December 20th

Hamas bars EU observers from border crossing with Egypt ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times of Israel by Elhanan Miller - December 19, 2012 - 1:00am   Hamas is preventing the return of European monitors to the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, despite an agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority requiring their presence at the border. » Read more

IDF to reduce time Palestinian minors may be held without seeing a judge ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - December 20, 2012 - 1:00am   The Israel Defense Forces will further reduce the amount of time Palestinian minors may be held before they are brought before a judge, the state informed the High Court of Justice this week. » Read more

Presidential aide: France, Britain proposing talks initiative ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency December 19, 2012 - 1:00am Britain and France are proposing a new initiative to resume negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis, an adviser to President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday. » Read more

Banks to lend PA $100 million ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency December 19, 2012 - 1:00am Palestinian banks will lend the Palestinian Authority $100 million to see it through a financial crisis caused by Israeli sanctions, the Palestine Monetary Authority chief said Wednesday. » Read more

Fighting subsides at Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus, some who fled trickle back ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press December 20, 2012 - 1:00am    Days of intense fighting in a Palestinian refugee camp subsided on Thursday and some of the more than 100,000 residents who fled the violence in the capital Damascus began to trickle back, activists and officials said. » Read more

Majority of Israelis support two-state solution: poll ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua December 20, 2012 - 1:00am   A new poll published on Tuesday revealed that 62 percent of Israelis support the two-state solution and believe it is the best option for the Israeli state, the Jerusalem Post reported. » Read more

Investigation shows militants behind Tel Aviv bus bombing planned to assassinate Israeli ministers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua December 20, 2012 - 1:00am   The perpetrators of a bombing attack on a Tel Aviv bus last month plotted to assassinate government ministers and other Israeli officials, according to new details of an investigation released Wednesday. » Read more

Israeli Arab MP who joined Gaza flotilla barred from re-election ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Allyn Fisher-Ilan - December 19, 2012 - 1:00am   Israel's electoral authority barred an Arab lawmaker from re-election on Wednesday, saying she had supported the nation's enemies by joining a protest ship that tried to break a naval blockade of Gaza. » Read more

Group: Israel broke law by targeting media in Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press December 20, 2012 - 1:00am     » Read more

Israeli settlements leave US odd man out at UN ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Michelle Nichols - December 20, 2012 - 1:00am In a rare move on Wednesday, all but one of the 15 members of the UN Security Council made statements at the United Nations opposing Israeli plans to expand Jewish settlements around Jerusalem after the United States repeatedly blocked attempts to take stronger action. » Read more