November 28th

Israel’s motto on Palestinian UN bid: Speak loudly, but carry a small stick ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chemi Shalev - (Analysis) November 28, 2012 - 1:00am With France supporting, Britain leaning, and even bosom buddy Australia abstaining, the Palestinian request to be recognized as a “non-member observer state” at the United Nations appears to be a done deal and is set to be approved by an overwhelming majority. » Read more

Hamas is no winner in the Gaza ceasefire with Israel (+video) ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Christian Science Monitor by Johnathan Adelman - November 27, 2012 - 1:00am Denver The Hamas leadership has claimed total victory in the truce that started the day before Thanksgiving after eight days of brutal warfare with Israel. And on the surface, this seems to make sense. » Read more

Raising Israel's Altalena ship 'a lesson for the future' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC World News by Matthew Bell - November 27, 2012 - 1:00am A project to raise a sunken ship in Israel, the Altalena, is stirring up painful memories of a violent confrontation between the army of the newborn state and the Irgun Jewish paramilitary group, reports PRI The World's Matthew Bell. » Read more

Senior diplomatic source: Qatar is a bitter enemy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon - November 28, 2012 - 1:00am Reflecting intense anger and frustration at Qatar for its diplomatic and financial support of Hamas, a senior diplomatic source on Wednesday characterized the Persian Gulf state as a “bitter enemy of Israel.” » Read more

Official: Cairo will invite factions for reconciliation talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 24, 2012 - 1:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Egypt will invite Palestinian factions to Cairo to resume reconciliation talks after Palestine's bid for a UN status upgrade this week, a political official said Saturday. Khalil Assaf, who heads the coalition of independents in the West Bank and also chairs the public freedoms committee established under the reconciliation deal, said he expects Egypt's invitation in the coming days. » Read more

PA says will take Israel to ICC if tests prove Arafat assassinated ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 28, 2012 - 1:00am RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian Authority will start legal proceedings against Israel at the International Criminal Court if forensic tests prove that President Yasser Arafat was murdered, chief investigator Tawfiq Tirawi said Tuesday. » Read more

In Gaza, attempted warning failed to protect civilians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Scott Wilson - November 27, 2012 - 1:00am In GAZA CITY — Afew minutes before 3 a.m. on Nov. 19, Khalid Azzam’s cellphone rang. » Read more

Gazans say "Thank you Iran" after Israel conflagration ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Nidal al-Mughrabi - November 27, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Gazans offered very public thanks to Iran on Tuesday for helping them in this month's fight against Israel, when Iranian-made missiles were fired out of the Palestinian enclave towards Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. » Read more

Poll shows Israel's Netanyahu romping in election ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press November 28, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM — A new poll shows Israeli prime minister's hardline Likud Party handily winning the Jan. 22 elections despite the entry of a dovish new party into the race. » Read more

Turkey's Erdogan considers Gaza visit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press November 28, 2012 - 1:00am ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey's prime minister says he may visit the Gaza Strip alongside Hamas' supreme leader, Khaled Mashaal. » Read more