December 12th

Feiglin and his donkeys ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Sefi Rachlevsky - (Opinion) December 12, 2012 - 1:00am Where were you on January 22? That question will be asked long after this election, which may be the last one in Israel. As we sit at the edge of the volcano, small personal details are being covered as if they were the main issues. Perhaps repression is natural in the face of such a dramatic revolution. » Read more

Distortion of 'defensive democracy' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) December 12, 2012 - 1:00am It's a recurring pre-election ritual: The Central Elections Committee invalidates the candidacies of Arab parties and candidates, and the Supreme Court voids the disqualifications. Since 1965, not a single Arab party has been disqualified from running for the Knesset. » Read more

Making Israeli settlements 'hasbarable' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Natasha Mozgovaya - (Opinion) December 12, 2012 - 1:00am Last week, at the Friends of the IDF event in Los Angeles (yes yes, the same one that Stevie Wonder decided to bow out from), guests enjoyed the event, but some activists complained to reporters that it wasn't easy to get people out to it. Many were busy, and others just simply find excuses to skip any possible controversy. Some things are just not "hasbarable". » Read more

Gaza: 'My child was killed and nothing has changed' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Harriet Sherwood - (Opinion) December 11, 2012 - 1:00am The morning ritual goes like this: three-year-old Ali Misharawi wakes up and reaches for his father's mobile phone. He kisses and strokes the face of his baby brother, Omar, on its small screen. Then he starts asking questions. Why is Omar in paradise? Why did you put my brother into the ground? Why can't I play with him any more? » Read more

IDF Prepares for More West Bank Violence ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Amir Rappaport - December 11, 2012 - 1:00am The attack of the masses on a Nahal Brigade infantry patrol in Hebron ahead of last weekend is not just another warning sign of the possibility that Judea and Samaria will soon start to burn: It is another manifestation of the fact that years of almost total quiet are reaching their end. » Read more

Palestinians to consider ICC if Israel pursues settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Foreign Press December 11, 2012 - 1:00am ANKARA/OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday that Palestine could pursue Israel at the International Criminal Court (ICC) if it pushes ahead with plans to build thousands of new settler housing units in East Jerusalem. » Read more

Abbas visits Turkey to map out Israel strategy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Thomas Seibert - December 12, 2012 - 1:00am ISTANBUL // Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas's visit to Ankara yesterday highlighted Turkey's two-pronged Middle East policy that seeks to balance strong support for the Palestinian cause and unyielding criticism of Israel with a pragmatism that includes fresh talks with Tel Aviv. » Read more

New Congress will be missing some of its longtime pro-Israel pillars ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ron Kampeas - December 11, 2012 - 1:00am WASHINGTON (JTA) -- When the new Congress convenes in January, it will be missing several longtime pillars of support for Israel on Capitol Hill. » Read more

Jordan Prince Scorned For Participating In Jewish Event ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Adam Nicky - December 11, 2012 - 1:00am AMMAN: Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan found himself in hot water this week after his participation in a Jewish charity event in the UK last month was exposed in local media. » Read more

US to give Israel thousands of 'bunker-buster' bombs ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews December 12, 2012 - 1:00am The Pentagon has appealed to Congress in a bid to increase the United States' military aid to Israel by $647 million, Ynet learned Tuesday. » Read more