Raising Israel's Altalena ship 'a lesson for the future' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC World News by Matthew Bell - November 27, 2012 - 1:00am A project to raise a sunken ship in Israel, the Altalena, is stirring up painful memories of a violent confrontation between the army of the newborn state and the Irgun Jewish paramilitary group, reports PRI The World's Matthew Bell. » Read more

Senior diplomatic source: Qatar is a bitter enemy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon - November 28, 2012 - 1:00am Reflecting intense anger and frustration at Qatar for its diplomatic and financial support of Hamas, a senior diplomatic source on Wednesday characterized the Persian Gulf state as a “bitter enemy of Israel.” » Read more

Official: Cairo will invite factions for reconciliation talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 24, 2012 - 1:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Egypt will invite Palestinian factions to Cairo to resume reconciliation talks after Palestine's bid for a UN status upgrade this week, a political official said Saturday. Khalil Assaf, who heads the coalition of independents in the West Bank and also chairs the public freedoms committee established under the reconciliation deal, said he expects Egypt's invitation in the coming days. » Read more

PA says will take Israel to ICC if tests prove Arafat assassinated ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 28, 2012 - 1:00am RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian Authority will start legal proceedings against Israel at the International Criminal Court if forensic tests prove that President Yasser Arafat was murdered, chief investigator Tawfiq Tirawi said Tuesday. » Read more

In Gaza, attempted warning failed to protect civilians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Scott Wilson - November 27, 2012 - 1:00am In GAZA CITY — Afew minutes before 3 a.m. on Nov. 19, Khalid Azzam’s cellphone rang. » Read more

Gazans say "Thank you Iran" after Israel conflagration ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Nidal al-Mughrabi - November 27, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Gazans offered very public thanks to Iran on Tuesday for helping them in this month's fight against Israel, when Iranian-made missiles were fired out of the Palestinian enclave towards Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. » Read more

Poll shows Israel's Netanyahu romping in election ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press November 28, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM — A new poll shows Israeli prime minister's hardline Likud Party handily winning the Jan. 22 elections despite the entry of a dovish new party into the race. » Read more

Turkey's Erdogan considers Gaza visit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press November 28, 2012 - 1:00am ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey's prime minister says he may visit the Gaza Strip alongside Hamas' supreme leader, Khaled Mashaal. » Read more

Israel won't punish Palestinians for UN statehood bid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - November 28, 2012 - 1:00am Avigdor Lieberman was asked on Tuesday during a closed meeting what will happen tomorrow night. The questioner hoped to hear the foreign minster's assessment of the vote due to be held in the UN General Assembly on recognizing Palestine as a non-member observer state, but Lieberman replied with typical cynicism: "It will be a good soccer game." » Read more

Key players and positions on Palestinian statehood ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Lori Hinnant - November 28, 2012 - 1:00am The vote is largely symbolic, the outcome nearly assured: The Palestinians and Israelis are closely watching the evolving positions of a few key countries in Thursday’s U.N. General Assembly resolution to raise the Palestinians’ status from a U.N. observer to a nonmember observer state. The United States and Israel are strongly opposed, saying they fear it will only slow progress toward a peace deal. » Read more