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.

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The Cartoon and Anti-Semitic 'Mission Creep'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
by Eddy Portnoy - (Opinion) January 30, 2013 - 1:00am

When it comes to cartoons, it’s usually Muslim fundamentalists that throw hissy fits. But, in a turn of events, some of our storied communal defenders, Abraham Foxman and Marvin Hier among them, have taking the lead. Indiscriminately tossing around accusations of anti-Semitism, our fearless leaders have attacked at least three editorial cartoonists over the past few months on charges that they have defamed the Jewish people.

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Syria says Israel attacked military research centre
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by James Webb - January 30, 2013 - 1:00am

Israeli warplanes attacked a military research centre in Damascus province at dawn on Wednesday, Syria's military command said, denying reports that the planes had struck a convoy carrying weapons from Syria to Lebanon. Two people were killed and five wounded in the attack on the site in Jamraya, which it described as one of a number of "scientific research centres aimed at raising the level of resistance and self-defence". The building was destroyed, the military command said in a statement carried by state media.

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No Israeli strike on Lebanon soil - Lebanese security source
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Oliver Holmes - January 30, 2013 - 1:00am

A Lebanese security source said on Wednesday that a reported attack by Israeli forces on a convoy near the Syrian-Lebanese border overnight had not occurred on Lebanese territory. A western diplomat and regional security sources said earlier that Israeli forces had hit a convoy in the border area, a few days after Israeli Vice Premier Silvan Shalom said that any sign that Syria's grip on its chemical weapons was slipping could trigger Israeli intervention. There were no details of precisely where the action had occurred.

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Israel Ducks on Human Rights
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
(Editorial) January 30, 2013 - 1:00am

Israel has increasingly isolated itself from the world with its hard-line policies on West Bank settlements, the Gaza embargo and other issues. This week, it unwisely set itself further apart with a decision to withhold cooperation from a United Nations Human Rights Council review of its human rights practices.

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Israel Must Invest to Deter Iran
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor
by Alon Ben David - (Opinion) January 30, 2013 - 1:00am

It’s a safe bet that investing in building military capabilities vis-à-vis Iran will continue in the next government, regardless of its composition.

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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.”

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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.

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Israel jets increase activity in Lebanese airspace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Zeina Karam - January 30, 2013 - 1:00am

The Lebanese military said Wednesday that Israeli warplanes have sharply increased their activity over Lebanon in the past week, including at least 12 sorties in less than 24 hours in the country's south.

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Palestinians Hope to Tell Their Story Through the Oscars
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
by Diana Atallah - January 29, 2013 - 1:00am

Palestinians hope an Oscar-nominated documentary depicting a non-violent struggle against Israel will succeed in telling their story, even though some recent viewers who saw the film in Ramallah expressed reservations about Israeli involvement in the movie. 5 Broken Cameras is one of five candidates for the Oscar in the Best Documentary Feature category this year. Released in 2011 by Palestinian director Emad Burnat and Israeli director Guy Davidi, it has been screened in 50 countries and translated into several languages.

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