November 19th

We in the Gaza Strip will not die in silence ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Musa Abumarzuq - (Opinion) November 18, 2012 - 1:00am The latest Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip has prompted several European countries and the US to reaffirm their position of unwavering support for the aggressor. William Hague, Britain's foreign secretary, Cathy Ashton, the EU high representative for foreign affairs, and Barack Obama, have all claimed that Hamas's rockets were responsible for the crisis and that it is the right of Israel to defend its citizens. Had they checked the facts, they would have realised Israel started the attacks. » Read more

Abu Mazen wants a state, not the right of return ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Shaul Arieli - (Opinion) November 18, 2012 - 1:00am On November 29, the Palestinian Authority will ask the United Nations General Assembly to recognize Palestine as a non-member state. That is on the assumption that pressure on the PA to delay until after the election in Israel does not bear fruit. Many of those close to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas consider this step to be the last bullet in his revolver and the final chance of renewing the negotiations with Israel Apparently that explains the moderate text it is expected to contain. » Read more

Operation Pillar of Defense is Ehud Barak's test ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Aluf Benn - (Opinion) November 18, 2012 - 1:00am Operation Pillar of Defense is Defense Minister Ehud Barak's war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left the public stage, the microphone and the tours in the field to him. Together, of course, with the political gamble. » Read more

Ground invasion? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post (Editorial) November 18, 2012 - 1:00am As Israel enters the sixth day of Operation Pillar of Defense, Hamas and other terrorist organizations operating in the Gaza Strip continue their assaults on civilian centers. » Read more

Israeli leaders should think twice before launching a Gaza ground offensive ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amos Harel - (Opinion) November 19, 2012 - 1:00am While Cairo is still applying pressure on Hamas to agree to a quick cease-fire with Israel, and while in Israel an airlift of diplomats has been landing seeking to stop a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Force is continuing its intensive preparations for the ground phase of Operation Pillar of Defense. » Read more

Middle East peace takes a beating ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Los Angeles Times (Editorial) November 16, 2012 - 1:00am After months of relative quiet — broken, in this country, only by the pandering of the presidential candidates — the century-old Palestinian-Israeli conflict has burst back into the news. » Read more

Why is Israel tweeting airstrikes? Media Mention of Hussein Ibish In The Washington Post - November 19, 2012 - 1:00am Governments have always sought to manage public perception in wartime, but the Israel Defense Forces’ steady stream of updates on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook since it began airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Wednesday seems different. » Read more

Why is Israel tweeting airstrikes? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Max Fisher - (Opinion) November 16, 2012 - 1:00am Governments have always sought to manage public perception in wartime, but the Israel Defense Forces’ steady stream of updates on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook since it began airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Wednesday seems different. » Read more

The Israel-Palestine Conflict Won't Go Away ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Yossi Alpher - (Opinion) November 16, 2012 - 1:00am Tel Aviv THE Israel-Hamas clash in and around the Gaza Strip offers an important reminder to the second Obama administration: You can ignore the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for only so long. » Read more

ATFP Calls for Immediate Cease-Fire Between Israel and Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from American Task Force on Palestine by Ghaith Al-Omari - (Opinion) November 18, 2012 - 1:00am Nov. 18, Washington DC -- The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) today urged the US government and all concerned parties to spare no effort in securing a cease-fire between Israeli forces and militant groups in Gaza. Palestinian sources say at least 72 Palestinians, many of them civilians and some children, have been killed in Israeli attacks since the latest round of violence began following Israel's assassination of Hamas' military commander Ahmed al-Jabari last Wednesday. » Read more