Gaza-Egypt border sealed indefinitely ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 31, 2011 - 1:00am Egyptian authorities have closed the crossing with the Gaza Strip indefinitely as its army deploys in the northern Sinai, a Ma'an correspondent said Sunday. Egyptian security contacted officials in Gaza to check up on the situation along the Rafah border, and Hamas authorities confirmed that large numbers of security officers were deployed at the crossing. Authorities in Gaza also confirmed that strict instructions were given to smugglers telling them all tunnels would remain closed to ensure no Palestinians in Gaza were able to enter Egypt. » Read more

Israel shows its anxiety at protests in Egypt ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Vita Bekker - January 31, 2011 - 1:00am The anti-government protests in Egypt are prompting concerns in neighbouring Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, last week ordered his cabinet to refrain from commenting publicly on the unfolding events in Egypt. But his statements to his government's ministers yesterday, the first spoken openly by an Israeli official about the situation in Egypt since the protests began on January 25, indicated his anxiety. » Read more

Israel Shaken as Turbulence Rocks an Ally ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner - January 30, 2011 - 1:00am The street revolt in Egypt has thrown the Israeli government and military into turmoil, with top officials closeted in round-the-clock strategy sessions aimed at rethinking their most significant regional relationship. » Read more

January 28th

The Palestinian Authority to release documents critical of Qatar ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Saleh Al-Naami, Kifah Zaboun - January 27, 2011 - 1:00am Senior Palestinian sources have informed Asharq Al-Awsat that the Palestinian Authority is in possession of important documents that condemn Qatar with regards to numerous issues relating to the Palestinian – Israeli negotiations. » Read more

Palestinian ambassador to UK's office taken over by protesters ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Sam Jones - January 27, 2011 - 1:00am The offices of the Palestinian ambassador to the UK have been occupied by a group of students who are demanding new Palestinian national council elections. At 1pm today, around a dozen Palestinian students from a number of British universities arrived at the Palestinian general delegation to the UK in Hammersmith, west London. Although they had made an appointment to see the ambassador, Professor Manuel Hassassian, they arrived in large numbers and with computers and banners. » Read more

A film-maker's eye on the Middle East ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Peter Kosminsky - January 28, 2011 - 1:00am It's April 1988, about five in the morning, 40km outside Kabul in Afghanistan. I'm taking shelter in a scrape in the rock, flattening my cheek against the cold surface, semi-automatic gunfire and the concussion of departing mortars beating in my ears. In theory, I'm making a documentary about young Soviet army conscripts in Afghanistan. In reality, I've been marooned on this "zastava", or mountain outpost, for days. The 17-year-old kids, who are the heroes of our documentary, fire back at the attacking mujahideen, in the grip of a kind of hyper-bravado. » Read more

Israel has never had better peace partner ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press January 27, 2011 - 1:00am Former US president Bill Clinton on Thursday urged Israel to make peace with the Arabs, saying the Jewish state will never have a better partner than the current Palestinian leadership. Clinton spoke for an hour before an adoring audience of global leaders from business, government and academia at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. » Read more

Israel’s apartheid image ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Gadi Taub - (Opinion) January 28, 2011 - 1:00am Just before going through passport control at Ben-Gurion airport, one sees a stand with small brochures packed with some basic, catchy information about Israel. These booklets are meant to equip Israelis traveling abroad with some flattering anecdotes and fundamental facts to help them improve Israel’s image overseas. » Read more

Palestine papers spotlight surprisingly serious Mideast peace talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Aluf Benn - January 28, 2011 - 1:00am The diplomatic archive made public thanks to Al Jazeera and the Guardian documents talks held between Israel's Kadima government and the Palestinian Authority, and exposes in detail the positions put forward by the two sides before negotiations were aborted by Operation Cast Lead in Gaza and the advent of a new government in Jerusalem. Ma’aleh Adumim » Read more

Israel should focus on Mideast peace, not Iran's nukes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yoel Marcus - (Opinion) January 28, 2011 - 1:00am When in June 1981 the Israel Air Force bombed the nuclear reactor under construction in Iraq, opinions about the operation were divided. This writer thought that Menachem Begin, the prime minister and defense minister at the time, was at his best. Others considered it a mistake because Iraq would neither forgive nor forget, and at the first opportunity would bomb Israel. This “opportunity” really did present itself 10 years later, when the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait led to Operation Desert Storm, led by the United States and its allies. Iraq launched 39 Scud missiles at Israel. » Read more