February 1st

Israel may feel need to strike Syria again ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Josef Federman - January 31, 2013 - 1:00am An Israeli air attack staged in  » Read more

The fall and rise of Chuck Hagel: a good sign for US-Israel relations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Rebecca Vilkomerson - (Opinion) January 31, 2013 - 1:00am With today's Senate confirmation hearing for Chuck Hagel as US secretary of Defense, it is worth taking a moment to review the fall and rise of Mr. Hagel’s nomination. It is a welcome, if overdue, sign that “daylight” between American and Israeli policies may be becoming more politically acceptable in Washington. » Read more

Hagel’s misreading of how to treat an ally ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Michael Doran - (Opinion) January 31, 2013 - 1:00am Chuck Hagel likes Ike. That much has been apparent for some time. » Read more

Syria Says It Has Right to Counterattack Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Jodi Rudoren - February 1, 2013 - 1:00am Tensions over the Israeli airstrike on Syrian territory appeared to increase on Thursday as Syria delivered a letter to the  » Read more

UN human rights report on Israel paves way for sanctions, further isolation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - (Opinion) January 31, 2013 - 1:00am    If anyone needed a reminder of Israel's deteriorating standing on the international stage, they got one on Thursday in the report by the UN Human Rights Council's fact-finding mission on the settlements. While Israel's coalition talks are focusing on the state budget and drafting ultra-Orthodox men into the military, every future member of the next cabinet should be disturbed by the report. » Read more

Israeli settlements symbolise the acute lack of justice experienced by the Palestinian people ATFP World Press Roundup Article from United Nations January 31, 2013 - 1:00am   The International Fact-Finding Mission on Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory today published its findings on the implications Israeli settlements have upon the human rights of the Palestinian people. The report states that a multitude of the human rights of the Palestinians are violated in various forms and ways due to the existence of the settlements. » Read more

January 31st

Political Pivot in Israel? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Council On Foreign Relations by Bernard Gwertzman - (Interview) January 30, 2013 - 1:00am In the wake of the January 22 Israeli parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking the largest coalition government he can secure, says expert David Makovsky, because "the biggest government means no one faction can hold him by the throat." He says that U.S. officials were pleased by the surge of votes toward the center and the likelihood that newspaper columnist and radio host Yair Lapid is destined to play a major role in the new government. » Read more

Khaled Abu Toameh, Journalist Forges On As Lonely Dissenting Arab Voice On PA ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Baltimore Jewish Times by Alex Trainman - (Opinion) January 30, 2013 - 1:00am In an environment where criticism of Israel is not only common, but also encouraged, Arab-Israeli journalist Khaled Abu Toameh is a lonely voice of dissent on issues relating to the Palestinian Authority (PA).  “I believe that a journalist should be loyal to the truth, as opposed to a president or a prime minister,” Abu Toameh said. “I do not wish to be a mouthpiece for any leader, an organ of any structure or a coverup agent for anybody. A journalist should be free to criticize anyone as long as he is telling the truth.” » Read more

Yair Lapid: An Interview with Israel’s New Power Broker ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Time by Karl Vick - (Interview) January 31, 2013 - 1:00am Yair Lapid is the Israeli anchorman and columnist who stunned Israel’s political world by finishing second in Jan. » Read more

Why Arab Parties Are Excluded From Israeli Coalitions ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast (Opinion) January 30, 2013 - 1:00am The media reports out of Israel these days are all about coalition-wrangling. Will Benjamin Netanyahu reach the magical 61 Knesset seats necessary to form a government by combining his 31 Likud-Beiteinu seats and the 19 from Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid with those of ultra-Orthodox parties like Shas (11 seats) and United Torah Judaism (7), which might create new opportunities to advance the peace process but could stymie efforts to force ultra-Orthodox Jews to serve in the military? » Read more