January 26th

A necessary act of futility ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Douglas Bloomfield - (Opinion) January 26, 2012 - 1:00am Binyamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas have much in common. Both are pure of heart, noble of purpose and free of blame. Each man wants nothing more than peace between Israelis and Palestinians and would have it were it not for the other one’s intransigence. “The Palestinians have no interest in entering peace talks. I’m ready to travel now to Ramallah to start peace talks with Abu Mazen [Abbas] without preconditions,” Netanyahu has said. » Read more

Inside Out: Veering towards the center ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Jonathan Rosen - (Opinion) January 25, 2012 - 1:00am Despite the fact that no formal announcement has been made, the prevalent assessment in political corridors is that a general election in Israel will be held by October 2012. The primaries that have been scheduled by the Likud and Kadima, as well as Yair Lapid’s decision to enter the political arena, have contributed to that sense of momentum. Figures from within the Prime Minister’s Office, moreover, reportedly shared with journalists a number of weeks ago that Netanyahu would prefer to seek reelection before a second-term Barack Obama was potentially seated in the White House. » Read more

Encountering Peace: Breakthrough dynamic ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) January 25, 2012 - 1:00am We are about to enter another one of those critical weeks in the chronicles of our peoples. Decisions with historic consequences could be made by the Israeli and Palestinian leaders in the coming days. Neither Israel nor Palestine has a real strategic alternative to a negotiated peace agreement that leads to the establishment of a nation-state of the Palestinian people, Palestine, next to the nation-state of the Jewish people, Israel, and the end of the conflict. » Read more

Israel is being hijacked ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Roni Brizon - (Opinion) January 25, 2012 - 1:00am Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni said in weekend interviews that Israel faces three existential problems: One on the diplomatic-security front, another on the socioeconomic front, and yet another on the religious-cultural front. Ms. Livni is both right and wrong. The three issues are in fact three sides of one problem: What will Israel look like in the future and who will be shaping its national character? » Read more

An alternative to Israel's High Court of Justice ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Israel Harel - (Opinion) January 26, 2012 - 1:00am From time to time the demand is heard in Israel to establish a constitutional court, like the most advanced countries have. Ever since Chief Justice Aharon Barak expanded the right to petition the court, the High Court has been used continually by extremist organizations funded by foreign governments and groups. These front organizations are working, it is said, to change the character of the country. » Read more

Netanyahu must stop misusing the Holocaust ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Carlo Strenger - (Opinion) January 25, 2012 - 1:00am The Holocaust is one of humanity’s most terrible historical episodes and the greatest horror that has befallen the Jewish people. It must be remembered and it must be studied. » Read more

Hamas wants a ‘branch’ in Jordan ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Taylor Luck - January 26, 2012 - 1:00am AMMAN — Hamas chief Khaled Mishaal is set to make a long-anticipated official visit to Jordan next week, marking a turnaround in relations between Amman and the Palestinian resistance movement. His Majesty King Abdullah will receive Mishaal next week in what will mark the first official visit by the Hamas leader to the Kingdom in over a decade, according to Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Rakan Majali. » Read more

New Israeli search method at West Bank checkpoint worries Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - January 25, 2012 - 1:00am Israel Police have begun implementing a new method of searching Palestinian vehicles through use of nausea-inducing chemicals at a Bethlehem checkpoint, international aid workers have reported. Since December, Israeli police officers have introduced what they call a sophisticated method of tracking explosive materials. » Read more

Palestinian politicians doubt elections will take place ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 26, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- Several Palestinian officials expressed doubt on Wednesday that elections scheduled for May would take place. Senior Hamas official Ismail Radwan told Ma'an that "the pre-date is nearing.... elections can not be held under two governments as the national unity government has not been formed." He added: "Occupation may be a reason, but we have to overcome any obstacles that may be preventing elections." Fatah leader Thiab al-Loh told Ma’an that elections need to be prepared for in advance and at the moment "we are at the beginning (...) now we are not ready." » Read more

Barghouti sent to isolation after Israel comments ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 26, 2012 - 1:00am RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- Jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti was sent to solitary confinement on Wednesday after making critical comments about Israel to journalists. After testifying in a Jerusalem court on Wednesday the Fatah leader briefly spoke to reporters. Upon returning to Hadarim prison in Israel, Barghouti was not allowed back into his regular cell and was instead put in isolation, the Palestinian Prisoners' Society said Thursday. Detainees in the prison protested the move and asked prison authorities to explain their decision. Israeli authorities have not responded. » Read more