Encountering Peace: Israeli-Palestinian peace is achievable ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) February 20, 2013 - 1:00am Many of those who claim that a comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian peace treaty putting an end to the conflict is not possible are the very people who do not want it to happen. This includes those who say it’s too late, there are too many Israelis living beyond the green line, or too many new settlement houses have been built, and those who say there is no Palestinian partner. » Read more

A real Mideast peace process should look different ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Gideon Levy - (Opinion) February 21, 2013 - 1:00am A moment before our attention shifts once more to the chatter about peace and the nonsense about the talks, about Barack Obama’s upcoming visit and Tzipi Livni’s appointment as “chief negotiator,” it would be good if we remembered what people ought to mean when they utter the words “peace process.” Not another round of negotiations, endless meetings and photo opportunities. We’ve already had enough of those to spare, and they led nowhere. The solution has long been known, and it could have been carried out long ago. » Read more

Yair Lapid's crucial choice ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Ari Shavit - (Opinion) February 21, 2013 - 1:00am Yair Lapid, the chairman of Yesh Atid, wants to be prime minister. Okay, good. Lapid doesn’t have the experience necessary to be prime minister. Okay, good. But Lapid has impressive political skills, which he demonstrated during the election campaign. Okay, good. Therefore, in order to prove that he is indeed worthy of being prime minister in the future, the good Israeli needs to prove he is a good reader of the reality map. He has to prove he knows how to distinguish between what is important and what is not. » Read more

Israel's Dan Meridor on the future of the Likud Party ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Los Angeles Times by Edmund Sanders - (Opinion) February 20, 2013 - 1:00am Israel's conservative Likud Party may have dominated last month's national elections, but it faces a historic identity crisis that could affect its survival and ability to govern, says longtime Likud member Dan Meridor. » Read more

Israel's coalition is a missed opportunity ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National (Editorial) February 21, 2013 - 1:00am When it comes to peace, it has been clear for a long time that Israel's politicians will never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. Faced with a peace-minded president in the White House and world opinion against the occupation, Israel's leadership still continues to find ways of avoiding putting peace talks back on the agenda. » Read more

Poll: Large Majority of Palestinians Want Immediate Elections ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Palestine News Network February 21, 2013 - 1:00am A large majority of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and West Bank support holding immediate presidential and legislative elections, a new poll published Thursday said. The poll, by the Arab World for Research and Development (AWRAD) and reported by WAFA, said 95% of Gaza residents and 82% of West Bank residents support the holding of immediate legislative and presidential elections. » Read more

Tzipi Livni 'won't be fig leaf' for Netanyahu if he doesn't want peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Ian Black - (Opinion) February 20, 2013 - 1:00am Tzipi Livni's appointment as Israel's justice minister is a significant first step in Binyamin "Bibi" Netanyahu's laborious construction of a new coalition government. Giving her the additional role of chief negotiator with the Palestinians appears designed to indicate a readiness to re-engage in the moribund peace process. » Read more

Israel's Netanyahu risks inclusion of Livni into government ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Faisal J. Abbas - (Analysis) February 21, 2013 - 1:00am Israeli Prime Minister designee Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday announced that former foreign minister Tzipi Livni of the HaTnua (Movement) party will join his next government as justice minister. Thus, this is making the HaTnua the first party to join Netanyahu's coalition after the parliamentary elections on Jan. 22. » Read more

Palestinian MP: New intifada if prisoners harmed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Elior Levy - February 21, 2013 - 1:00am Palestinians marched Thursday morning from the West Bank village of Bituniya to Ofer Prison in protest against the continued administrative detention of four Palestinians who are on a hunger strike. Several hundred demonstrators waving Fatah flags advanced toward the Bituniya checkpoint. Ofer Prison is located just beyond the checkpoint. » Read more

Israel's Livni faces rough road in peace push with Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Jeffrey Heller - (Analysis) February 20, 2013 - 1:00am Tzipi Livni's coalition pact with right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu speaks volumes about the obstacles ahead for the moderate former Israeli foreign minister in her new task of pursuing peace with the Palestinians. Expectations of a new peacemaking initiative have been raised by a planned visit to Israel, the West Bank and Jordan next month by U.S. President Barack Obama, who has clashed with Netanyahu over the prime minister's policy of expanding settlements on occupied land Palestinians want for a state. » Read more