December 17th

International criminal court is a lever for Palestinians on Israeli settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Chris McGreal - (Opinion) December 15, 2012 - 1:00am   » Read more

If you vote Bibi, you vote Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Aner Shalev - (Opinion) December 16, 2012 - 1:00am   Benjamin Netanyahu needs Hamas. He needs Hamas desperately. If there were no Hamas, Netanyahu would have to invent it. He desperately needs a strong Hamas in order to avoid a peace process, and he is doing everything he can to strengthen Hamas. Even his military actions, which appear to hurt Hamas, actually serve its long-term interests. » Read more

A Virtual State Called Palestine ATFP World Press Roundup Article from by Sari Nusselbeh - (Interview) December 17, 2012 - 1:00am   » Read more

'Useless, useless, useless': the Palestinian verdict on Tony Blair ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Matthew Kalman - December 16, 2012 - 1:00am   Palestinian officials say Tony Blair shouldn't take it personally, but he should pack up his desk at the Office of the Quartet Representative in Jerusalem and go home. They say his job, and the body he represents, are "useless, useless, useless". » Read more

West Bank welcomes Hamas back with excitement - and apprehension ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Joshua Mitnick - December 14, 2012 - 1:00am   » Read more

Witnesses: Palestinian shot by forces near Gaza border ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency December 16, 2012 - 1:00am A Palestinian man was shot in the chest by Israeli forces near the Gaza border on Sunday, witnesses said. An Israeli army spokeswoman said she was not aware of the incident, which took place near al-Qarara town in south Gaza. Locals told Ma'an a man in his 20s suffered a bullet wound after Israeli forces opened fire near the al-Sureij gate on the border. Israeli troops have fired several times across the border since a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas went into effect in November. » Read more

Abbas sends condolences to Obama over school shooting ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency December 15, 2012 - 1:00am President Mahmoud Abbas wrote to US President Barack Obama on Saturday to offer his condolences after a shooting in an American elementary school killed 26 people. Twenty children were killed by a heavily armed gunman who opened fire at a school in Newtown, Connecticut, on Friday. He killed at least 26 people there before turning his gun on himself. Authorities found 18 children and seven adults, including the gunman, dead at the school, and two children were pronounced dead later after being taken to a hospital. » Read more

Qatar's emir to visit West Bank: source ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua December 16, 2012 - 1:00am   Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani will visit the West Bank city of Ramallah and meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas this month, a Palestinian source said Sunday. The emir recently informed Abbas about his intention to visit the West Bank and arrangements for this visit are underway, the source told Xinhua. » Read more

Israel allows Gaza produce export ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua December 16, 2012 - 1:00am   Israel on Sunday allowed the export of seven trucks of agricultural products from the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian official said. Strawberries, herbs and cherry tomatoes made the second shipment that Israel allowed after the ceasefire of an eight-day battle with Hamas last month. » Read more

Palestinian movie "Infiltrators" wins two awards at 9th Dubai film festival ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua December 17, 2012 - 1:00am   The 7-day Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) ended here Sunday with a sparkling gala evening reception where a total of 36 awards were given honoring movies from East and West, with 2 films cashing in double-prizes. » Read more