Middle East News: World Press Roundup

NEWS: DM Barak says he may retire from public life, and that the Netanyahu government should have done more to advance peace with the Palestinians. The New York Times profiles a cactus grower in Gaza. Parties differ over the status of talks on the details of the Hamas-Israel cease-fire. Both sides seem to have hardened their positions as a result of the conflict. The head of Palestinian Islamic Jihad praises Iran. The Gaza cease-fire raises hopes for more reconstruction efforts, as recent Israeli airstrikes are estimated to have cost at least $300 million in damage. Hezbollah claims to have rockets that can strike anywhere in Israel in the event of a future conflict, as Israel says it has successfully tested a new missile defense system. In yet another reversal on the question, Hamas leader Meshaal says he supports Pres. Abbas' UN bid, and says he is finally going to visit Gaza next week. Palestinians are being increasingly drawn into both sides of the Syrian conflict. The UK urges the US to refocus on the peace process. Fatah leaders say they will hold a conference in 2013 to "reboot" the party. Abbas heads to New York as the PLO insists that opposition to its upcoming UN initiative will only signal armed struggle is more effective than diplomacy. Members of Congress reiterate they may punish the Palestinians for the UN initiative. The BBC looks at the death of a child in the Gaza conflict. COMMENTARY: Jackson Diehl says a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas is better than periodic conflicts. Natan Sachs offers Pres. Obama advice on how to win the trust of Israelis. Barry Rubin criticizes Egypt's performance as a mediator. Jonathan Freedland says Israel and Palestine's leaders and friends have both failed them. Nathan Jeffay says Israel learned important lessons from the last Gaza war. The Forward says the Gaza conflict proves the status quo between Israel and the Palestinians is untenable. The National argues it's important for the PA to fully investigate the death of the late Pres. Arafat. Asharq Al-Awsat interviews Hamas leader al-Zahar. Raghida Dergham says Palestinians have to choose between the Hamas and PLO approaches, and the West and Israel hold the keys to that decision. Abdullah Al Shayji says the conflict shows that Israel needs to stop relying on constant wars and become a normal country. Gareth Evans says Israel should treat the new PLO UN initiative as an opportunity, not a challenge. Danny Rubinstein says Egypt is understandably reluctant to open the crossings with Gaza. Mohammed Yaghi says Hamas' confrontation with Israel was half-victory, half-defeat. Meir Javedanfar says Iran was not a central feature of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Daniel Levy says there are seven important lessons to be learned from the Gaza conflict. Peter Beinart looks at the risks attached to the PLO's new UN initiative.

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Israeli Defense Minister to Quit Politics ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Jodi Rudoren - November 26, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM – The Israeli defense minister, Ehud Barak, announced Monday that he would soon “leave political life,” after a half-century career in the military and government that included two years as prime minister. » Read more

Barak to Haaretz: Netanyahu government should have done more to advance peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - November 4, 2012 - 12:00am Defense Minister Ehud Barak this weekend criticized the way Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman have handled relations with the Palestinian Authority over the last four years, telling Haaretz in an interview: "The last government should have done much more to advance the peace process vis-a-vis [Palestinian President Mahmoud] Abbas." » Read more

As Bombs Fell in Gaza, a Rich Cactus Lover Could Cultivate Only Patience ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Jodi Rudoren - November 25, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA — Jawdat N. Khoudary is one of Gaza’s wealthiest men, and one of its boldest dreamers. » Read more

Hamas Claim Complicates Talk of Truce With Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Jodi Rudoren - November 24, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA — Confusion continued Saturday over the status of cease-fire talks Egypt is conducting between Hamas and Israel, as the Hamas prime minister announced progress regarding restrictions on the movements of fishermen and farmers in the border area, which the Israeli prime minister’s office denied. » Read more

On This, 2 Sides Agree: Fighting Hardened Positions ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner, Jodi Rudoren - November 24, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA — The eight days of fighting between Hamas and Israel left more than 160 Palestinians and six Israelis dead, but there may be another casualty from the sudden burst of violence: whatever small chance there was for reviving a long-moribund peace process. » Read more

Israel, militants begin talks on truce details ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Josef Federman - November 26, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM — Israel and Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip began indirect talks Monday in Egypt aimed at forging a new era of relations between the bitter enemies following a cease-fire that ended the heaviest fighting in nearly four years. » Read more

Gaza cease-fire raises hopes for reconstruction ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Sarah El Deeb - November 25, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Mohammed Falah Azzam has been through this before. » Read more

Gaza losses total 300 mln USD after Israeli airstrikes: report ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua November 24, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Gaza Strip must be declared an economically-disastrous area, Palestinian Chamber of Commerce said Saturday. In a report assessing the damage following an eight-day Israeli air raids, the study said that the economic losses in Gaza reached 300 million U.S. dollars. » Read more

Hezbollah says could hit all of Israel in future war ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Dominic Evans - November 25, 2012 - 1:00am BEIRUT, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel on Sunday that thousands of rockets would rain down on Tel Aviv and cities across the Jewish state if it attacked Lebanon. » Read more

Israel says successfully tested new missile defense system ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua November 26, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Israel has successfully tested a new missilbe defense system, which can intercept targets with a longer range than those downed by Iron Dome in the recent Israel- Gaza conflict, the Defense Ministry said Sunday. » Read more

Hamas chief voices support for Palestinian UN bid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua November 26, 2012 - 1:00am RAMALLAH, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal said Monday that he supports Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in his upcoming bid for an upgraded Palestinian status in the United Nations. » Read more

Hamas leader sets date for debut visit to Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff - November 25, 2012 - 1:00am Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Meshal will visit the Gaza Strip for the first time on December 5, Palestinian officials said Sunday. Meshal's planned visit was announced a month ago, before a final date had been set. Meshal lives in exile in Damascus. » Read more

Palestinians in Syria forced to pick sides ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Babak Dehghanpisheh - November 25, 2012 - 1:00am BEIRUT — For decades, the Palestinians who fled to Syria after the Arab-Israeli wars were seen as loyal supporters of the ruling Assad family, which provided a safe and stable haven to them and their representatives. » Read more

UK calls for US focus on two-state solution ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 26, 2012 - 1:00am LONDON (Reuters) -- British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Sunday urged the United States to take a more active role in seeking a lasting settlement between Israelis and Palestinians, warning of a "final chance" for a two-state solution. » Read more

Official: Party conference in 2013 to reboot Fatah ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 26, 2012 - 1:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party will hold a general conference in the first half of 2013 in order to revitalize the movement, a senior official said Sunday. Fatah is reeling from Israel's eight-day war on Gaza, which was seen locally as victory for Hamas and other factions using armed resistance in Gaza. » Read more

Abbas heads to NY ahead of UN statehood bid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh - November 26, 2012 - 1:00am Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is set to head to New York on Monday to seek the UN’s approval for upgrading the PA’s status to non-member observer. » Read more

PLO: Vote against Palestine at UN will signal that only armed struggle works ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - November 26, 2012 - 1:00am Four days before the United Nations vote on recognition of Palestine as a non-member state, the Palestine Liberation Organization says it is expecting a "pleasant surprise" in the UN General Assembly in New York. According to PLO sources, representatives of seven more European countries have indicated they will vote to admit Palestine as a non-member state. » Read more

Senators Cardin and Collins warn Abbas about U.N. bid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) November 22, 2012 - 1:00am (JTA) -- U.S. Sens Ben Cardin and Susan Collins sent a letter to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas opposing any unilateral attempts to pursue non-member state status at the United Nations General Assembly. » Read more

Gaza baby 'only knew how to smile' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC World News November 26, 2012 - 1:00am The death of civilians on either side in the Israel-Gaza conflict is tragic - especially when children are among the casualties. The BBC correspondent in Gaza, Jon Donnison, witnessed just such a tragedy at close quarters. » Read more

Lessons from Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency by Tania Hary - (Opinion) June 29, 2012 - 12:00am This month, I mark two important events which took place five years ago and changed the course of my life. It has been five years since I moved to Israel from New York and five years since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip and the closure of the enclave tightened. » Read more

What Bill Clinton can teach Obama about the Israelis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Natan Sachs - (Opinion) November 23, 2012 - 1:00am   » Read more

Who won in Gaza? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Barry Rubin - (Opinion) November 25, 2012 - 1:00am Naturally the question of who won any given war preoccupies people’s minds. » Read more

Israel and Palestine's leaders – and cheerleaders – have failed them ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Jonathan Freedland - (Opinion) November 23, 2012 - 1:00am   There used to be one for each decade, an Arab-Israeli war in 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973 and 1982. Now the eruptions into full-scale confrontation are coming more often, at four- or even three-year intervals: 2006, 2008-2009 and the eight days of November 2012. » Read more

Israel Learned the Lessons of Last Gaza War ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Nathan Jeffay - (Opinion) November 26, 2012 - 1:00am   Operation Pillar of Defense was the military offensive fought in the shadow of the Goldstone Report. As a cease-fire was announced November 21 by Israel, Hamas, Egypt and the United States, there was broad agreement, spanning from former army chiefs to the biggest critics of Israel’s conduct during the Gaza War of 2008–9, that Israel showed it had learned some important lessons from this previous conflict. » Read more

Gaza's Hard Truths ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward (Editorial) November 25, 2012 - 1:00am   Whatever happens in Gaza — and the news changes by the minute as this editorial is being written — all sides have to accept some very hard truths. If not, the bloodshed will resume, the anger and frustration will spread and the region, Israel’s neighborhood, will squander the hope and potential of the fragile cease-fire. » Read more

Arafat exhumation is just a beginning ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National (Editorial) November 26, 2012 - 1:00am   Tomorrow, a team of French, Russian and Swiss scientists will unearth the remains of Yasser Arafat, interred in Ramallah since 2004. That project may begin to answer one of the intractable mysteries of the past decade: what (or who) killed the former Palestinian leader? » Read more

Long-range rockets change balance of power with Israel – Hamas strongman ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Salah Jumaa - (Opinion) November 23, 2012 - 1:00am   » Read more

The Gaza War Reinforces Palestinian Division and Threatens Abbas’s Palestinian Authority ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Hayat by Raghida Dergham - (Opinion) November 24, 2012 - 1:00am   The most recent war in Gaza has provided an opportunity on the field for Israel to test its new anti-missile system, the Iron Dome, and for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prove to Israeli voters his ability to protect his country’s civilians from rockets fired by Hamas or Hezbollah.   » Read more

Wrong war in new regional order ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News (Opinion) November 26, 2012 - 1:00am   » Read more

The latest conflict in Gaza is over, so what happens next? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Gareth Evans - (Opinion) November 24, 2012 - 1:00am   » Read more

Egypt Hesitates to Reopen Crossing at Rafah ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Danny Rubenstein - (Opinion) November 25, 2012 - 1:00am   » Read more

Hamas Won Partial Victory In Gaza Cease-Fire Deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Mohammed Yaghi - (Opinion) November 26, 2012 - 1:00am   The courageous Gazan resistance was not expected to liberate Jerusalem, force the Israeli occupation to withdraw to the lines of June 4, down an F-16 aircraft or destroy Israeli warships in the middle of the sea. It was not expected to creep from Gaza into Israel's international borders. » Read more

The Gaza War Was Not Iran's War ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Meir Javendanfar - (Opinion) November 22, 2012 - 1:00am   After eight days of fighting, on the 21st of November, Israel and Hamas declared a ceasefire. » Read more

Seven Takeaways From The Gaza Ceasefire ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Daniel Levy - (Opinion) November 22, 2012 - 1:00am   1) And the winner… is President Morsi » Read more

Mahmoud Abbas Bid for U.N. Sanction of Palestine State Could Explode West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Peter Beinart - (Opinion) November 26, 2012 - 1:00am   » Read more

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