Israel distances itself from Prophet Muhammad film ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press September 12, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — The Israeli government is distancing itself from a filmmaker whose movie ridiculing the Prophet Muhammad sparked a deadly riot at an American consulate in Libya, but says it will be "vigilant" at its diplomatic offices overseas. The movie, "Innocence of Muslims," was produced by Sam Bacile, a 56-year-old California real estate developer who has said he's both Israeli and American. The film depicts Muhammad as a fraud, womanizer and madman. » Read more

Israel hints it will keep pressing US on Iran ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Amy Teibel - September 13, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Israel's leader suggested in an interview Thursday that he'll keep publicly pressing the United States to get tougher on Iran, despite the strains his remarks have caused with the Obama administration. » Read more

Washington needs to appreciate the other side ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) September 12, 2012 - 12:00am As Americans (and many others in the world) were marking last Tuesday the 11th anniversary of the horrendous 9/11 terrorist attack by Al Qaida, there is no doubt that many are still wondering whether the US is now a safer place or US governments can avoid similarly devastating incidents. The obvious grievances that motivated the attackers were attributed to the one-sided US policies in the Middle East, still a source of great concern to many inside the US and others elsewhere. » Read more

Israelis Fear Fallout From Netanyahu’s Blunt Comments ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - September 12, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — In Israel, where arguments are rife, there are at least two issues of national consensus: that the special relationship with the United States must be preserved at all costs, and that the looming threat of a nuclear Iran must be dealt with. » Read more

The next president and the peace process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Douglas Bloomfield - (Opinion) September 13, 2012 - 12:00am Two days after taking office, Barack Obama announced a major Middle East initiative, complete with a high-level special envoy, to restart Israeli- Palestinian peace talks. It was a major blunder. It was poorly prepared, asked more of the Israelis than the Palestinians, raised Palestinian expectations beyond Obama’s ability to deliver and he failed to take his case directly to the Israeli people. And he had no Plan B. Don’t look for a repeat next January no matter who is in the Oval Office. » Read more

The Fayyad opportunity is fading ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Ari Shavit - (Opinion) September 13, 2012 - 12:00am The news generated by the Middle East in recent years has usually been bad. Hamas took over the Gaza Strip, the Muslim Brotherhood took over Egypt and Turkey became an aggressive neo-Ottoman power. The Iranian rebellion was quashed, Iraq was drawn into the Shi'ite sphere of influence and Syria turned into a gruesome slaughterhouse. Even in Libya, which raised hopes for a while, the American ambassador was murdered on Wednesday. » Read more

U.S. and Israel need mutual diplomacy, not recriminations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Daniel Kurtzer - (Opinion) September 13, 2012 - 12:00am The United States and Israel do many things well together. We do strategic cooperation, security planning, intelligence sharing, economic and trade relations, and cultural interaction. Every day, scores of official and unofficial interactions take place between our governments and our two peoples, and for the most part, they are extraordinarily productive and mutually beneficial. » Read more

Netanyahu risks overplaying hand in Iran dispute ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Crispian Balmer - (Analysis) September 12, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM, Sept 12 (Reuters) - The public row between Israel and the United States this week will make it hard for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to launch a unilateral strike against Iran and risks undermining his domestic standing. Despite years of warning about the dangers of Iran gaining nuclear weapons, the Israeli leader has failed to convince any major world power of the need for military action and has yet to persuade his domestic audience that Israel should go it alone. » Read more

Neocon Gambits ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New Yorker by David Remnick - (Opinion) September 12, 2012 - 12:00am It is hard to overestimate the risks that Benjamin Netanyahu poses to the future of his own country. As Prime Minister, he has done more than any other political figure to embolden and elevate the reactionary forces in Israel, to eliminate the dwindling possibility of a just settlement with the Palestinians, and to isolate his country on the world diplomatic stage. » Read more