January 3rd

Will Abbas hand over the key to the Israelis? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed - (Opinion) January 3, 2013 - 1:00am This is how Mahmoud Abbas, commonly known as Abu Mazen, threatened Israelis, when he said that he would dismantle the Palestinian Authority (PA) and “give the keys to the Muqata’a” — his government complex in Ramallah — to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, effectively dumping responsibility for the Palestinians on the Israeli leader. » Read more

Season of Palestinian threats ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - (Opinion) January 3, 2013 - 1:00am   The Palestinian threat season is in full swing, although what sounds like a threat to Israeli ears is a promise to anyone who has had his fill of the occupation: to turn weakness into an advantage in the asymmetric balance of power. It's a promise of something that will shake up and disrupt the violent complacency with which Israel continues to dominate the Palestinians. » Read more

The settlers' aim: Occupy Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Ari Shavit - (Opinion) January 3, 2013 - 1:00am   The old occupation was the occupation of Palestine. It started with the military occupation of the West Bank and continued with the settlement occupation of the West Bank, and has reached the point where some 360,000 Israelis live today in the West Bank. At the same time that the smaller occupation of the Gaza Strip failed, the large occupation of the West Bank has done quite well. » Read more

Netanyahu aide Ron Dermer brings American sensibilities to Israeli politics ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ben Sales - January 2, 2013 - 1:00am   Like many Israeli politicians, Ron Dermer is an unapologetic defender of Israel’s actions, even if it might mean being undiplomatic. » Read more

Likud members call for Israeli annexation of West Bank territories ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Harriet Sherwood - January 3, 2013 - 1:00am Prominent members of Israel's ruling Likud party have proposed the annexation o » Read more

Palestinian owners barred from Jordan Valley land, while Israeli farmers profit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chaim Levinson - January 3, 2013 - 1:00am   Settlers in the Jordan Valley are farming more than 5,000 dunams (1,250 acres) of private Palestinian land located between the border fence and the actual border with Jordan. They received the land from the World Zionist Organization in the 1980s. » Read more

PA cancels electricity debts for every West Bank resident ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 2, 2013 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority announced on Wednesday that it is cancelling outstanding electricity debts for each West Bank resident, on the heels of a deal that aims to help assuage the electricity companies' own arrears. » Read more

Abbas to visit Egypt on Jan. 11 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua January 2, 2013 - 1:00am   Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is set to visit Egypt on Jan. 11 to discuss Palestinian reconciliation issues, Egyptian official MENA news agency reported Wednesday quoting a Palestinian source. » Read more

Israel completes bulk of Egypt border fence ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Jeffrey Heller - January 2, 2013 - 1:00am   Israel completed the main segment of a razor-wire fence along its border with Egypt on Wednesday, a barrier against illegal migrants and Islamist militants hiding out in the lawless Sinai region. » Read more

Israel orders Bedouins to leave West Bank area ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Mohammed Ballas - January 3, 2013 - 1:00am   The Israeli military on Wednesday ordered dozens of Palestinian Bedouins to leave their communities so it could conduct military exercises in a remote area of the West Bank. » Read more