February 9th

News Analysis: Israel fears Islamist takeover in Egypt
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
by Adam Gonn - February 8, 2011 - 1:00am

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday expressed concern that the demonstrations in Egypt may lead to Islamist groups taking over if President Hosni Mubarak were to step down. Netanyahu outlined three possible scenarios for the future of Egypt, ranging from a secular democracy to an Iranian-style theocracy. There is also another possibility: that the Islamists will exploit the situation to gain power over the country and lead it backwards, Netanyahu added.

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Battle over Mideast transit ads heating up across U.S.
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
by Ben Harris - February 8, 2011 - 1:00am

With public bickering over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict already having spilled over into university student senates, corporate pension boards and even local farmers markets, the latest battlefield in the debate over the conflict is municipal transit systems.

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Seize the Day, Tomorrow Could Be Worse
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Forward
by Leonard Fein - February 8, 2011 - 1:00am

“We are witnessing a genuine grassroots revolution in Egypt and its outcome will have to reflect the will of the people, not our desires.” So writes a friend from Israel. But “the will of the people,” as awesomely impressive it has been these past days in Tahrir Square and elsewhere, inevitably becomes a chimera the morning after the old regime has been chased from power.

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Face of Israel's armed forces visited UK incognito
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Dan Williams - February 8, 2011 - 1:00am

The chief spokesman of Israel's armed forces said on Tuesday he had visited Britain incognito and under guard for fear of being targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters.

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The revolution isn't over yet
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons
by Ghassan Khatib - (Blog) February 7, 2011 - 1:00am

A PALESTINIAN VIEW Fourteen days into the massive public protests against Egypt's regime, it is still too early to deeply analyze the situation. Let us instead touch on some of the questions and problems that the revolution--as they call it in Egypt--is creating and trying to overcome.

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10 Palestinians injured in Gaza strikes
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
February 9, 2011 - 1:00am

Ten Palestinians were injured Wednesday morning in Israeli air strikes which started after midnight and hit in a series of explosions running from the northern end of the Strip to the south. Spokesman of the higher committee of ambulance and emergency services Adham Abu Salmiya said that eight were lightly injured including two children and three women. The injured were transferred to the Kamal Odwan Hospital north of Gaza City.

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Return to negotiations now
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons
by Smadar Peri - (Blog) February 7, 2011 - 1:00am

AN ISRAELI VIEW - Now, especially now, when the intifada in Egypt projects out to streets and rulers' palaces throughout the Arab world and the virus of demonstrations could land at any moment in another country--this is precisely the right time to return to the negotiating table with the Palestinians. Yes, we have demonstrated maturity and political loyalty to President Hosni Mubarak. Nor do we miss an opportunity to explain how volatile and worrisome the situation is. But this is not enough.

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Israel's stake in an Egyptian democracy -- now
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
February 8, 2011 - 1:00am

Israel’s peace treaty with Egypt once seemed as solid as the stones of the pyramids. It provided a “cold peace” for more than three decades between the former enemies. But the pact was based on a weak reed – the assumption that a friendly autocrat like Hosni Mubarak would always rule in Cairo. Now with young Egyptians like Google executive Wael Ghonim waging a pro-democracy revolt in Tahrir Square, the security pact’s future could be sinking like an army tank in the Sinai sands.

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February 8th

A search for common ground, against the odds
In Print by Hussein Ibish - NOW Lebanon (Blog) - February 8, 2011 - 1:00am

Since its inception in 2003, the American Task Force on Palestine, where I am a senior research fellow, has been trying to help lay the groundwork for an American alliance for a two-state solution. Such an alliance would bring Jewish-American supporters of Israel and their allies, and Arab-American supporters of Palestine and their allies, together to pursue the mutual interests of both peoples – and of course of the United States itself – in a stable peace agreement.

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The PA says local elections will be held on July 9, but Hamas rejects the plan. PM Fayyad calls for international pressure to end settler violence. Hebron seeks UNESCO recognition. Bernard Avishai says Israeli-Palestinian peace is still possible. Jonah Goldberg says Middle Eastern politicians are exploiting the conflict. PM Netanyahu says peace treaties can be canceled. Palestinians launch their first private equity fund.Spain's FM visits Hebron and settlers call her a "Nazi" and "anti-Semite." Israeli soldiers shoot a Palestinian man in the Gaza border area. Ha'aretz says Netanyahu must advance peace if he wants a stable Middle East. An extremist rabbi insists he's not a racist. Four projectiles land in southern Israel. Hamas is working with disgruntled bedouin tribes in Sinai. Gaza is facing a fuel crisis due to unrest in Egypt. Abdulateef al-Mulhim says Arabs believe in non-existent Israeli conspiracies. Hussein Ibish says Jewish and Arab Americans need to find common ground on peace.

American Task Force on Palestine - 1634 Eye St. NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20006 - Telephone: 202-262-0017