Muasher: Obama Should Try to Solve Conflict in a 'Few Months' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Akiva Eldar - (Interview) February 21, 2013 - 1:00am Among reports about President Barack Obama’s intention to restart the diplomatic process, which he will bring with him to Jerusalem and Ramallah on his visit next month, one especially prominent report says the senior visitor plans to pull the Arab Peace Initiative out of his hat. This initiative offers Israel a groundbreaking deal: “in exchange for a complete withdrawal from the occupied territories (including East Jerusalem) and a ‘just settlement’ of the Palestinian refugee problem (based on U.N. » Read more

Fayyad Condemns Israeli Attacks on Property Near Nablus ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Palestine News Network February 22, 2013 - 1:00am   Prime Minister Salam Fayyad condemned Thursday Israeli army sabotage of electricity poles in the Nablus area village of Qusra and arson of cars in the same village by Israeli settlers. » Read more

The European Union Renews its Support to Improve Mental Health Services in Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Palestine News Network February 22, 2013 - 1:00am Research has shown that living conditions in Gaza - such as restricted movement, reduced access to education and health care, poverty and unemployment - can create stress and feelings of isolation and ultimately impact on the level of mental disorders within the population there. According to the UN, psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder in the Gaza Strip has dramatically risen following the escalation of violence last November. » Read more

Morocco offers a paradigm for good ties with Jews ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Adina Friedman - February 22, 2013 - 1:00am At a ceremony recently marking the end of the restoration of a 17th-century synagogue in Fez’s Old City, Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane read a message from King Mohammad VI hailing Morocco’s “spiritual wealth and diversity” and the “values of coexistence, tolerance and harmony between the different components of the nation.” » Read more

Gaza youth burns himself over disagreement with Hamas gov't employee ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 21, 2013 - 1:00am A Palestinian youth set himself on fire Thursday at a Hamas government office in northern Gaza Strip after a dispute with an employee there, security sources and witnesses said. » Read more

Hezbollah Courier Was Told to Track Israeli Flights ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New Republic by Nicholas Kulish - February 21, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

The Israel-Palestine drama will play out at the Oscars ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Amy Goodman - February 21, 2013 - 1:00am The Academy Awards ceremony will make history this year with the first ever nomination of a feature documentary made by a Palestinian. 5 Broken Cameras was filmed and directed by Emad Burnat, a resident of the occupied Palestinian West Bank town of Bil'in, along with his Israeli filmmaking partner Guy Davidi. » Read more

Fatah official: No negotiations without settlement freeze ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 22, 2013 - 1:00am Senior Fatah official Mohammad Shtayyeh said Friday that the Palestinian leadership is ready to negotiate if Israel stops building illegal settlements and releases Palestinian prisoners. Shtayyeh told Ma'an an end to settlement activity and the release of prisoners were necessary for successful talks. The Fatah central committee member's comments came in response to a report on Israel's Channel 10 that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu planned to resume talks with the PLO within three months of forming a new government.

Savir's Corner: Raising expectations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Uri Savir - (Opinion) February 21, 2013 - 1:00am On March 20, Air Force One will land on the tarmac at Ben-Gurion Airport. US President Barack Obama will be received with pomp and circumstance by President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his new government. All of Israel, the region and indeed the world will be watching. » Read more

Israel pressures UN over Palestinian status report: diplomat ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua February 21, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more