Middle East News: World Press Roundup

NEWS: Fatah holds its first rally in Gaza in years, which some see as more evidence of potential Palestinian national reconciliation. An Israeli and a Palestinian chef co-author a book on Jerusalem food. Former Shin Bet chief Diskin harshly criticizes PM Netanyahu's attitudes towards Iran. Two documentaries on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are shortlisted for this year's Academy Awards. Palestinian officials say the PA fiscal crisis may make joining more UN and multilateral agencies prohibitively costly. Pres. Abbas says Palestinians need Arab financial support, which has been pledged but not delivered. Abbas authorizes PA agencies to operate under the rubric of the "State of Palestine" on all official documents. Reports suggest the Israeli government may be delaying highly controversial E1 settlement construction plans. Palestinian refugees trying to flee the war in Syria are being charged hefty visa fees at the Lebanese border. COMMENTARY: Ziad Asali and Ghaith al-Omari say the international community needs to move quickly to salvage the Palestinian institution-building program. Zbigniew Brzezinski says it would make no sense for the United States to attack Iran. Yoel Marcus says if Pres. Peres really believes in his strong disagreement with Israel's policies towards the Palestinians, he should resign. Sawsan Zaher says the Israeli government is engaged in a cover-up of information clearing MK Zoabi from any wrongdoing in the Gaza flotilla affair. The Jerusalem Post says Israel's diplomats can't be expected to defend policies that lack adequate explanation. Ben Caspit says Israeli society is acting recklessly on Jerusalem. Akiva Eldar says demographics suggest a continued rise of Israel's right-wing parties. Adnan Abu Amer says it's only a matter of time before there is another Gaza war. Shlomi Eldar strongly criticizes Hamas' efforts to ban journalists in Gaza from working with any Israeli media outlets. Alan Berger says the US should help Israelis make peace with the Palestinians, even if that means meddling in their elections. Alan Philps says Israel's slide to the extreme right is gravely endangering the country.

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Abbas' Fatah movement marks anniversary in Gaza first time in six years ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua January 4, 2013 - 1:00am   Hundreds of thousands of supporters of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement on Friday marked its 48-year anniversary in the Gaza Strip, for the first time in six years. » Read more

Palestinians Move Toward Reconciliation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Diana Atallah - January 3, 2013 - 1:00am   When the Fatah faction holds what is expected to be a huge demonstration marking its 48th anniversary in Gaza, it will mark another step towards reconciliation with its rival Hamas faction in a dispute that continues despite occasional let-ups.   » Read more

Chefs offer their take on Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Danica Kirka - January 4, 2013 - 1:00am   Two London-based chefs with roots in Jerusalem one day. The next, poster boys for peace. » Read more

Israel ex-spy chief blasts PM ahead of election ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Daniel Estrin - January 4, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

2 Israeli documentaries shortlisted for Oscar ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Daniel Estrin - January 3, 2013 - 1:00am   The Mideast conflict has done little to help Israel's image in the world, but the way local filmmakers deal critically with the Israel-Palestinian issue has won wide international praise — and this year, recognition from the top of the movie industry. » Read more

PA financial crisis could be obstacle to joining int'l bodies ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 4, 2013 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority's financial crisis may prevent it from joining several international and United Nations institutions following Palestine's recognition as a non-member state in November, a legal official said Friday. » Read more

Abbas: Palestine faces hardship without Arab 'safety net' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 4, 2013 - 1:00am President Mahmoud Abbas warned on Thursday that without the pledged Arab "safety net" for the Palestinian coffers, Palestine will be in a difficult situation. » Read more

Official documents to begin using 'State of Palestine' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 3, 2013 - 1:00am President Mahmoud Abbas signed agreement on Thursday to start using "State of Palestine" on all official documents, according to PA news agency Wafa.  » Read more

Netanyahu delays E1 construction plans ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Akiva Novick - January 4, 2013 - 1:00am After declaring his support for the controversial E1 area construction plans in December, it appears that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is hesitating to realize the plans. » Read more

Palestinian refugees from Syria hit with visa fees ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Annie Slemrod - January 4, 2013 - 1:00am   Palestinians fleeing the violence in Syria must pay LL25,000 to enter Lebanon, a fee that is preventing some refugees from making it across the border. » Read more

The Palestinian Implosion ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy by Ghaith Al-Omari, Ziad Asali - (Opinion) January 4, 2013 - 1:00am   Three years ago, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad launched an ambitious plan to build effective, responsive, and clean government institutions. The results were impressive, and Fayyad was hailed as a figure who was making true progress toward a two-state solution even as formal negotiations faltered. » Read more

Iran should be key topic at hearings ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Zbigniew Brzezinski - (Opinion) January 3, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

President Peres - resign ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yoel Marcus - (Opinion) January 4, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Cover-up led to anti-Zoabi campaign ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Sawsan Zaher - (Opinion) January 4, 2013 - 1:00am The request to disqualify Balad MK Hanin Zoabi from running in the elections for the 19th Knesset raises serious questions regarding the easiness in which an Arab Knesset member can be delegitimized and demonized – to the point where she is branded a terrorist. » Read more

Diplomatic criticism ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post (Editorial) January 3, 2013 - 1:00am Israeli ambassadors from around the world were in Jerusalem this week for their annual end-of-year meeting.It is a time for diplomats to swap experiences with peers, meet with top government officials and get caught up on internal Foreign Ministry politics. » Read more

Have we gone crazy? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Ben Caspit - (Opinion) January 3, 2013 - 1:00am Israel is going nuts. » Read more

Demography Favors Rise of Israel's Right ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Akiva Eldar - (Opinion) January 3, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Next Gaza War a Matter Of When, Not If ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Adnan Abu Amer - (Opinion) January 3, 2013 - 1:00am   The recent Israeli war on Gaza ended with an urgent cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, after the two sides failed to completely achieve their objectives. » Read more

Hamas Imposes a Media Blackout Throughout Gaza Strip ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Shlomi Eldar - (Opinion) January 3, 2013 - 1:00am   The most irritating thing about the Hamas government’s decision to ban Palestinian journalists in Gaza from working for Israeli media outlets is what the decision implies: The journalists have been turned into collaborators, at least from the perspective of the Palestinian public. » Read more

Obama should meddle in Israel’s election ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Boston Globe by Alan Berger - (Opinion) January 4, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Israel's paranoid slide to the right pushes it towards a cliff ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Alan Philps - (Opinion) January 4, 2013 - 1:00am   An Israeli election, such as is being held on January 22, would normally be heralded by alarmist headlines proclaiming "last chance for peace" or "make or break". This election, however, is being passed over almost in silence. » Read more

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