November 11th

Economy isn't the only thing Israelis should protest ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yoel Marcus - (Opinion) November 11, 2011 - 1:00am After a long period of silence, apart from when he whispered into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ear while covering his mouth with his hand, Defense Minister Ehud Barak has revealed the real danger threatening Israel's security: the media, of course. The media are conducting a demagogic scare campaign regarding our approach to the Iranian nuclear threat. » Read more

Palestinians' Abbas needs token UN win to save face ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Tom Perry - (Analysis) November 10, 2011 - 1:00am RAMALLAH, West Bank, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Facing failure in his bid to win full United Nations membership for Palestine, President Mahmoud Abbas may be forced to seek a lesser upgrade of his nation's status in the world body to protect his credibility from attack by Hamas. Even going for "observer state" rank at the U.N. will likely expose the Palestinian Authority to more pressure from the United States and Israel, which have imposed financial sanctions in a bid to curb the Abbas administration's diplomatic campaign. » Read more

Bedouin oppose Israeli plans to relocate communities ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News by Yolande Knell - November 11, 2011 - 1:00am Bedouin in the occupied West Bank and in Israel's Negev desert say they fear for their future as new reports circulate that the Israeli authorities plan to relocate them. International aid and Bedouin groups say tens of thousands of people could ultimately be affected. Bedouin to the east of Jerusalem expect attempts will soon be made to move them against their will. They live in an area that is controlled by Israel's Civil Administration, part of the Defence Ministry that governs the West Bank. » Read more

Where Pilgrims Once Trod, Sewage Flows ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Arieh O'Sullivan - November 9, 2011 - 1:00am Mohammed Nakhal is normally a calm man, but he’s seething now. The stench of raw sewage is overpowering. It is rushing by, down the biblical Kidron Valley through the Judean Desert toward the Dead Sea where even you know what floats. » Read more

PA warns violence could follow stymied UN bid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh, Tovah Lazaroff - November 11, 2011 - 1:00am A Palestinian Authority official warned Thursday that the region could be headed toward “violence and anarchy” because of the failure of the Palestinian statehood bid. PA officials in Ramallah refused to say what they were planning to do now that the bid at the UN Security Council seems to have failed. A UN Security Council subcommittee is expected to report Friday that the PA does not have the nine votes it needs to assure the council’s approval of its request for full UN membership. » Read more

Planned West Bank demolitions send ripples through Netanyahu's coalition ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yossi Verter - November 11, 2011 - 1:00am The 18th Knesset is back to work. » Read more

Hamas-Fatah meeting to bring no surprises: Fatah official ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua November 10, 2011 - 1:00am RAMALLAH, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Upcoming meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the leader of rival Hamas movement, Khaled Mashaal, will bring "no surprises," a Palestinian official said Thursday. At the meeting initially set to be held in Egypt's capital of Cairo at the end of this month, the two rivals will discuss the future of the Palestinian National Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization in light of the setback in the peace process, said Azzam al-Ahmad, a senior member of Abbas' Fatah party. » Read more

Ireland calls on Israel to free activists ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press November 10, 2011 - 1:00am JERUSALEM — Ireland is urging Israel to quickly release international activists who were captured while attempting to breach Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli navy intercepted two boats bound for Gaza on Friday. Israel has maintained its naval blockade since Hamas militants took control of the territory in 2007. Of the 27 people on board, 19 remained in Israeli custody Thursday. Among them are an Irish member of the European Parliament and several other Irish citizens. » Read more

UNESCO suspends projects after US funding cut ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) November 11, 2011 - 1:00am PARIS (AFP) -- United Nations cultural agency UNESCO has been forced to suspend all its spending programs until the end of the year after the United States withdrew its funding, its director general said Thursday. In an address to UNESCO diplomats, Irina Bokova said the agency faces a $65 million funding shortfall and would have to halt all of its activities, following a row with Washington over Palestinian membership. » Read more

Family: Platelet disorder killed Arafat ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 11, 2011 - 1:00am RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- A nephew of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat says the family will soon release a French medical report revealing Arafat's cause of death. Naser al-Qudwa says the document is being translated from French before it is released. Al-Qudwa says the report will answer "many questions," as it is the Palestinian people's right to get a clear answer about how Arafat died. The document has not previously been seen in Arabic. » Read more