November 19th

Why is Israel tweeting airstrikes? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Max Fisher - (Opinion) November 16, 2012 - 1:00am Governments have always sought to manage public perception in wartime, but the Israel Defense Forces’ steady stream of updates on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook since it began airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Wednesday seems different. » Read more

The Israel-Palestine Conflict Won't Go Away ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Yossi Alpher - (Opinion) November 16, 2012 - 1:00am Tel Aviv THE Israel-Hamas clash in and around the Gaza Strip offers an important reminder to the second Obama administration: You can ignore the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for only so long. » Read more

ATFP Calls for Immediate Cease-Fire Between Israel and Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from American Task Force on Palestine by Ghaith Al-Omari - (Opinion) November 18, 2012 - 1:00am Nov. 18, Washington DC -- The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) today urged the US government and all concerned parties to spare no effort in securing a cease-fire between Israeli forces and militant groups in Gaza. Palestinian sources say at least 72 Palestinians, many of them civilians and some children, have been killed in Israeli attacks since the latest round of violence began following Israel's assassination of Hamas' military commander Ahmed al-Jabari last Wednesday. » Read more

West Bank mosque damaged by fire; locals blame settlers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters November 19, 2012 - 1:00am RAMALLAH, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Vandals set fire to the entrance of a West Bank mosque on Monday, damaging the door, in an attack that villagers blamed on Jewish settlers. » Read more

Overwhelmed Palestinian doctors run out of life-saving medicines ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Jeremy Lawrence - November 18, 2012 - 1:00am Health authorities in Gaza warned last night of a critical shortage of life-saving drugs and medical supplies as casualties threatened to overwhelm the main Al Shifa hospital in the city. » Read more

Obama: Preferable to avoid Gaza ground operation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters November 18, 2012 - 1:00am President Barack Obama insisted on Sunday that Israel had a right to defend itself but said it would be "preferable" to avoid an Israeli ground offensive in Gaza. He said persuading Israel not to attack would depend on the success of efforts by Middle East leaders to bring a halt to Hamas rocket fire into Israel. » Read more

Obama Defends Israel's Right to Defend Itself ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Statesman.com November 19, 2012 - 1:00am President Barack Obama on Sunday defended Israel's airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, but he warned that escalating the offensive with Israeli ground troops could deepen the death toll and undermine any hope of a peace process with the Palestini...

Gaza children struggle to cope with life under fire ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Noah Browning - November 18, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Barefoot boys chase each other in circles around the street, pointing pretend guns made out of rubber pipes up at the Gaza sky, which is thick with Israeli F-16s and surveillance drones. » Read more

Southern Israel residents scared but determined ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Aron Heller - November 18, 2012 - 1:00am BEERSHEBA, Israel — After days of incessant rocket fire, the largest city in southern Israel has been turned into a ghost town. Schools are closed, stores are shuttered and normally bustling streets are empty. » Read more

Abbas: Israel trying to undermine Palestinian UN move ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 17, 2012 - 1:00am RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday accused Israel of launching an deadly assault on the Gaza Strip to undermine his efforts to secure a diplomatic upgrade at the United Nations. Israel started an air offensive on Wednesday with the assassination of a Hamas commander. Medics say 28 Palestinians have been killed, and three Israelis died from rocket fire from Gaza. » Read more