February 12th

Key to who will govern Israel: Avigdor Lieberman ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Ilene Prusher - February 12, 2009 - 1:00am Israel is in a political bind. The nation voted Tuesday, but Wednesday two leaders claimed victory and a third-party newcomer found himself anointed the new Israeli "kingmaker." Centrist Tzipi Livni's Kadima won 28 seats in the Knesset, or parliament, while right-wing Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud took 27 – so slim a margin that neither can claim a governing majority. » Read more

Obama must resort to arm-twisting ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) February 11, 2009 - 1:00am Barack Obama does not expect to be woken up at 3am over any imminent Middle East crisis. The Iranians were apparently pleased with his offer to start a dialogue during his very first live press conference, and the Israeli elections apparently have returned the ruling Kadima party to power although it is not yet certain whether Tzipi Livni will be able to form a new coalition government on the second try. » Read more

Middle East peace process in need of serious Israeli partner - Abul-Gheit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) February 12, 2009 - 1:00am Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abul-Gheit said on Thursday that the peace process is in need of a serious Israeli partner. Abul-Gheit added in statements to the press, in his first comments on the Israeli elections' results, that the current situation in the region requires awareness that peace and stability will not be achieved unless all international resolutions are implemented and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. » Read more

Israel's Intelligence Disaster ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Middle East Times by Richard Sale - February 12, 2009 - 1:00am Palestinian intelligence agents, working for Israel in its recent "Operation Cast Lead," were exposed and many of them captured or killed in the aftermath, U.S. officials said. The ongoing round up is ongoing and expanding, these sources said. In the course of the operation, Israel also failed to find and reclaim Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier captured by Hamas in 2006, and Tel Aviv also failed in its planned targeted killing of Ahmad Haabri, the commander of Hamas' military arm, the Al-Qassam Brigades, these sources said. » Read more

In Israeli Vote, With Two Parties Nearly Tied, the Winner Is Gridlock ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner, Isabel Kershner - February 11, 2009 - 1:00am Israelis awoke Wednesday to find that their parliamentary elections had yielded not a new government but political gridlock instead, along with the prospect of weeks of wrangling and deal making before the country’s direction becomes clear. » Read more

Calm file between between Palestinian factions, Israel to be reached in days ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) February 12, 2009 - 1:00am Member of the Political Bureau of the Palestinian Democratic Front Saleh Zeidan on Thursday said that the issue of the truce between Palestinian factions and Israel will be done in few days based on halting the Israeli violations and the opening of all crossings. Zeidan said in a statement distributed by the front's central media department that "There is significant progress in terms of the Cairo talks on the issues of Palestinian dialogue and calm," pointing to the existence of some of the points and issues that need further clarification. » Read more

Israel lets farmers in Gaza send flowers to Europe ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters February 12, 2009 - 1:00am Israel temporarily eased its blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip Thursday to allow Palestinian flower growers to export 25,000 blooms to Europe ahead of Valentine's Day. The amount of carnations allowed out of the Gaza Strip was only a fraction of what farmers produce. Many farmers say they have no choice but to feed the crop to sheep. Israel tightened its blockade of the Gaza Strip after Hamas Islamists wrested control of the territory from President Mahmoud Abbas's secular Fatah faction in 2007. Israel allows in aid, but exports are banned with few exceptions. » Read more

Arabs Make Gains in New Israeli Parliament ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line February 12, 2009 - 1:00am Arab parties have increased their representation in Israel's newly elected parliament, juxtaposed against a notable increase in support for Jewish right-wing parties. According to the votes counted so far, the new Knesset (Israel's parliament) will have one extra Arab member in the 18th assembly, compared to the previous parliament, and possibly an additional seat on top of that, after all the votes are counted. » Read more

IDF strikes Hamas post in south Gaza, after day of mortar fire ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz February 12, 2009 - 1:00am Israeli warplanes on late Wednesday night struck a Hamas post in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis. An Israel Defense Forces spokesman said that the strike before dawn Thursday came in response to mortar fire Wednesday on the western Negev. There were no reports of casualties in the attack. "As the sole authority in the Gaza Strip, Hamas bears full responsibility for all terror activities originating within its area of control," the IDF said. » Read more

Final count leaves Israel with election headache ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Douglas Hamilton, Jeffrey Heller - February 12, 2009 - 1:00am Final results of Israel's parliamentary election confirmed on Thursday that the centrist party of Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni won the contest by a single seat over right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud. The end count did nothing to change the confusing political picture that emerged on Tuesday night, or resolve a potentially paralyzing dispute between the two main parties over who should rightfully head the next government. » Read more