Israel's Rightward Shift Sparks Worries ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Nathan Guttman - December 19, 2012 - 1:00am   Election fever in Israel has Americans playing catch-up in an attempt to grasp the country’s political shifts and realignments.   » Read more

IDF to allow Gazans to visit W. Bank for Christmas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Yaakov Lappin - December 18, 2012 - 1:00am The IDF is set to issue permits to some 500 Palestinian Christians residing in Gaza allowing them to travel to the West Bank, specifically Bethlehem, for Christmas. » Read more

Israel approves Qatar emir's visit to West Bank, in nod to Abbas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amos Harel - December 19, 2012 - 1:00am   The emir of Qatar will visit the West Bank at the end of the month, on an official trip coordinated between the Palestinian Authority and Israel. Israel approved the visit as Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani expected to offer financial aid to alleviate the Palestinian Authority's financial crisis. » Read more

Congress petition to close PLO's US office 'won't pay off' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency December 14, 2012 - 1:00am The Palestinian ambassador to Washington DC said Thursday that a congressional petition to shut down their delegation's office could harm American interests in the Middle East. » Read more

West Bank Palestinians strike as Israeli sanctions bite ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters December 19, 2012 - 1:00am Palestinian government employees in the West Bank began a two-day general strike on Wednesday to protest against a delay in the payment of their wages because of Israeli economic sanctions. » Read more

Palestinians call for Arab summit to save cash-strapped PNA ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua December 18, 2012 - 1:00am   The Palestinian government on Tuesday called for an urgent Arab summit to secure its cash supplies after Israel withheld Palestinian tax revenues. In a statement following its weekly meeting, the government said Israel works on undermining the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). » Read more

Israel charges Tel Aviv bus bomb suspect ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters December 19, 2012 - 1:00am   Israel charged an Israeli Arab citizen on Wednesday over a bomb explosion on a Tel Aviv bus during Israel's November military offensive in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, the Justice Ministry said. » Read more

Israeli Arabs unenthusiastic about Jan. 22 vote ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Lauren E. Bohn - December 19, 2012 - 1:00am     » Read more

Syria's Palestinians sleep rough in wintry Damascus ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters December 19, 2012 - 1:00am   The amber light of the street lamp illuminates the boy, wrapped in a thin blanket, his legs exposed to the December cold as he sleeps by a kerbside in a wealthy district of Damascus. » Read more

Palestinian president offers aid to Syria refugees ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press December 19, 2012 - 1:00am   The Palestinian president says he is ready to take in Palestinian refugees fleeing Syria's civil war. » Read more