February 20th

Center Field: Stop calling critics anti-Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gil Troy - (Opinion) February 20, 2013 - 1:00am As preparations for President Barack Obama’s first presidential visit to Israel proceed, we need some conceptual and linguistic groundwork, not just the usual itinerary generating, security planning and soporific statement-drafting. For too long, the debate about American-Israeli relations has been too polarizing. Let’s silence the sky-is-falling cries proclaiming crisis and predicting disaster. » Read more

Draconian arrests of Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) February 20, 2013 - 1:00am Fourteen Palestinians freed in the Gilad Shalit deal were arrested by the IDF and Shin Bet security service. Amira Hass reported on Sunday in Haaretz that five of them might serve from 16 to 28 years in prison due to secret or negligible offenses they are accused of committing after their release. This revolving door system is not only inhuman in itself, it also undermines the agreements Israel signed and will make future deals much harder to achieve. » Read more

Israel's Tzipi Livni to head peace talks with Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 20, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Tunnel Vision ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Issandr El Amrani - (Opinion) February 20, 2013 - 1:00am The Egyptian military’s recent flooding of tunnels at the border between Egypt and Gaza is its most aggressive attempt yet to restrict smuggling since Israel imposed a blockade on the Palestinian territory in 2005. Sewage water is reportedly being used to weaken the tunnels’ structure, sometimes trapping smugglers inside. » Read more

Israeli leader brings dovish rival into coalition ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Josef Federman - February 19, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Guilty until proven innocent ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - (Opinion) February 20, 2013 - 1:00am The High Court of Justice will debate today a petition dealing with Ayman Sharawna, one of the prisoners released in Shalit deal, who was also the first to be re-arrested in January 2012. In fact, the High Court is being requested today to act to neutralize yet another yet another act of sabotage and erosion of principles of fair process by military law. » Read more

Kerry 1st trip to Europe, Mideast; no Israel stop ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Bradley S. Klapper - February 19, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

The Case for Israeli Censorship ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Ben Caspit - (Opinion) February 19, 2013 - 1:00am The affair of “Prisoner X,” otherwise known as Israeli Mossad agent Ben Zygier, raises anew the issue of censorship, freedom of speech and media coverage in Israel. Well, I am not the bearer of glad tidings. » Read more

As long as Netanyahu is PM, Livni will have to deal with the Palestinians his way ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yossi Verter - (Opinion) February 20, 2013 - 1:00am Tzipi Livni is no less trustworthy or cynical than other politicians who broke their word, bent over backwards, put away away their slogans and election speeches and galloped into the arms of the one they had described as the mother of all sin. » Read more

Through the back door ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Nahum Barnea - (Opinion) February 20, 2013 - 1:00am Netanyahu is letting people board his bus first through the back door: Tzipi Livni is the first one to board. The second will be Shaul Mofaz. Then the front door will open and Shas and United Torah Judaism will be invited in. Netanyahu hopes that by then Labor will be convinced to board as well. » Read more