Broader Gaza deal possible next week - Mubarak ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters February 9, 2009 - 1:00am Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said on Monday a broader truce would "maybe" be agreed next week for the Gaza Strip, where a fragile ceasefire has been in place since Israel ended a military offensive on Jan. 18. "We have discussed the date when the situation could calm down, maybe from next week," said Mubarak, speaking through an interpreter and referring to attempts to reach a "consolidated" deal to stabilise the Hamas-ruled Strip. » Read more

Israeli election battle seen too close to call ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Ari Rabinovitch - February 9, 2009 - 1:00am Israel's national election is likely to be a cliff-hanger, pollsters said on Monday, on the eve of a vote right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party had been forecast to win. "The trend we've seen the last few days indicates a very close battle," said pollster Rafi Smith of the Smith Research Center. "No one has jumped ahead and it's tough to call." » Read more

A Promise of War ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Jackson Diehl - (Opinion) February 9, 2009 - 1:00am The past four Israeli elections have been won by a candidate who promised to end Israel's conflict with the Palestinians. Tomorrow, for the first time in decades, Israelis may choose a prime minister who is promising to wage war. » Read more

After Gaza War, Daunting Curbs On Rebuilding ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Griff Witte - February 8, 2009 - 1:00am Mohammed Irhaiem's former home was a spacious 1,500 square feet and was built from solid concrete blocks. It had views of the Mediterranean and fruit trees in the yard. His new home, which he surveyed for the first time this week, measures 12 by 6 feet and is made of sheets of canvas held aloft by three wooden poles. His is one of 90 bright white tents that have sprouted in neat rows amid a sea of gray rubble, the wreckage from homes -- including Irhaiem's -- that were destroyed during the 22-day Gaza war between Israel and Hamas. » Read more

Survey: Only one in four Gazans supports Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz February 9, 2009 - 1:00am Only a quarter of the Palestinians in Gaza support Hamas, Army Radio reported Monday. According to the findings of a new poll conducted in Gaza by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion, support in the ruling Hamas government has drastically gone down following the Israel Defense Forces offensive in the coastal strip. Only 28% of the Palestinians now say they support Hamas, compared to 51% who voiced their support for Hamas in November 2008. » Read more

PA: Hamas rockets are bid to sway Israeli election ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press February 9, 2009 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority foreign minister on Monday accused Hamas of trying to influence the outcome of Tuesday's general election in Israel by keeping up the rocket fire on southern Israel. Riad Malki said Hamas did not want to see a pro-peace government elected in Israel during the parliamentary vote because it would pursue a political deal with the PA, dominated by its rival Fatah movement. On Sunday, two rockets struck southern Israel, violating an informal Israel-Hamas truce. » Read more