Israel Backs Away from Controversial Building Plan? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line January 18, 2013 - 1:00am   Senior Israeli Official Says Won’t Build Without New Permits   Israeli police tore down Palestinian protest tents in an area slated for Israeli building just outside Jerusalem after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Israeli government. Some 50 Palestinian demonstrators were removed from the area earlier this week.   » Read more

'We don't see a third intifada on the approach' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post January 18, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Fayyad says PA financial crisis improving ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 18, 2013 - 1:00am Palestinian Authority premier Salam Fayyad said Thursday that the financial crisis besieging his government was set to improve in the next month. » Read more

Airstrike on Damascus kills 12 Palestinian refugees ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 18, 2013 - 1:00am Twelve Palestinian refugees were killed and more than 20 were injured in an airstrike on southern Damascus on Thursday, according to local media. » Read more

Elections commission awaiting authorization for Gaza work ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 18, 2013 - 1:00am The head of the central elections commission said Friday the organization is ready to start work in the Gaza Strip as soon as it receives authorization from the government. » Read more

Palestinian rivals agree to unification steps ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Maher Abukhater - January 18, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Jewish-Arab party makes long-shot election bid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Diaa Hadid - January 18, 2013 - 1:00am   An Arab woman who's been toiling on the fringes of Israeli politics for nearly two decades has broken out of obscurity in this year's election with a non-conformist message that's resonating with protest voters. » Read more

Economy, not peace talks, to top agenda of next Israeli gov't ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Adam Gonn - January 18, 2013 - 1:00am   With Israel's parliamentary elections only five days away, the economy is expected to become the top issue that the next government will have to deal with, eclipsing the stalled negotiations with the Palestinians. » Read more

Israeli voters flock to 'brother' Naftali Bennett - but not all his policies ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Joshua Mitnick - January 18, 2013 - 1:00am   Every Israeli election season, there’s a politician with a provocative message who spurs his party to prominence and popularity. » Read more

Israel election: Netanyahu 'will not dismantle settlements' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News January 18, 2013 - 1:00am   Israel's prime minister has said no Jewish settlements in the West Bank will be removed during his next term in office if he wins elections on Tuesday. » Read more