January 18th

Russia reaffirms recognition of Palestinian state ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News January 18, 2011 - 1:00am The Russian president, on a rare visit to the West Bank, has reaffirmed Moscow's recognition of an independent Palestinian state. Dmitry Medvedev said Russia had recognised the state in 1988 and his country's position remained unchanged. The Russian premier's visit seeks to revive a collapsed peace process. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is seeking the country's support for a tougher stance towards Jewish settlements at the UN Security Council. » Read more

Peace process under threat as Barak goes to war with his party ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Catrina Stewart - January 18, 2011 - 1:00am Israel's defence minister, Ehud Barak, abruptly quit as leader of the Labour Party yesterday, plunging the party into disarray and casting a shadow over prospects for peace. The announcement prompted the resignation of three Labour ministers from the government, robbing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hawkish coalition of its more moderate voices. Mr Netanyahu is left with a slender majority to govern, but he is now potentially more vulnerable to pressure from the far-right members of his coalition. » Read more

Encountering Peace: To be suspect ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) January 17, 2011 - 1:00am From the age of 14 until making aliya at 22 I was an activist and leader in the Zionist youth movement Young Judaea. Aliya, as we were taught and as we imparted to many others who we inspired to follow in our footsteps, was not simply a change of address. “Moving up” to Israel had to involve a qualitative change of life based on the most important of values – tikkun olam, repairing the world, or more specifically, making our world a better place. These are the most fundamental principles on which I have become the person that I am today. » Read more

Ehud Barak quits Israel's Labour to form new party ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News January 18, 2011 - 1:00am Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak says he is resigning as head of the Labour party to form his own faction. Mr Barak is heading a breakaway group - Independence - which includes four other Labour MPs, reports say. Correspondents say the move strengthens Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition, as it allows Mr Barak's party to remain in government. Labour is due to vote on whether to quit the coalition over Mr Netanyahu's handling of the Mid-East peace process. » Read more

PM determined to advance peace talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Attila Somfalvi - January 18, 2011 - 1:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is determined to speed up the dialogue with the United States in a bid to renew the regional peace process, state officials said Monday night. According to one of the sources, "(Defense Minister Ehud) Barak's departure (from the Labor Party) will make it possible to clarify to the Palestinians that the chance for moving up the elections is far smaller than it was before." » Read more

Barak escapes political drama in Nablus ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Hanan Greenberg - January 18, 2011 - 1:00am Defense Minister Ehud Barak chose to escape Monday's political drama by visiting the West Bank city of Nablus on Tuesday morning. "We have embarked on a new road, but Nablus is not the place to discuss these things. I came here to pat the soldiers on the shoulder and shake hands with the commanders," Barak said when asked about his decision to split from the Labor Party and establish a new faction. » Read more

Israel’s right have eyes but do not see, have ears but do not hear ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Carlo Strenger - (Opinion) January 10, 2011 - 1:00am Future historians will debate how Israel’s leadership could have been so blind. They will wonder how it was possible that Israel - for 43 years - didn’t realize what David Ben-Gurion saw a few weeks after the Six-Day War: that the occupation of the West Bank was a catastrophe for Israel. » Read more

Before the UN makes a decision for us ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Uriel Reichman - (Opinion) January 18, 2011 - 1:00am On November 29, 2011 the UN General Assembly decided by a large majority to recognize a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. This scenario, despite American efforts (as of now) to prevent it, is becoming increasingly real. It is even possible that the vote at the UN will take place earlier, and it is not impossible that it will include elements that are problematic for Israel, such as the return of refugees and decisions regarding Jerusalem and the timetable for implementation. » Read more

Israel concerned Russia will recognize Palestinian state ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - January 18, 2011 - 1:00am Israeli officials fear that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will announce on Tuesday during a visit to Jericho that Russia recognizes a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders. Medvedev is to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The Russian president's planned visit to Israel was canceled due to the Foreign Ministry strike. » Read more

Egyptian website removes gunman shooting news ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua January 18, 2011 - 1:00am Egypt's Ahramonline website removed a news item about a gunman's shooting from its website half an hour after it was published. A security source told Xinhua the shooting might not have happened. The website said in its deleted news that a masked gunman opened fire at a police station in Giza's Haram district on Tuesday, and killed a policeman.