Commitment to a just cause
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by Joseph A. Kechichian - (Opinion) February 20, 2013 - 1:00am

President Barack Obama will no doubt get a chance to discuss with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, several sensitive issues during his upcoming visit to Israel. Logically, the two men would reconsider the use of fake western passports by Mossad agents — as the most recent revelations involving Ben Zygier, an Australian citizen involved in the Dubai operation that killed the Hamas agent, Mahmoud Al Mabhouh in January 2010, confirmed.

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Vain hope springs eternal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Moshe Arens - (Opinion) February 19, 2013 - 1:00am

"Hope springs eternal," wrote Alexander Pope, in "An Essay on Man." And so it is with Israel's hope for peace with the Palestinians. After every disappointment, hope rises again. When Yasser Arafat seemingly renounced terrorism at a press conference in Geneva in December 1988, we wanted to believe him. We signed the Oslo Accords in 1993, brought him and his minions from Tunis to Gaza and Ramallah - only to find that he had by no means abandoned terrorism.

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Homs: Another Road to Palestine!
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Hayaht Al-Jadidah
by Hazem Saghiyeh - (Opinion) February 19, 2013 - 1:00am

There has always been a “road to Palestine,” which of course does not lead to it or even actually pass through it. This road was always in demand for purposes that have to do with things like diverting attention away from actual problems in a given country; to cover up relationships and ties meant to remain concealed; or to deceive the people of the region, particularly the Palestinian people, and gain cheap popularity at their expense.

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Free Marwan Barghouti
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Amnon Shamosh - (Opinion) February 18, 2013 - 1:00am

According to my understanding of the changing Middle East, the only person who can be elected enthusiastically by both segments of the Palestinian nation and be a real partner for peace is Marwan Barghhouti.

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Israel-Palestine Interim Agreements Block Final Deal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor
by Akiva Eldar - (Opinion) February 18, 2013 - 1:00am

The director of one of the top UN agencies operating in the West Bank told me about a fascinating conversation he had with a senior Israeli Defense Forces officer. “Do you know the difference between Areas A, B and C?” the officer asked. “Of course,” the UN director responded, citing published details of the 1995 Interim Agreement between Israel and the Palestinians (also known as Oslo II).

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Good morning, Abbas-stan
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Aluf Benn - (Opinion) February 17, 2013 - 1:00am

All indications are that the Palestinians are set to return to the top of Israel’s priority list, despite the evident boredom of the public and the politicians with what is euphemistically called in Hebrew “the diplomtic issue.” Here a muttered comment about peace by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, there a demand during coalition negotiations for renewed negotiations; U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to Israel is approaching, while in the background the calm of the status quo is weakening and a third intifada looms more threateningly than usual.

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Israelis, Palestinians and ‘managing the crisis’
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
by Hassan Barari - February 17, 2013 - 1:00am

A few days ago, the Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman said that chances to reach an agreement with the Palestinians on the issue of permanent borders would be modest. He argued that whatever happens, parties will be left only with “managing the crisis.” Difficult as it may look, Liberman has articulated what many observers already know. Ever since the peace process has run aground following the advent of Sharon’s first government, events unfolded have only reinforced what Liberman had said.

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Seven decisions the U.S. must make to jumpstart Middle East peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Daniel Kurtzer - (Opinion) February 14, 2013 - 1:00am

 

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The Success That Failed
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Roger Cohen - (Opinion) February 14, 2013 - 1:00am

The most progressive and innovative Palestinian thinker on a Middle East peace settlement has been steadily isolated over the past several years. Undercut by Israel, undermined by his own people’s factionalism, unable to meet even once with President Obama, this dynamic Palestinian leader is now close to the end of his rope.

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Erekat: No Settlement Freeze Means No Negotiations
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor
by Shlomi Eldar - (Opinion) February 14, 2013 - 1:00am

Israel is waiting for President Barack Obama. Social networks across the internet are full of petitions and “likes,” pleading with the president to give a speech about peace to the Israeli masses gathered in Rabin Square.

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