February 6th

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

Israel unlikely to retaliate after Bulgaria report ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Tia Goldenberg - February 5, 2013 - 1:00am Israel on Tuesday welcomed a Bulgarian report implicating Hezbollah in the deaths of five Israelis in a bus bombing last summer, signaling that it will use the findings to focus on a diplomatic battle rather than military retaliation against the Lebanese militant group. Israel has long blamed Hezbollah for the attack, which targeted a bus carrying Israeli tourists in the Black Sea resort town of Burgas. » Read more

PA security man found dead in Ramallah ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh - February 6, 2013 - 1:00am The body of a Palestinian security officer was discovered on Tuesday in his apartment in Ramallah. The officer, Hassan Jalayta, 40, from Jericho, had been summoned for questioning by his commanders. Jalayta left his family home in Jericho on Tuesday morning and was supposed to report for questioning, but did not show up, a Palestinian Authority security source said. The source did not say why the officer, who worked for the Preventive Security Service, had been summoned for questioning in Ramallah. » Read more

Israel's Netanyahu hits snags in building team ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Josef Federman - February 5, 2013 - 1:00am As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to take office for a third time, his attempts to form a new coalition government have gotten off to a rocky start. » Read more

Finance minister: PA budget $3.6 billion for 2013 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 5, 2013 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority government is working on a draft budget of $3.6 billion for 2013, set for approval by the end of the month, the PA finance minister said Tuesday. The budget contains a number of measures to try and reduce the budget deficit and increase revenues, Nabil Qassis told Ma'an. “We decided to adopt a united taxation system in attempt to limit tax evasion. In addition, we raised taxes on car imports and purchase, and these procedures are expected to yield $50 million a year,” he said. » Read more