November 23rd

Egypt committed to Israel peace deal despite revived unrest, officials say ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - November 23, 2011 - 1:00am Top Egyptian figures have delivered conciliatory messages to Jerusalem in the past two days, insisting that Egypt is committed to its peace accord with Israel, and will act to uphold it. Senior Foreign Ministry figures say these messages were relayed to outgoing Ambassador Yitzhak Levanon during a farewell visit he paid to Cairo on Sunday and Monday. » Read more

Prominent Israeli official calls for military preparations to re-enter Sinai ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Masry Al-Youm by Jordan Gerstler-Holton - November 23, 2011 - 1:00am In the midst of escalating violence between Egyptian protesters and security forces, former Deputy Chief Staff of Israeli Defense Forces Uzi Dayan is calling for the creation of an Israeli “intervention force” to fight terrorism in Sinai if necessary, the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot reported Wednesday. “We must prepare for the worst-case scenario whereby the Islamists come to power,” said Dayan. "In the first stage, we have to prepare for increased terror in Sinai. There are worrying signs of terrorist Islam in Sinai already.” » Read more

Israel girding for possible trouble for Egypt pact ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Josef Federman - November 23, 2011 - 1:00am Israel expects a "grave erosion" in its peace agreement with Egypt and is even preparing for the possibility of the historic deal collapsing altogether, a Cabinet minister said Wednesday, in the first official assessment of the unrest rocking Israel's southern neighbor. The comments by Matan Vilnai, the minister for civil defense and a retired military general, reflected the government's grave concerns that Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood could make major gains and even win elections in Egypt that begin next week. » Read more

Implementation of reconciliation pact looks likely for Hamas-Fatah meeting ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua (Analysis) November 23, 2011 - 1:00am The upcoming meeting between Palestinians' rival parties Fatah and Hamas slated for Thursday in Cairo has sufficient drive towards implementing a reconciliation pact the two sides inked earlier in May. Since the Palestinian division widened in June 2007 when Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip, dialogues between the two parties have so far failed to achieve substantive reconciliation on the ground. » Read more

Abbas, Mashaal to meet in Cairo despite Egypt unrest ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) November 23, 2011 - 1:00am President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas chief Khalid Mashaal will meet in Cairo this week despite the unrest rocking Egypt, Hamas and Fatah officials said on Tuesday. Egypt has been shaken in recent days by renewed protests calling for the ruling military council to step aside and allow an interim civilian government to take power. But officials of the rival parties said the unrest would not derail a planned meeting between Mashaal and Abbas later this week. » Read more

New Winds in Mideast Favor Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Stephen Farrell - November 23, 2011 - 1:00am For years, the imposing black gate that sealed the border between Egypt and Gaza symbolized the pain and isolation that decades of conflict have wrought on this tiny coastal strip, especially under Hamas in recent years. » Read more

November 22nd

Netanyahu intervenes to resolve feud between Israel's spy agency, foreign ministry ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua November 22, 2011 - 1:00am Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday stepped in to resolve a dispute between Israel's Mossad intelligence agency and the Foreign Ministry that in recent weeks brought cooperation between the organizations to a grinding halt. Netanyahu on Sunday summoned Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Mossad chief Tamir Pardo for a meeting at the end of which both men agreed to put their disagreements behind them, Army Radio reported. » Read more

US shouldn’t forfeit influence within UN ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Hill by Keith Ellison - (Opinion) November 22, 2011 - 1:00am As American businesses seek to protect their patents abroad, famine ravages the Horn of Africa and the Arab Awakening unfolds, we need more U.S. engagement at the United Nations, not less. Laws that restrict American participation in U.N. Specialized Agencies are bad for U.S. interests and national security. Congress must act immediately to fix this problem. » Read more

Culpable ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times (Editorial) November 22, 2011 - 1:00am Israel came last week under the scrutiny of the UN body mandated to monitor the application of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The last time Israel appeared before this rights body was in 2003. » Read more

Arab Spring blessing in disguise for Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by Sami Moubayed - (Opinion) November 22, 2011 - 1:00am On November 11, entire neighbourhoods in the Palestinian camps of Damascus were decorated with photos of Yasser Arafat, marking the 7th anniversary of the Palestinian leader's death. That, of course, was no coincidence, since it struck a raw nerve with Damascus-based Hamas leaders, who detested the late PLO Chairman. Paying homage to Arafat, it must be remembered, is uncommon in Syria, given a historic feud between him and the Baathists in Damascus. » Read more