Palestine women's ministry staff go on hunger strike ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by Nasouh Nazzal - January 19, 2012 - 1:00am Ramallah: Women employees at the Palestinian Women's Affairs Ministry are on a "hunger strike till death" to protest against corruption and harassment. The hunger strike was announced on Tuesday by the women who gathered near the graveyard of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Ramallah. "The situation is grave as the women have received threats to be shot in their legs. Ministry authorities have vowed not to let the employees in the offices," a statement by the striking women said. » Read more

Put Israel in its place ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) January 19, 2012 - 1:00am It is puzzling to see US President Barack Obama allowing Israel to drag him into another misadventure in the Middle East; this time with Iran. One would think Obama would do anything to avoid this Israeli trap after his predecessor George W. Bush got involved in the fruitless and costly war in Iraq — something that most Americans, and probably the former president, now regret. » Read more

The Labyrinth of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Bilal Hassen - (Opinion) January 19, 2012 - 1:00am The Palestinian-Israeli negotiations have entered the labyrinthine stage: everybody is present and moving forward, but the paths within the labyrinth do not intersect. » Read more

Let’s get serious about our future ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Sarah Kreimer - (Opinion) January 19, 2012 - 1:00am In the Biblical narrative, when Jacob went out to reach a reconciliation with Esau, he sent flocks of goats and sheep and camels ahead of him – as a sign of good faith, and to appease his brother. He also took defensive action, dividing his camp into two groups, not knowing whether Esau would attack in revenge for Jacob’s having taken his birthright years before. In the end, the brothers reconciled, agreeing to live separately in the Land. » Read more

Reshaping territory: The story of Israel's shifting borders ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yossi Melman - (Book Review) January 16, 2012 - 1:00am Borderline Choices by Uri Neeman and David Arbel. Yedioth Books ?(Hebrew) 271 pages, NIS 118. This is an intriguing book about Israel’s borders. To be more precise, about the decisions about peace and security that led to the determination of its elastic and still shifting borders. » Read more

The badly kept secret of Israel's trade throughout the Muslim world ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Shuki Sadeh - (Opinion) January 19, 2012 - 1:00am Motti (not his real name ), a businessman with connections in Arab countries, was stunned several months ago when representatives of a well-known Israeli food company asked him to check the possibility of exporting to Iran. They told him an Iranian company had approached them through contacts abroad. » Read more

Israel's Putin is grotesque and shameful ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Ari Shavit - (Opinion) January 19, 2012 - 1:00am Our Putin is different from their Putin. Their Putin is a prime minister who wants to be president, while our Putin is a foreign minister who wants to be prime minister. Their Putin is an aggressive and arrogant statesman who serves Russia's interests; our Putin is aggressive and cynical and harms the interests of Israel. » Read more

The Palestinians and the Arab Spring ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Wall Street Journal by Adbdullah II bin Hussein - (Opinion) January 19, 2012 - 1:00am Amman A year has passed since the Arab Spring began to change our region, showing the determination of Arab men and women, especially youth. But a key issue remains unresolved: peace between Palestinians and Israelis. This month, in Amman, the parties sat across the negotiating table for the first time in 16 months. What message will the United States now send to them and to the people of the region? » Read more

Arabs Deserve a Party of the Citizen ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Huffington Post by Ziad Asali - (Opinion) January 19, 2012 - 1:00am As the Arab uprisings enter their second year, a new political movement based on the concept and values of citizenship is needed. A lacuna now exists on the Arab political scene. The Arab uprisings shattered the old order but have yet to coalesce into a clear model for the future. A movement of citizens, expressed in organized political parties with clearly articulated programs, would tap into the patriotic and ecumenical grassroots protest movements and ensure that a historic opportunity for progress is not squandered. » Read more

In Gaza, Mabhouh's grieving family still in search of answers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Hugh Naylor - January 19, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA CITY // Two years after his brother Mahmoud, a Hamas arms-broker, was assassinated in Dubai by suspected Mossad agents, Fayek Al Mabhouh still wants answers. He scours the internet for any news about progress in the efforts to bring Mahmoud's killers to justice. » Read more