
(Analysis) March 11, 2013 - 12:00am

Three goals will dominate President Barack Obama’s coming visit to Israel, his first as president: Convincing Israel and its leadership he means what he says about stopping Iran from building a nuclear weapon, mending a deeply troubled relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and, in return, enticing Israel back to negotiations with the Palestinians.

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Challenges lie ahead for Netanyahu govt
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
by Hassan Barari - (Opinion) March 11, 2013 - 12:00am

Barring a last minute surprise, Benjamin Netanyahu is poised to form a working governmental coalition this week. His ability to form his third government is a slam-dunk after Yair Lapid, the head of Yesh Atid Party, relinquished his demand to assume the portfolio of foreign affairs. Lapid’s desire to be a foreign minister was the stumbling block in the path of forming a government with Bennett.

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Kerry's Impromptu Meeting With Abbas
Media Mention of Hussein Ibish In The Daily Beast - March 11, 2013 - 12:00am

John Kerry’s unscheduled meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Monday during his first official trip abroad was anything but a rogue moment for the new secretary of State.

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