November 30th

Full text: Abbas speech to UN General Assembly ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency by Mahmoud Abbas - (Transcript) November 30, 2012 - 1:00am Mr. President of the General Assembly, » Read more

A big thanks to Lieberman ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff - (Opinion) November 30, 2012 - 1:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will certainly never admit it, but he owes a huge thank you to the Israeli government, especially Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Only a few days ago, it seemed Abbas might disappear from the Palestinian and international consciousness due to Hamas' achievements during Israel's Operation Pillar of Defense. » Read more

How Israel lost Europe's support ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - (Opinion) November 30, 2012 - 1:00am As the hours wore on Thursday, the magnitude of the Israeli defeat in the United Nations General Assembly became continually clearer. One after another, the Foreign Ministry and Prime Minister's Office received reports from Israeli embassies in Europe that countries were changing their votes at the last minute and leaning toward the Palestinians. A few hours before the vote, officials in Jerusalem understood... » Read more

No 'victory' at UN unless Palestinian unity is the result ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Hussein Ibish - (Opinion) November 30, 2012 - 1:00am The recent conflict between Israel and Hamas significantly recontextualised the request by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) for an upgrade from the United Nations General Assembly to "non-member observer state" status. How all parties react to the upgrade will have a significant effect on the balance of power within Palestinian society, and strongly influence future regional developments. » Read more

Hamas fighter killed as war remnants explode in Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 30, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Hamas' military wing said one of its fighters was killed early Friday when remnants of Israeli weaponry from the latest Gaza assault exploded in the northern Gaza Strip. » Read more

Israel’s Antimissile System Attracts Potential Buyers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Thom Shanker - November 29, 2012 - 1:00am WASHINGTON — The success cited by Israel » Read more

UN vote on Palestinian statehood just another cautious step forward ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Chris McGreal - November 29, 2012 - 1:00am The card players of the Al-Amari cafe have been around long enough to take a sceptical view of the United Nations vote on Thursday torecognise Palestinian statehood » Read more

Palestinians See UN Gambit as Step Toward Reconciliation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Diana Atallah - November 30, 2012 - 1:00am [Ramallah] – Palestinians took to the streets of Ramallah on Thursday night and into the early hours of Friday morning to celebrate the UN General Assembly vote bestowing non-member status to “Palestine.” Celebrants expressed hope that their newfound recognition at the United Nations is a step closer to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and many expressed belief that this diplomatic success was empowered by the recent military confrontation in the Gaza » Read more

Mahmoud Abbas to visit Gaza after statehood win ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh - November 29, 2012 - 1:00am Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is planning to visit the Gaza Strip after the UN General Assembly vote in favor of upgrading the status of the Palestinians to non-member observer state, a senior PLO official announced Thursday. The announcement came shortly before Abbas was asked the GA in New York to vote in favor of the statehood bid. » Read more

Israel's Netanyahu slams Abbas speech as 'hostile and poisonous' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 30, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned President Mahmoud Abbas's strong critique of Israel in his speech at the United Nations on Thursday as "hostile and poisonous", and full of "false propaganda". » Read more