Tribute to Kahane planned by Israeli legislators ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency by Jonathan Cook - November 23, 2009 - 1:00am A plan by right-wing legislators in Israel to commemorate the anniversary this month of the death of Meir Kahane, whose banned anti-Arab movement is classified as a terrorist organization, risks further damaging the prospects for talks between Israel and the Palestinians, US officials have warned. A move to stage the commemoration in Israel's parliament, the Knesset, is being led by Michael Ben-Ari, who was elected this year and is the first self-declared former member of Kahane's party, Kach, to become a legislator since the movement was banned 15 years ago. » Read more

Fayyad: We won't accept fragmented state ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 23, 2009 - 1:00am “We will not accept a fragmented state, and we refuse all interim and transitional solutions. The eastern border of the state of Palestine is Jordan," said caretaker Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Sunday. Fayyad's comments follow former Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz's initiative to announce a Palestinian state on temporary borders, a proposal staunchly rejected by Palestinians officials. » Read more

Israeli expert: World would recognize Palestinian state ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 23, 2009 - 1:00am More than 130 United Nations member states would recognize a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, Israeli international law expert Moshe Hersh told Israeli TV on Saturday evening. According to Hersh, “Mahmoud Abbas can declare a Palestinian state nowadays because 100 countries will certainly support his decision, in addition to 30 others who are likely to vote for the decision. “Furthermore, there will be European support, even though it will not be overwhelming. The US intends to oppose the Palestinian decision, yet the limited European support will be embarrassing to the US.” » Read more

Israel air strikes in Gaza: Will Hamas rocket truce hold? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Erin Cunningham - November 23, 2009 - 1:00am Israeli warplanes carried out air strikes against targets across the Gaza Strip Sunday morning, just one day after Hamas announced it had reached an agreement with all Gaza-based militant factions to halt rocket fire into the Jewish state. » Read more

Palestinian panel to sidestep vote ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Howard Schneider - November 23, 2009 - 1:00am To keep the Palestinian Authority government working after its term expires in January, Palestinians are turning to an unelected group of political insiders instead of holding new elections, according to Palestinian officials and outside analysts. » Read more

Israeli bombs follow Palestinian rockets ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press November 23, 2009 - 1:00am Israeli aircraft attacked two suspected weapons-making factories and a smuggling tunnel in the Gaza Strip early Sunday in what the military said was retaliation for Palestinian rocket fire into southern Israel. The airstrikes wounded at least seven people, including one seriously, and came despite an announcement by Gaza's Hamas rulers that the territory's military factions had agreed to stop firing rockets. The Hamas announcement came late Saturday, after the rocket attack. » Read more

Palestinians looking to U.S.-style suburban housing, financing ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Howard Schneider - November 23, 2009 - 1:00am The hills around this city have seen plenty of construction, often the distinctive red-roofed homes favored by Israeli settlers. But the bulldozers and laborers active here recently are laying foundations and building roads for a different type of development -- planned communities targeted to middle-income Palestinians, including one billed as the first "new city" for Palestinians in modern memory. » Read more