No calculated leadership decision ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Barry Rubin - (Opinion) March 5, 2012 - 1:00am Is there going to be a "third intifada"? I have no idea. That is a question most likely to be determined by those who set Palestinian strategy and they will surely differ among themselves. What interests me is the basis upon which such a choice would be made. When this issue is discussed publicly, it is attributed almost entirely to the idea that frustration will motivate revolt. This is certainly the point made by Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization leaders. The argument is that unless they get their way diplomatically, violence will be the logical outcome. » Read more

What Scares Israel: Iran or Peace? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat by Hassan Haidar - (Opinion) March 8, 2012 - 1:00am The same boring theater play repeats itself every year, as the Jewish American lobbying group AIPAC holds its annual conference: Benjamin Netanyahu, or any Prime Minister of Israel, expresses his resentment and indignation at the stifling role played by the United States to prevent the Hebrew State from directing a military strike against Iran; and Barack Obama, or any other US President, finds no way to appease his ally and ease the latter’s “frustration” but to offer Israel additional military and economic aid, renew his commitment to its “sacrosanct” security, and refrain from raising the t » Read more

Hamas is making a tactical appeal to the grassroots ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Tareq Baconi - (Opinion) March 8, 2012 - 1:00am Hamas officials have said that in the event of a war between Iran and Israel, they will not become involved on Tehran's side. While this is not surprising, other officials within the movement were quick to deny such reports. Historically, Hamas has always gone to great lengths to assert its independence from any foreign influence. It is widely recognised that it receives support from powers such as Syria (until recently) and Iran. Yet this has never been worn as a badge of honour by the movement. » Read more

Inside Out: Obama’s commitment to Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Jonathan Rosen - (Opinion) March 7, 2012 - 1:00am US President Barack Obama took the opportunity of his speech at the AIPAC policy conference on Sunday to reiterate his administration’s unequivocal commitment to Israel’s security and right to self-defense. He said, “My administration’s commitment to Israel’s security has been unprecedented. Our military and intelligence cooperation has never been closer. Our joint exercises and training have never been more robust... Israel must always have the ability to defend itself, by itself, against any threat.” » Read more

If Obama wins in November, is Netanyahu in trouble? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Bradley Burston - (Opinion) March 7, 2012 - 1:00am There is something in the air. Something new. Something as recent as this week's AIPAC conference. And for Benjamin Netanyahu, it's not something to be desired. American conservatives have begun to think out loud that Barack Obama will win in November. Citing the GOP's disastrous showing in the 1964 presidential election, influential Washington Post columnist George Will suggested this week in a tone of some resignation ("the Presidency is not everything") that conservatives might better use their energies by concentrating instead on Congressional and Senate races. » Read more

Netanyahu, our savior the fearmonger ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Gideon Levy - (Opinion) March 8, 2012 - 1:00am If it looks like a duck (frightened), walks like a duck (spreading anxiety), quacks like a duck (disseminating dread), then it must be a duck (a frightened fearmonger). Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who quacked his fearmongering speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee convention on Tuesday, proved yet again that Israel has never had a statesman quite like him - a statesman who has built his career on being an alarmist, and who boasts an impressive record of incessant, decades-long fearmongering. » Read more

Despite hardships, Palestinians train for Olympics ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Ibrahim Barzak - March 8, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Darting down the bumpy streets of Gaza wearing a cheap pair of running shoes, Palestinian athlete Bahaa al-Farra dodges potholes and traffic as he trains to compete against the world's best athletes at the London Olympics. Although an Olympic medal is highly unlikely, the 400-meter runner takes to the city streets for about three hours a day, speeding down crowded avenues in the morning before hitting the gym in the afternoon. "It's not easy to be an athlete in Gaza," al-Farra said. » Read more

In Israeli military, a growing orthodoxy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Dan Williams - March 7, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM — Roni Daniel saw the writing on the wall in a toilet. A former infantry commander who fought in three Middle East wars and now the dean of Israeli defence correspondents, Daniel recently visited military headquarters in Tel Aviv. There, a urinal that uses a motion detector to clean itself was signposted: “Forbidden on the Sabbath.” Troops, he realized, were being ordered to defer to Orthodox Jewish curbs on the use of electricity between Friday night and Saturday night. » Read more

Banned From TV, Palestinian Satirists Turn to Stage ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Mohammed Najib - March 8, 2012 - 1:00am The Riyadh Hotel for Current and Future Exiled Arab Leaders in Saudi Arabia gets a phone call. Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is on the line asking if they have any positions for accountants. “No,” the nervous receptionist answers. “We live comfortably in Saudi Arabia. Don’t come and impose taxes on us.” The satirical attack on the Palestinian leader, who has tried, unsuccessfully so far, to impose income tax on his people, was part of a new assault by a popular but harassed trio of Palestinian actors at a theatre in Ramallah on Wednesday night. » Read more

PLO calls on election commission to prepare for elections ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua March 8, 2012 - 1:00am RAMALLAH, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) on Wednesday called on the Central Elections Commission (CEC) to start preparing for holding the general elections in the Palestinian territories. The CEC should begin the process of registration of voters in Gaza and the West Bank, the PLO executive committee said in a statement issued after a meeting held in Ramallah and chaired by President Mahmoud Abbas. » Read more