March 6th

Palestinians taken aback by Obama embrace of Israel, but expect little in US election year
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
March 5, 2012 - 1:00am


RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinians say they are disappointed in President Barack Obama but not surprised by his especially warm embrace of Israel in an election year. Still, his weekend speech to the powerful pro-Israel lobby AIPAC was perceived in the West Bank as unprecedented in its show of support for Israel. It raised eyebrows even among hardened skeptics who have lost faith in Washington’s ability to serve as an honest Mideast broker.


The next intifada
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat
by Emad El Din Adeeb - (Opinion) March 5, 2012 - 1:00am


There is new Israeli intelligence information about an imminent Palestinian intifada, ranging from Gaza to Ramallah. This information was leaked from the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate, but no one can be sure whether the objective of such an information leakage is to prevent a genuine intifada that is being secretly prepared underground, or whether it is merely a media cloud intended to cover up another crime committed by the occupying Israeli army. This issue cannot be analyzed without taking four other fundamental factors into consideration, which are as follows:


Israeli state officials disappointed with Obama meeting
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Attila Somfalvi - March 6, 2012 - 1:00am


Israeli state officials were disappointed Tuesday with the results of the Netanyahu-Obama meeting at the White House on Monday. "There were no surprises," a senior state official said. "It was clear from recent months that there are differences between ourselves and the Americans. We have different perspectives when it comes to the question of time and red lines." It was claimed that the Americans view the Iranian issue in the context of the upcoming presidential elections. "It's a bad message for the issue and a good message for the Iranians," a state official said.


A third Palestinian intifada may be in the cards
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
by Linda Heard - (Opinion) March 6, 2012 - 1:00am


Palestinian leaders are talking tough these days. And who can blame them! For decades they've been listening to empty Israeli promises and put their future in the hands of a succession of US presidents duplicitously claiming to be impartial peace brokers.


Destabilised, disintegrated Syria benefits Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
by Musa Keilani - (Opinion) March 3, 2012 - 1:00am


The Israelis are having an ongoing debate over the anti-regime uprising in Syria, with participants saying that the world is not doing anything about the carnage against the Syrian people by security forces loyal to the government. Many Israelis use the opportunity to thrash the Arabs, in the process, accusing them of doing nothing to help the Syrian people.


The Emergency Committee for Israel Cries Wolf
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New Yorker
by Connie Bruck - (Opinion) March 5, 2012 - 1:00am


In the last few days, just before the highly-charged meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Barack Obama, and, also, the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee meeting, where both Netanyahu and Obama were to address about fourteen thousand Israel supporters, the Emergency Committee for Israel moved into high gear.


Egypt: Sinai Gas Line Attacked
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
March 5, 2012 - 1:00am


Militants again blew up a Sinai Peninsula gas pipeline that carries fuel to neighboring Israel and Jordan, Egyptian security officials said Monday. The attack was the 13th on a pipeline since the uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak last year. The officials said the bombing occurred just three days after the pipeline was repaired and shipments to Israel and Jordan resumed. Islamists have been blamed for previous attacks.


Egypt: Sinai Gas Line Attacked
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
March 5, 2012 - 1:00am


Militants again blew up a Sinai Peninsula gas pipeline that carries fuel to neighboring Israel and Jordan, Egyptian security officials said Monday. The attack was the 13th on a pipeline since the uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak last year. The officials said the bombing occurred just three days after the pipeline was repaired and shipments to Israel and Jordan resumed. Islamists have been blamed for previous attacks.


March 5th

NEWS: In Israel there is both support and condemnation of a Palestinian citizen of Israel judge who stayed silent during the national anthem. Israeli officials cast a wary eye on the Sinai. Some supporters of Israel pressure Pres. Obama on the issue of Iran. Speculation grows that Israel may be considering special forces actions in Iran. Palestinian officials say they will give Israel a new deadline to agree ground rules for another round of talks. Former PM Olmert will address the next J Street conference. A new poll suggests that most Americans still have more positive views of Israel than the Palestinians. Palestinians find it hard to sell food products in Israel. Pres. Abbas may be preparing to send PM Netanyahu a letter asking about Israel's position regarding peace talks. In spite of turning against the Syrian regime, Hamas has not made any progress with the United States. Divisions in Hamas are threatening the primacy of its Politburo leader. Relations between Egypt and Hamas grow warmer, but are still distant. COMMENTARY: Colin Kahl says advocates of an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities should recall the outcome of the attack on Iraq's nuclear program. Doyle McManus says the US should not let itself be compromised by Israeli brinksmanship. Ha'aretz says Israel should heed Obama's advice on Iran. Chemi Shalev says Obama's hard-core detractors won't be swayed no matter what he says. Ron Kampeas looks at the upcoming Obama-Netanyahu meeting. Mostafa Zein says all US administrations look at the Middle East only through the Israeli lens. Rami Khouri says Hamas' break with Syria signals the end of the “resistance axis.” Oudeh Basharat says the time has come for Palestinians to speak out against atrocities in Syria. David Remnick says Israel's democracy is imperiled by extremism. Daniel Levy says Israeli domestic politics make it less likely that there would be any attack against Iran.

Netanyahu Won't Attack Iran
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
by Daniel Levy - (Opinion) March 2, 2012 - 1:00am


The intensity of background spin emanating from Washington and Jerusalem threatens to leave very little to the imagination in advance of the March 5 meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Various U.S. officials, current and former, named and anonymous, have shared their skepticism regarding Israel's ability to inflict decisive damage on Iran's nuclear-enrichment program, as well as their trepidation at the costs, consequences, and retaliatory attacks that might follow from an Israeli strike.



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