December 13th

Abbas: Meshal approved an agreement recognizing two-state solution
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - December 13, 2012 - 1:00am


Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas came out on Thursday in criticism of Hamas leader Khaled Meshal, who said last week during his visit to Gaza that the organization will never recognize Israel, and called for its destruction. Speaking to Turkish reporters in Ankara, Abbas said that he does not agree with Meshal's statements. "We recognized Israel in 1993," he said. "There is an agreement between Fatah and Hamas that recognizes the two-state solution. Meshal approved this agreement."


Abbas phones Mashaal to discuss reconciliation
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
December 13, 2012 - 1:00am


BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas phoned Hamas chief Khalid Mashaal on Wednesday to discuss ending the division according to prior agreements, a Fatah official said. Azzam al-Ahmad said Abbas phoned Mashaal to accelerate implementing national reconciliation. Abbas talked with him about his first visit to Gaza, and about Hamas' anniversary celebrations. Al-Ahmad said he met Mashaal on Wednesday and a member in Fatah's central committee as part of new efforts to see if a reconciliation deal could finally be implemented.


Interview: Palestinian negotiator rules out declaring new Mideast peace initiative soon
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
December 12, 2012 - 1:00am


RAMALLAH, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- A high-ranking Palestinian negotiator said in an interview with Xinhua on Wednesday that there will be no new peace initiative declared on the Middle East conflict before February 2013. Mohamed Ishteya, also a member in the central committee of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah Party, told Xinhua at his office in the city of Ramallah that the Palestinian leadership welcomes any international initiative aiming at resuming the stalled peace talks with Israel.


Israeli election committee bans far-right campaign due to racism
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
December 12, 2012 - 1:00am


JERUSALEM, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of the Israeli Central Elections Committee Judge Elyakim Rubinstein has banned an ad campaign run by a far-right wing party over charges of racist and discriminatory against Arabs. "The campaign was meant to degrade a single group in the State of Israel, the Arab population," Rubinstein explained Wednesday night.


Gaza perfume sales soar with rocket name
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Nidal al-Mughrabi - December 12, 2012 - 1:00am


GAZA, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Sales of a citrus-scented perfume marketed in Gaza have soared since it was named in honour of the rockets that Palestinians shot at Israel during a war last month, the manufacturer said. "M-75" perfume, which comes in men's and women's fragrances, is named for the missiles Hamas Islamist militants shot at Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in an eight-day conflict that killed more than 170 Palestinians and six Israelis, ending with an Egyptian-brokered truce.


Israeli troops kill Palestinian youth in West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
December 12, 2012 - 1:00am


HEBRON, West Bank, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian teenager on Wednesday in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron after the youth threatened them with what appeared to be a pistol, but which may not have been a real weapon, a police spokesman said. Violence between Israelis and Palestinians in the territory captured by Israel in a 1967 war has been on the rise in past weeks after a long period of calm. Two other Palestinians have been killed there in clashes with Israelis in the past month.


Israeli troops clash with Palestinian protesters
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Nasser Shiyoukhi - December 13, 2012 - 1:00am


HEBRON, West Bank —Thousands of Palestinians marched through the streets of Hebron on Thursday, chanting anti-Israel slogans and waving green Hamas flags during a funeral procession for a teenager killed by Israeli troops in this volatile West Bank city. Dozens of youths clashed with Israeli soldiers throughout the day, throwing stones and bottles while troops responded with volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets. No serious injuries were reported.


Israeli Minister Vents Anger at Europe
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Isabel Kershner - December 12, 2012 - 1:00am


JERUSALEM — Israel’s blunt-talking foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, gave vent on Wednesday to the government’s anger over recent diplomatic gains by the Palestinians paired with international rebukes for Israel, comparing Israel’s situation to that of Czechoslovakia in 1938 before the Nazi invasion.


December 12th

NEWS: Israeli occupation forces raid three Palestinian NGOs in the West Bank. Gaza tunnel smuggling is recovering from the recent conflict. FM Lieberman strongly attacks European criticism of Israel's settlement expansion plans. Extremists target a Jerusalem monastery and Palestinian cars in "price tag" attacks. Jordan says it plans to hold Israeli-Palestinian talks in February. Israel says it plans to withhold Palestinian revenues until at least March. In yet another reversal, a Hamas official insists Mishaal will not run for reelection as Politburo chief. The US plans to give Israel thousands of "bunker buster" bombs. Jordan's Prince Hassan is accused of "normalization" with Israel. The incoming Congress will be without several key members who were both supporters of Israel and advocates of peace. Pres. Abbas is visiting Turkey. Palestinians say they may consider international legal action if Israel persists with settlement expansion plans. Israeli occupation forces are preparing for an anticipated upsurge of violence in the West Bank. COMMENTARY: Harriet Sherwood says, despite Hamas' rhetoric and political gains, there is little to celebrate for the long-suffering people of Gaza. Natasha Mozgovaya says Jewish-American groups are divided on defending Israel's settlement plans. Ha'aretz says too many Israeli election laws invalidate Arab parties and candidates. Sefi Rachlevsky says the "messianic racist revolution that swallowed up Israeli Orthodoxy has now swallowed Likud." Amira Hass says Europe has a final opportunity to impact the course of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Yitzhak Benhorin says Israel's policies are alienating increasing numbers of Jewish Americans. Elias Harfoush says Mishaal's Gaza speech should be regarded as popular pandering, and Hamas needs a real strategy to move forward. Raphael Ahren says Palestinians will play a huge role in determining whether or not they develop an independent state.

NEWS: Israeli occupation forces raid three Palestinian NGOs in the West Bank. Gaza tunnel smuggling is recovering from the recent conflict. FM Lieberman strongly attacks European criticism of Israel's settlement expansion plans. Extremists target a Jerusalem monastery and Palestinian cars in "price tag" attacks. Jordan says it plans to hold Israeli-Palestinian talks in February. Israel says it plans to withhold Palestinian revenues until at least March. In yet another reversal, a Hamas official insists Mishaal will not run for reelection as Politburo chief. The US plans to give Israel thousands of "bunker buster" bombs. Jordan's Prince Hassan is accused of "normalization" with Israel. The incoming Congress will be without several key members who were both supporters of Israel and advocates of peace. Pres. Abbas is visiting Turkey. Palestinians say they may consider international legal action if Israel persists with settlement expansion plans. Israeli occupation forces are preparing for an anticipated upsurge of violence in the West Bank. COMMENTARY: Harriet Sherwood says, despite Hamas' rhetoric and political gains, there is little to celebrate for the long-suffering people of Gaza. Natasha Mozgovaya says Jewish-American groups are divided on defending Israel's settlement plans. Ha'aretz says too many Israeli election laws invalidate Arab parties and candidates. Sefi Rachlevsky says the "messianic racist revolution that swallowed up Israeli Orthodoxy has now swallowed Likud." Amira Hass says Europe has a final opportunity to impact the course of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Yitzhak Benhorin says Israel's policies are alienating increasing numbers of Jewish Americans. Elias Harfoush says Mishaal's Gaza speech should be regarded as popular pandering, and Hamas needs a real strategy to move forward. Raphael Ahren says Palestinians will play a huge role in determining whether or not they develop an independent state.

American Task Force on Palestine - 1634 Eye St. NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20006 - Telephone: 202-262-0017