February 21st, 2013

Israel's Netanyahu risks inclusion of Livni into government ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Faisal J. Abbas - (Analysis) February 21, 2013 - 1:00am Israeli Prime Minister designee Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday announced that former foreign minister Tzipi Livni of the HaTnua (Movement) party will join his next government as justice minister. Thus, this is making the HaTnua the first party to join Netanyahu's coalition after the parliamentary elections on Jan. 22. » Read more

Palestinian MP: New intifada if prisoners harmed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Elior Levy - February 21, 2013 - 1:00am Palestinians marched Thursday morning from the West Bank village of Bituniya to Ofer Prison in protest against the continued administrative detention of four Palestinians who are on a hunger strike. Several hundred demonstrators waving Fatah flags advanced toward the Bituniya checkpoint. Ofer Prison is located just beyond the checkpoint. » Read more

Israel's Livni faces rough road in peace push with Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Jeffrey Heller - (Analysis) February 20, 2013 - 1:00am Tzipi Livni's coalition pact with right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu speaks volumes about the obstacles ahead for the moderate former Israeli foreign minister in her new task of pursuing peace with the Palestinians. Expectations of a new peacemaking initiative have been raised by a planned visit to Israel, the West Bank and Jordan next month by U.S. President Barack Obama, who has clashed with Netanyahu over the prime minister's policy of expanding settlements on occupied land Palestinians want for a state. » Read more

Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press February 21, 2013 - 1:00am Hundreds of Palestinian protesters are squaring off against Israeli security forces in the West Bank at a demonstration in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Some 2,000 people gathered at the Beitunia military checkpoint on Thursday, hoping to march to a nearby military prison. When the military prevented them from proceeding, protesters began throwing stones and burning tires. Israeli soldiers are responding with rubber-coated bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowd. » Read more

February 20th

Arne Christenson to manage policy and politics at AIPAC ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) February 19, 2013 - 1:00am The American Israel Public Affairs Committee appointed public affairs professional Arne Christenson as its managing director for policy and politics. » Read more

Abbas meets Yemeni president in Sanaa ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 19, 2013 - 1:00am President Mahmoud Abbas met his Yemeni counterpart Abd al-Rab Mansur al-Hadi on Tuesday in Sanaa, Palestinian Authority media reported. Abbas discussed bilateral relations, Palestinian reconciliation and Israeli attacks on the Palestinian people with the Yemeni president, state news agency Wafa reported.  Abbas, who is joined by his spokesman Nabil Abu Rdaineh, PA Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki and diplomatic adviser Majdi al-Khalidi, also met with Yemen's foreign minister, Abu-Bakr Al-Qirbi.

Egypt brokering talks between Hamas and Israel on humanitarian issues ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 20, 2013 - 1:00am For the second time in a week, Israeli security officials visited Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials focusing on the ceasefire brokered by Egypt last year between Israel and the Palestinian factions operating in the Gaza Strip.  A high-level Hamas official told Ma’an that the ongoing Egypt-brokered negotiations between Israel and the Islamist movement do not address “political issues but rather pure humanitarian issues.”  » Read more

Palestinian co-director of '5 Broken Cameras' reportedly detained at Los Angeles airport ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Nirit Anderman - February 20, 2013 - 1:00am   Michael Moore, the American film director, sent a message Wednesday on his Twitter social networking account saying that the Palestinian co-director of the film "5 Broken Cameras," Emad Burnat, had been detained early Wednesday morning by U.S. immigration officials at Los Angeles International Airport after arriving at the airport overnight. » Read more

Israel Releases Part of Report on Prisoner X’s Death ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Jodi Rudoren - February 19, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Obama and Kerry should listen very hard ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Rami Khouri - (Opinion) February 20, 2013 - 1:00am It was inevitable that the announcement of U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to the Middle East in mid-March would trigger expectations of new proposals for restarting Palestinian-Israeli peace talks. This visit, coupled with John Kerry’s appointment as secretary of state and the start of Obama’s second term, heightens speculation about what, if anything, the United States might do to prod the parties toward fresh negotiations. » Read more