January 3rd, 2013

The heart of the conflict ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by A.B. Yehoshua - (Opinion) January 1, 2013 - 1:00am With elections just around the corner, now is a good time to define the heart of the conflict between the "hawks" and "doves" in Israel. The heart of the conflict today is not so much about the peace process. » Read more

Not Baron Netanyahu's clerks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Shimon Shiffer - (Opinion) January 3, 2013 - 1:00am The speech delivered by Israel's UN Ambassador Ron Prosor ahead of the recognition of the Palestinian Authority as a non-member observer state a month ago was impressive and echoed the sentiments of many Israelis. Netanyahu called Prosor and praised him with warm words. » Read more

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