The media consensus on Israel is collapsing ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Jordan Michael Smith - (Opinion) January 19, 2012 - 1:00am With Hamas and Fatah meeting in Cairo, reconciliation between the rival Palestinian political parties is likely only a matter of time. Official US policy holds that Hamas is only a terrorist entity, and any agreement between the two factions jeopardizes continued US aid. There is reason to believe, however, that more flexible, productive positions will be expressed in the US media. Slowly but unmistakably, space is opening up among the commentariat for new, critical ideas about Israel and its relationship to the United States. » Read more

Rick Santorum’s Views on the Middle East ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Arabiya by Ali Younes - (Opinion) January 19, 2012 - 1:00am In a town hall meeting during a recent campaign stop in Greenville, South Carolina, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum said to me, in response to my questions, that he supports attacking Iran with missiles, rockets and other weapons in order to stop it from developing nuclear weapons. On the issue of the Palestinian–Israeli conflict he added that the issue is an internal Israeli matter and that Israel can do whatever it wants and no one should interfere in its internal affairs. » Read more

Toddling to talks about talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Economist (Analysis) January 21, 2012 - 1:00am NO ONE disagreed with the cautious assessment of King Abdullah of Jordan that “little baby steps” had been taken when Israelis and Palestinians met several times in Amman, the king’s capital, in early January to see if there were grounds to resume full-scale peace talks that might one day lead to the peaceful coexistence of two states. Even this tentative diplomatic toe-dipping was fraught. Big grown-up strides still seem a long way off. » Read more

Likudnik Paranoia ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Time Magazine by Joe Klein - (Opinion) January 20, 2012 - 1:00am Uh-oh, there’s another wave of attacks–both here and in Israel–on those of us who support Israel, but not in the mindless, aggressive way that neoconservatives do and not at the expense of America’s national interests. Over there, Bibi Netanyahu has proclaimed the New York Times and Haaretz the “biggest” enemies of Israel. » Read more

Are Arab Jews extinct? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily News Egypt by Naava Mashiah - (Opinion) January 20, 2012 - 1:00am GENEVA: The growing rift between Israel and the Arab world makes it hard to imagine that Jews and Arabs once coexisted across the Middle East. At one point these identities could be found not only in the same neighborhood, but even in the same person. » Read more

Are Arab Jews extinct? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily News Egypt by Naava Mashiah - (Opinion) January 20, 2012 - 1:00am GENEVA: The growing rift between Israel and the Arab world makes it hard to imagine that Jews and Arabs once coexisted across the Middle East. At one point these identities could be found not only in the same neighborhood, but even in the same person. » Read more

Palestinians to Renew Efforts for Bid to U.N. ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Times by Ben Birnbaum - January 19, 2012 - 1:00am RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian officials say that they will resume their effort to gain U.N. membership, and that they could launch a nonviolent third intifada because they see no chance of reaching a peace deal with the current Israeli government. The Palestinians had put their U.N. bid on hold to participate in informal Jordanian-sponsored talks with Israel that began at the beginning of the year in Amman. » Read more

Obama vs. Netanyahu vs. Ahmadinejad ATFP World Press Roundup Article from CNN by Trita Parsi - (Opinion) January 19, 2012 - 1:00am U.S.-Israeli relations are in a crisis over Iran. It has been in the making for quite some time – arguably since the early 1990s – and edging closer to climax by the minute. The personal chemistry between the leaders is abysmal – Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy recently discussed how they can’t stand Benjamin Netanyahu – and disagreements abound on the Arab uprisings, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on how to deal with Iran. » Read more

Hamas Attack on Gaza Shiites May Indicate its Political Shift ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Hugh Naylor - January 20, 2012 - 1:00am BEIT LAHIA // When they later recalled the siege by Hamas security forces, it was not its ferocity that astonished the residents of Beit Lahiya. It was the target - Shiite Muslims gathered in the building to commemorate the death of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Mohammed's grandson. Up to 100 policemen and masked men in civilian clothes stormed an apartment building in the Gaza enclave late on Saturday. Minutes later, they emerged dragging 15 men, whom they then beat with truncheons and denounced as infidels. Neighbourhood residents drawn to the commotion said they were shocked. » Read more

Islamic Jihad Cell Arrested in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) January 19, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Ten members of an Islamic Jihad terror cell were arrested near Jenin in the West Bank. The cell was planning attacks against Israeli soldiers and the abductions of Israelis, according to reports Thursday after the Shin Bet security services lifted a gag order on the case. It also had been in contact with Islamic Jihad in Gaza and accepted significant amounts of money from Islamic Jihad in Syria to buy weapons. » Read more