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Gvaryahu says Israeli occupation forces have rules of engagement in the occupied Palestinian territories, but these are superseded by the need to dominate another people.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.

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The Making of Israel’s New Power Broker ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Jodi Rudoren - January 24, 2013 - 1:00am   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. » Read more

Netanyahu-Obama Ties May Thaw After Israel Election ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Mark Landler - January 23, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Israeli vote may strengthen Obama hand with Netanyahu ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Matt Spetalnick - January 24, 2013 - 1:00am   Get ready for The Barack and Bibi Show, Part Two. » Read more

Gaza's Hamas rulers arrest 6 local reporters ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press January 24, 2013 - 1:00am     » Read more

Israel arrests senior PA officials in Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 24, 2013 - 1:00am Israeli authorities detained two senior Palestinian Authority officials on Thursday in occupied East Jerusalem, the PA's deputy prisoners minister said.  » Read more

Palestinians say may have no choice but to take Israel to Hague court ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters January 24, 2013 - 1:00am   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. » Read more

Witness: Israeli soldier killed woman 'in cold blood' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 24, 2013 - 1:00am "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. » Read more

Haniyeh invites elections commission to Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 24, 2013 - 1:00am  Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Thursday invited the Central Elections Commission to the Gaza Strip, a government spokesman said. » Read more

Palestinian president wants to talk peace with Israelis before new government formed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press January 24, 2013 - 1:00am   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. » Read more

Rice: U.S. does not recognize use of ‘Palestine’ ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) January 24, 2013 - 1:00am    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. » Read more

Israel’s Election ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times (Editorial) January 24, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

The Israeli Center Lives ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Roger Cohen - (Opinion) January 24, 2013 - 1:00am   BIBI has the blues. » Read more

Palestinian official predicts confrontational relation with Netanyahu ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua (Opinion) January 24, 2013 - 1:00am    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. » Read more

Israel's new government could bring shift in policy on Arab Spring and Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Benedetta Berti - (Opinion) January 24, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

The new, more moderate Israeli government will have a ticking political time bomb at its core ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chemi Shalev - (Opinion) January 24, 2013 - 1:00am   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. » Read more

The real rules of engagement in the West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Opinion) January 24, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Bibi's Deciding Vote ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward (Editorial) January 24, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Israel picks celebrity over substance in a status quo election ATFP World Press Roundup Article from by Rachel Shabi - (Opinion) January 24, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

The same Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star (Editorial) January 24, 2013 - 1:00am   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. » Read more

Learning to Live with Bibi ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) January 24, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

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