Middle East News: World Press Roundup

NEWS: Changing official logos and letterheads of the PA to "the State of Palestine" shows the limitations of symbolic measures. Palestinians dismiss Israel's objections to the move. PM Netanyahu's frontrunner status in the upcoming Israeli election comes with certain political dangers. Pres. Obama's nomination of Chuck Hagel for Defense Secretary leaves some in Israel uneasy, but Deputy FM Ayalon defends the nominee. Sen. Rand Paul tells Pres. Abbas the US as opposed to Palestine joining more multilateral agencies. More fighting is reported in a large Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus, with five killed. Abbas appoints a new leadership for the Fatah committee in the Gaza. Teachers in the occupied West Bank are unable to afford transportation due to unpaid wages. Israeli security forces say there has been a significant rise in "terror acts" in the West Bank in the past two months. The EU says it wants to promote informal, "Track II," talks between Israelis and Palestinians. Gaza's archaeological treasures are at risk from war and neglect. A Palestinian farmer is engaged in a long-term struggle to reclaim his land from settlers. COMMENTARY: Roger Cohen says Israel's true friends, like Obama and Hagel, are willing to criticize it. Chemi Shalev says the dysfunctional Obama-Netanyahu relationship is the main cause of the Hagel controversy. Peter Beinart says mainstream Jewish groups like AIPAC aren't going to fight the Hagel nomination. Aaron David Miller says Hagel's views on Israel should not be any kind of litmus test for his nomination. Or Kashti says Israel's education minister is a threat to education and free thinking. The Guardian interviews right-wing Israeli politician Naftali Bennett, who vows there will never be a Palestinian state. Mohammad Yaghi asks if Israel's considering a "Jordanian option" for the occupied West Bank. Shlomi Eldar looks at a new Israeli movie about former security officials, "The Gatekeepers." Frida Ghitis says no one should give up on a two-state solution. Hussein Ibish says the growing controversy between the UAE and the Muslim Brotherhood has implications for the whole region, including Palestine.

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State of Palestine name change shows limitations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Karin Laub - January 7, 2013 - 1:00am   With U.N. recognition of a Palestinian state in his pocket, President Mahmoud Abbas wants official documents to carry a new emblem: "State of Palestine." » Read more

Palestinians refuse Israel's objection of "State of Palestine" ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua January 7, 2013 - 1:00am    The Palestinian leadership refused Monday Israel's objection of using the words "State of Palestine" instead of Palestinian National Authority (PNA) after its status upgrade in the United Nations. "Israel should abide by the UN resolutions," Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Ereekat told Xinhua. » Read more

For Netanyahu, Being Favored to Win Carries Its Own Risks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Jodi Rudoren - January 8, 2013 - 1:00am   Can a candidate ever be too far in the lead for his own good? » Read more

Hagel nomination unnerves some in Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Amy Teibel - January 8, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Israeli minister warms to choice of Hagel for Pentagon ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Dan Williams - January 8, 2013 - 1:00am   A senior Israeli diplomat has given a positive view of Chuck Hagel's nomination as U.S. defense secretary, though some commentators in the Jewish state expressed worries that the choice could open a new fissure in bedrock ties with Washington. » Read more

U.S. Senator to Abbas: U.S. rejects Palestinian's intention to join UN agencies ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua January 8, 2013 - 1:00am    U.S. Senator Rand Paul informed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of his country's opposition to the Palestinian intention to join United Nations agencies, a well- informed Palestinian sources said Monday. » Read more

Fighting flares again in Palestinian refugee camp in Syrian capital, 5 killed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press January 8, 2013 - 1:00am   Palestinian factions in Syria called for a cease-fire Tuesday after fighting flared at a refugee camp in the capital, Damascus, highlighting a split among Palestinians as the civil war intensifies. » Read more

Abbas appoints Fatah leadership in Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 8, 2013 - 1:00am President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday appointed the new leadership of the Fatah committee in the Gaza Strip, its new chairman told Ma'an. » Read more

Teachers despair over unpaid salaries ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 7, 2013 - 1:00am Civil servants in the West Bank are struggling to cover transportation costs, as the delays in their salary payments stretches on amid the Palestinian Authority's financial crisis. » Read more

West Bank sees rise in terror attacks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yoav Zitun - January 7, 2013 - 1:00am A Shin Bet report released Monday reveals that the last two months of 2012 have seen a significant rise in terrorist attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem. In December, 111 attacks were reported, while 166 were reported in November, during which Operation Pillar of Defense took place. » Read more

EU backing informal Israeli-Palestinian talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon - January 8, 2013 - 1:00am   With Israeli-Palestinian negotiations nonexistent for most of the last four years, informal talks between academics, public figures and former military and civil officials from both sides are once again currently taking place, often backed by the European Union. » Read more

Gaza's archaeological treasures at risk from war and neglect ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News January 6, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

A Palestinian farmer reclaims his land, for now ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chaim Levinson - January 8, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Israel’s True Friends ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Roger Cohen - (Opinion) January 7, 2013 - 1:00am   PRESIDENT Obama’s decision to nominate Chuck Hagel, a maverick Republican with enough experience of war to loathe it, as his next secretary of defense is the right choice for many reasons, chief among them that it will provoke a serious debate on what constitutes real friendship toward Israel. » Read more

‘Dysfunctional Obama-Netanyahu relationship is one of main reasons for Hagel controversy' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chemi Shalev - (Opinion) January 7, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Why AIPAC Won't Fight Hagel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Peter Beinart - (Opinion) January 7, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Chuck Hagel's Israel litmus test ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) January 8, 2013 - 1:00am   Jews worry for a living. Their dark history and, in the case of American Jews, their legitimate concerns about the security of the state ofIsrael impel them to do so. » Read more

The subduing of Israeli academia ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Or Kashti - (Opinion) January 8, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Naftali Bennett interview: 'There won't be a Palestinian state within Israel' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Harriet Sherwood - (Opinion) January 8, 2013 - 1:00am   The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is "insoluble" and most Israelis "couldn't care less about it any more", according to Naftali Bennett, the surprise star of the election campaign, whose extreme rightwing nationalist and pro-settler Jewish Home is within sight of becoming the country's second biggest party. » Read more

Is Israel Considering 'Jordan Option' For West Bank? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Mohammed Yaghi - (Opinion) January 8, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

'The Gatekeepers' Unmasks Israeli Security Apparatus ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Shlomi Eldar - (Opinion) January 8, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Don’t give up on 2-state solution ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Miami Herald by Frida Ghitis - (Opinion) January 4, 2013 - 1:00am   It’s good to start the year with encouraging news, so allow me to share what I think is a rare piece of encouraging and practical information for those who hope one day there will be peace in the Middle East. » Read more

Is the Muslim Brotherhood targeting the UAE? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from NOW Lebanon by Hussein Ibish - (Opinion) January 8, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

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