The Palestinian Choice—And Ours
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
by Hussein Ibish - (Opinion) November 26, 2012 - 1:00am

Recent developments, especially last week's conflict with Israel, have transformed the Palestinian political landscape in favor of Hamas in Gaza and at the expense of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. Palestinians are facing a momentous choice: the path of diplomacy and institution-building championed by the PA, or that of confrontation and armed struggle championed by Hamas.

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To Bolster Palestinian Moderates, Let Abbas Win at the UN
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bloomberg
(Editorial) November 26, 2012 - 1:00am

A few weeks ago, the U.S. and Israel were painting Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the Palestinian faction Fatah, as an extremist for vowing to ask the United Nations on Nov. 29 to grant Palestine status as a nonmember observer state. In light of the violence just unleashed on Israel by Fatah’s rival, Hamas, it now seems a relatively mild maneuver. Growing popular support for Hamas’s belligerence makes Abbas an increasingly rare moderate, whose legitimacy needs to be bolstered by the international community.

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On My Mind: Abbas’s choice
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Kenneth Bandler - (Opinion) November 26, 2012 - 1:00am

Barring a sudden change of mind, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will ask the UN General Assembly on Thursday to recognize Palestine as a non-member observer state of the world body. The long anticipated PA scheme, bypassing direct talks with Israel, will do little to advance the prospects for achieving a permanent peace accord, or an actual independent Palestinian state.

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Gaza Is Not Egypt
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor
by Akiva Eldar - (Opinion) November 26, 2012 - 1:00am

The last round of violence between Israel and Hamas, which ended with yet another cease-fire, took place on a backdrop of stormy internal discussions in Israel regarding a permanent solution to the conflict with the Palestinian side. Israeli and Palestinian politicians and thinkers who supported the two-state solution on the basis of the 1967 borders have concluded that the Oslo process has reached the end of its usefulness and that other solutions must be found.

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Iran and Hamas Winners In Gaza Conflict
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor
by Seyed Hossein Mousavian - (Opinion) November 26, 2012 - 1:00am

The eight-day conflict between Hamas and Israel has ended in a cease-fire. Although shorter than Operation Cast Lead in 2008-09, the latest Israeli Operation Pillar of Defense was nevertheless devastating. Israeli naval and air bombardments killed 165 and wounded 1,200 Palestinians, while damage to Gaza’s infrastructure amounted to $1.2 billion. The rockets fired from Gaza resulted in five Israeli deaths and scores wounded.

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Palestinians Submit Resolution on U.N. Status
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Wall Street Journal
by Joe Lauria - (Opinion) November 26, 2012 - 1:00am



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Support Palestinian Statehood
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Yossi Beilin - (Opinion) November 25, 2012 - 1:00am

THE cease-fire that ended the latest round of violence between Israel and the Palestinians has enhanced the popularity of the militant group Hamas. This extremist organization has become the only interlocutor for the Arab world, for the West and, indirectly, for Israel. But Hamas refuses to recognize Israel’s existence or to negotiate with Israelis. Meanwhile, the pragmatic Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party, is rapidly losing legitimacy and Israel’s recent strikes on Gaza will only weaken it further.

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As Bombs Fell in Gaza, a Rich Cactus Lover Could Cultivate Only Patience
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Jodi Rudoren - November 25, 2012 - 1:00am

GAZA — Jawdat N. Khoudary is one of Gaza’s wealthiest men, and one of its boldest dreamers.

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On This, 2 Sides Agree: Fighting Hardened Positions
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Isabel Kershner, Jodi Rudoren - November 24, 2012 - 1:00am

GAZA — The eight days of fighting between Hamas and Israel left more than 160 Palestinians and six Israelis dead, but there may be another casualty from the sudden burst of violence: whatever small chance there was for reviving a long-moribund peace process.

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After the ceasefire
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by David Rohde - (Opinion) November 23, 2012 - 1:00am

For now, the fighting has stopped in Israel and Gaza. But let's be honest, this is the latest round in a long and bitter struggle. In the future, more bloodshed is likely. After eight days of clashes, Hamas' claim that it is the true leader of the Palestinian resistance has gained strength. Long-range rocket attacks on Tel Aviv and Jerusalem have made Israelis increasingly wary of a two-state solution.

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