February 7th

Israel demolishes East Jerusalem home ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 6, 2013 - 1:00am Israeli forces demolished a two-story Palestinian home in East Jerusalem on Tuesday, making 30 people homeless, official news agency Wafa reported. Muhammad Castero, 52, a resident of the building, told Wafa that Israel issued a demolition order for the home 50 days ago on the pretext that it was built without a permit. "We are refugees now, we don't have any shelter. Where should we, our children and elderly people go after our house was demolished?" he said. » Read more

Earning The Nobel Peace Prize ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Huffington Post by Alon Ben-Meir - (Opinion) January 31, 2013 - 1:00am Awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama early on in his first term was largely based on the premise that he would pursue peace and end existing violent conflicts to make the world a better and safer place for all people. The president's efforts to end the war in Iraq and wind down the war in Afghanistan are admirable, regardless of what may befall these countries in years to come. The president, however, fell short in his effort during his first term to forge peace between Israel and the Palestinians, which remains extraordinarily pivotal to regional stability. » Read more

Palestinian Officials Urge Obama to Push for Peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Daniel Estrin - February 7, 2013 - 1:00am Palestinian officials said Thursday they hope President Barack Obama's upcoming visit to the region signals readiness to re-engage in Mideast peace efforts, but that negotiations can only resume if Washington is ready to get tough with Israel. » Read more

Why Obama is visiting Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from CNN by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) February 6, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Palestinian leaders welcome Obama's visit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 6, 2013 - 1:00am The Palestinian leadership on Wednesday welcomed US President Barack Obama’s announced plans to visit the region in March. President Mahmoud Abbas' spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeina told Ma'an that "the visit reflects that the US is willing to achieve peace in the region." » Read more

Obama seeks to reset relationship with Netanyahu ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Julie Pace - February 6, 2013 - 1:00am After a long and chilly four years, Barack Obama hopes to reset his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he makes his first trip to Israel as president this spring. » Read more

February 6th

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