January 18th

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

Palestinians despair over likely Netanyahu win ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Karin Laub - January 18, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more

Israel's Netanyahu might look to centre after ballot ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Jeffrey Heller - January 18, 2013 - 1:00am    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks set to form a new governing coalition after next week's election, polls show, with the only question being whether he wants to soften its hardline contours. » Read more

Hawkish bloc leads in polls ahead of Israel vote ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press January 18, 2013 - 1:00am   » Read more