Vandals desecrate Muslim cemetery in Jerusalem
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
February 14, 2013 - 1:00am


Israeli police say vandals have sprayed a dozen Muslim graves in a Jerusalem cemetery with graffiti in a politically motivated act. Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says the phrase "price tag" was sprayed in Hebrew over the graves early on Thursday. The term is used by a tiny fringe of extremists to protest Israeli policy they view as favoring Palestinians. Israeli military bases, churches and mosques have also been targeted. Rosenfeld says police are investigating.


Rights group: Israel violated laws of war in Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Diaa Hadid - February 13, 2013 - 1:00am


A U.S.-based rights group said Israel violated laws of war in a series of airstrikes it conducted during an eight-day military operation last November against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. Human Rights Watch said it counted 14 airstrikes in which there didn't appear to be a valid military target, and four others targeting militants, but which used disproportionate force.


Rising From Ruins
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Raja Shehadeh - (Opinion) February 13, 2013 - 1:00am


 


Palestine ready to engage in peace process: Palestinian FM
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
February 14, 2013 - 1:00am


Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Riad al-Maliki said here Thursday that Palestine was willing and ready to engage in peace process with Israel if it could show more of readiness in the process. Al-Maliki made the remarks at a press conference after the first meeting of the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestine Development (CEAPAD). He said Palestine has been "very much willing and ready to engage into peace process with Israel," but emphasized that the process depends on the attitude of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.


Hamas, Fatah ‘not serious about reconciliation’
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by Nasouh Nazzal - February 13, 2013 - 1:00am


Palestinian rival factions Fatah and Hamas are not serious about achieving Palestinian internal unity and the recent Cairo meetings were only aimed at appeasing the Palestinian street, said a senior Palestinian official.


Seven decisions the U.S. must make to jumpstart Middle East peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Daniel Kurtzer - (Opinion) February 14, 2013 - 1:00am


 


Abbas: Hamas opposes elections
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
February 14, 2013 - 1:00am


Fatah leader President Mahmoud Abbas says elections will be the basis to end the division, but that Hamas opposes a vote "at this stage." "An agreement has been reached with Hamas that we form a unity government to be headed by me, then we have parliamentary elections and Palestinian National Council elections three months after the Central Elections Commission is ready for elections," Abbas said at a meeting in Ramallah with newly-elected mayors and a delegation of senior PA officials.



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