January 25th

Yair Lapid, Telegenic Kingmaker, Has Rough Road Ahead ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by J.J. Goldberg - (Opinion) January 25, 2013 - 1:00am   Moments after exit polls confirmed his surprise second-place showing in Israel’s January 22 parliamentary elections, political neophyte Yair Lapid faced his giddy supporters and declared: “A serious responsibility has been placed on our shoulders tonight.” » Read more

Israel's election leaves slim opportunity for Obama to push two-state solution ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Michael Cohen - (Opinion) January 25, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

The perfect Israeli ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Ben Caspit - (Opinion) January 25, 2013 - 1:00am The day after the election, I was reminded of that TV moment in which the interviewer, Yair Lapid, asked the interviewee, his father Yosef “Tommy” Lapid, “What is an ‘Israeli,’ in your eyes?” Dear old Tommy smiled for a second, his eyes sparkled, and he said: “You.” » Read more

An infiltration thwarted, a Palestinian youth left to die ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Gideon Levy - (Opinion) January 25, 2013 - 1:00am The semester’s final exam in sciences was finished, and Samir Awad was feeling pleased when he left the classroom. This was his last exam. Looking, perhaps, for some relief from the pressures of the exam, he headed out with some of his friends to the path that leads down from the school in his village, Budrus, in the Ramallah region; the group headed toward the separation barrier, located about 200 meters away. There were six of them: Monir, Hosni, Mohammed, Sahar, Musa and Samir. » Read more

How the Zionist became anti-Zionist ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Alon Idan - (Opinion) January 25, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

PM offers Lapid FM post or Treasury portfolio ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews January 25, 2013 - 1:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered Yesh Atid Chairman » Read more

Shin Bet: No Israelis killed in West Bank terror in 2012, first year since 1973 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Gili Cohen - January 25, 2013 - 1:00am   For the first time since 1973, an entire year passed without an Israeli casualty from a terror attack in the West Bank, according to a report published on Thursday by the Shin Bet. Despite the increasing prevalence of terror in the West Bank in 2012, no Israelis were killed terror attacks. » Read more

Minister says PA financial crisis is structural ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 25, 2013 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority's financial crisis is structural, the finance minister said Wednesday, adding that the deficit has exceeded $1.4 billion. "A structural solution is needed in order to fill the gap between expenses and revenue," Nabil Qassis told a committee of lawmakers in Ramallah.  Qassis told the committee, headed by the speaker of Fatah's bloc in the Palestinian Legislative Council Azzam al-Ahmad, that several measures should be taken to decrease the deficit.  » Read more

Activists re-erect tents at Bab al-Karamah ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 25, 2013 - 1:00am Dozens of Palestinian activists entered a demolished protest village in northwest Jerusalem on Friday, starting to rebuild the al-Karamah (Dignity) encampment. The tent village was established last Friday to protest Israel's land confiscation and settlement building in the area of Beit Iksa. On Monday, Israeli troops demolished all the tents and evacuated all the activists in the camp. Activists entered the village on Friday and performed the weekly prayer, before re-erecting tents and planting olive trees, witnesses said. » Read more

Hamas organizes paramilitary training course for schoolchildren ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua January 25, 2013 - 1:00am   Mohamed Abed Rabbo, a 16-year-old student, held his breath when he jumped and crossed through a flaming ring of iron at a high school graduation ceremony in Gaza city, marking the fulfillment of a one-week paramilitary training course. » Read more