Palestinian Education Methods Require Revamp ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Rana B Baker - (Editorial) February 4, 2013 - 1:00am According to the Palestinian Bureau of Statistics, the illiteracy rate in Gaza and the West Bank for persons aged 15 years and over was 4.7% in 2011; this is an average of 4.5% in Gaza and 4.9% in the West Bank. Illiteracy rates have been dropping since 1995, signaling an improvement in both the standard of living, and governmental support among other factors. In fact, literacy rates in the Palestinian Territories are among the highest in the world. » Read more

Israeli Raid Against “Abstinence Policy” ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Hayat by George Semaan - (Opinion) February 4, 2013 - 1:00am The Israeli raid on Syria achieved its purpose, regardless of the mystery that surrounded its goals and the exploitation attempts deployed by the Syrian regime and its opponents. Until now, Tel Aviv had abstained from interfering in what is happening on its northeastern border and had settled for monitoring the situation after it addressed warnings – at the beginning of the crisis – against any incidents on its border when Damascus tried to activate demonstrations in the Golan and South Lebanon. » Read more

On Whose Side Is Israel In Syria? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Hayat by Hazem Saghiyeh - (Opinion) February 5, 2013 - 1:00am The recent Israeli airstrike, whose target remains somewhat vague, has renewed the “dispute” between the supporters of the government and the opposition in Syria. The first camp has concluded that the strike was irrefutable evidence that Israel stands against the regime of Bashar al-Assad, and is doing everything in its power to complement what has been initiated by the armed opposition and its allies, from Doha to Washington D.C. » Read more

Who Are the Israeli Centrists and Why Did They Vote for Yair Lapid? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Larry Derfner - (Opinion) February 5, 2013 - 1:00am People overseas don’t understand the amazing success of Yair Lapid in Israel’s January 22 parliamentary elections. He hardly said a word about the Palestinians, the peace process, terrorism, war — all those things that Israelis are supposedly preoccupied with every waking minute. » Read more

Obama Plans Visit to Israel This Spring ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Peter Baker - February 6, 2013 - 1:00am President Obama plans to travel to Israel this spring for the first time since taking office, as he and Prime Minister » Read more

US: Obama regional agenda 'urgent' on Israel visit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Ian Deitch - February 6, 2013 - 1:00am President Barack Obama will bring an "urgent" agenda to Israel on his upcoming visit, focusing on regional developments including Iran and Syria as well as the resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro said Wednesday. » Read more

Obama ‘wants to host Netanyahu-Abbas meeting during visit’ ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times of Israel by Adiv Sterman - February 6, 2013 - 1:00am US President Barack Obama wants to host a summit between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas during his visit here this spring, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said Wednesday. Ayalon said he was “certain” that efforts to arrange such a meeting were already under way. » Read more

Yair Lapid's peace-process doublespeak ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Zvi Barel - (Opinion) February 6, 2013 - 1:00am The peace policy advocated in the platform of Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid party is full of twists, turns and qualifications. » Read more

Secretary of State Kerry to visit Israel, PA ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Attila Somfalvi - February 6, 2013 - 1:00am US Secretary of State John Kerry is planning to visit the Palestinian Authority in mid February, the Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds reported Wednesday, citing "sources in the know." This will be Kerry's first visit to the region since taking office. » Read more

Will Obama’s planned Israel visit revive Israel-Palestinian peacemaking? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ron Kampeas - (Analysis) February 5, 2013 - 1:00am   Is President Obama's plan to visit Israel a sign that he’s ready to take another shot at Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking? » Read more