November 20th, 2012

Rampant butchery ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star (Editorial) November 19, 2012 - 1:00am   What is happening in Gaza right now is an exact deja vu of four years ago, albeit with stronger Palestinian rockets. Then, as now, the conflict was completely unbalanced, the rapidly growing civilian Palestinian death count evidence of that, should proof be needed. » Read more

Mursi and Hamas in a predicament ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Tariq al-Homayed - (Opinion) November 18, 2012 - 1:00am   For three days of Israeli aggression on Gaza, Hamas flatly rejected calls for mediation and said that those who want to go down that route should go to Egypt. But yesterday the deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, Mousa Abu Marzouk, hinted at the possibility of accepting mediation with Israel, and not only this, he also stressed the need to go to the United Nations and complete President Abbas’ project, even though Abbas has not been enthusiastic about Hamas in the past. » Read more

Hamas pragmatists lose out in leadership struggle ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Hugh Naylor - (Opinion) November 18, 2012 - 1:00am   No one doubted that Hamas would hit back when its military commander was blown up by an Israeli air strike. » Read more

Old rivalries, new allies as Hamas fights to save face ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Dalia Hatuqa - (Opinion) November 19, 2012 - 1:00am   On July 22, 2002, shortly after midnight, an Israeli F-16 warplane dropped a one-tonne bomb on a house in a crowded neighbourhood in Gaza City, killing 13 civilians, including women and children. The target: Salah Shehadeh, a high-ranking Hamas leader, who was one of the founders of the faction's military arm, the Izzedine Al Qassam Brigades. » Read more

A de-escalation in Gaza requires US leadership ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National (Editorial) November 18, 2012 - 1:00am   » Read more

Who Is Palestinians' Partner for Peace? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Leonard Fein - (Opinion) November 17, 2012 - 1:00am   » Read more

November 19th

We in the Gaza Strip will not die in silence ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Musa Abumarzuq - (Opinion) November 18, 2012 - 1:00am The latest Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip has prompted several European countries and the US to reaffirm their position of unwavering support for the aggressor. William Hague, Britain's foreign secretary, Cathy Ashton, the EU high representative for foreign affairs, and Barack Obama, have all claimed that Hamas's rockets were responsible for the crisis and that it is the right of Israel to defend its citizens. Had they checked the facts, they would have realised Israel started the attacks. » Read more

Abu Mazen wants a state, not the right of return ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Shaul Arieli - (Opinion) November 18, 2012 - 1:00am On November 29, the Palestinian Authority will ask the United Nations General Assembly to recognize Palestine as a non-member state. That is on the assumption that pressure on the PA to delay until after the election in Israel does not bear fruit. Many of those close to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas consider this step to be the last bullet in his revolver and the final chance of renewing the negotiations with Israel Apparently that explains the moderate text it is expected to contain. » Read more

Operation Pillar of Defense is Ehud Barak's test ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Aluf Benn - (Opinion) November 18, 2012 - 1:00am Operation Pillar of Defense is Defense Minister Ehud Barak's war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left the public stage, the microphone and the tours in the field to him. Together, of course, with the political gamble. » Read more

Ground invasion? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post (Editorial) November 18, 2012 - 1:00am As Israel enters the sixth day of Operation Pillar of Defense, Hamas and other terrorist organizations operating in the Gaza Strip continue their assaults on civilian centers. » Read more