February 20th

Abbas meets Yemeni president in Sanaa ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 19, 2013 - 1:00am President Mahmoud Abbas met his Yemeni counterpart Abd al-Rab Mansur al-Hadi on Tuesday in Sanaa, Palestinian Authority media reported. Abbas discussed bilateral relations, Palestinian reconciliation and Israeli attacks on the Palestinian people with the Yemeni president, state news agency Wafa reported.  Abbas, who is joined by his spokesman Nabil Abu Rdaineh, PA Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki and diplomatic adviser Majdi al-Khalidi, also met with Yemen's foreign minister, Abu-Bakr Al-Qirbi.

Egypt brokering talks between Hamas and Israel on humanitarian issues ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 20, 2013 - 1:00am For the second time in a week, Israeli security officials visited Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials focusing on the ceasefire brokered by Egypt last year between Israel and the Palestinian factions operating in the Gaza Strip.  A high-level Hamas official told Ma’an that the ongoing Egypt-brokered negotiations between Israel and the Islamist movement do not address “political issues but rather pure humanitarian issues.”  » Read more

Palestinian co-director of '5 Broken Cameras' reportedly detained at Los Angeles airport ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Nirit Anderman - February 20, 2013 - 1:00am   Michael Moore, the American film director, sent a message Wednesday on his Twitter social networking account saying that the Palestinian co-director of the film "5 Broken Cameras," Emad Burnat, had been detained early Wednesday morning by U.S. immigration officials at Los Angeles International Airport after arriving at the airport overnight. » Read more

Israel Releases Part of Report on Prisoner X’s Death ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Jodi Rudoren - February 19, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Obama and Kerry should listen very hard ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Rami Khouri - (Opinion) February 20, 2013 - 1:00am It was inevitable that the announcement of U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to the Middle East in mid-March would trigger expectations of new proposals for restarting Palestinian-Israeli peace talks. This visit, coupled with John Kerry’s appointment as secretary of state and the start of Obama’s second term, heightens speculation about what, if anything, the United States might do to prod the parties toward fresh negotiations. » Read more

Israel informs PNA of new Gaza facilities ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 20, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Residents of Palestinian village accuse Israeli authorities of harassment ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Nir Hasson - February 20, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Homs: Another Road to Palestine! ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Hayaht Al-Jadidah by Hazem Saghiyeh - (Opinion) February 19, 2013 - 1:00am There has always been a “road to Palestine,” which of course does not lead to it or even actually pass through it. This road was always in demand for purposes that have to do with things like diverting attention away from actual problems in a given country; to cover up relationships and ties meant to remain concealed; or to deceive the people of the region, particularly the Palestinian people, and gain cheap popularity at their expense. » Read more

Obama Forgets the Palestinians Again ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat (Opinion) February 19, 2013 - 1:00am In his latest State of the Union address, the US President did not utter the word Palestine or mention the Palestinian cause even once. Furthermore, Barack Obama, who has decided to visit Israel, the West Bank and Jordan next month, has no intention of visiting any major Arab capital or talking about an issue the Arabs have long considered their pivotal cause. » Read more

Palestinians in Prisons Refuse Meals in a Protest ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - February 19, 2013 - 1:00am Hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners in Israeli jails refused meals on Tuesday in solidarity with four hunger-striking detainees, and supporters held protests in the  » Read more