The time is now: Support Palestine’s UN bid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Nabeel Shaath - (Opinion) November 29, 2012 - 1:00am

Today, Palestine will ask the UN General Assembly to vote on a resolution to enhance its status to that of Observer State. This step will be a milestone in realigning international efforts to achieve peace in the region, within the framework of international law and the values embodied in the UN Charter. There should be no doubt: Supporting this initiative will create a new, positive, and effective momentum for a just path to peace in our region.  

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Supporting Palestine at the UN today is a vote for peace in the Middle East
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Hanan Ashrawi - (Opinion) November 29, 2012 - 1:00am

It might seem stating the obvious that Palestinians and Israelis find solutions only through negotiation, until you look at the record. It is a story in which one side makes proposals for nothing in return; one side makes agreements that the other side breaks; and one side keeps commitments that the other side ignores.

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What will Palestinians do after the U.N. vote?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
(Editorial) November 28, 2012 - 1:00am

THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY will almost certainly win a vote Thursday in the U.N. General Assembly granting observer status to a state of Palestine. But it will be a pale triumph for President Mahmoud Abbas and his West Bank-based Fatah movement.

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Ashrawi says PLO has submitted UN bid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
November 28, 2012 - 1:00am

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The PLO has submitted a final draft resolution to the UN General Assembly, PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi said Tuesday. Ashrawi told Ma'an the final resolution was submitted on Monday afternoon to the UN in New York, requesting an upgrade of Palestine's UN status to an "observer state." The UN General Assembly is expected to pass the resolution on Thursday.

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Palestine: theatricals at the UN
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
(Editorial) November 28, 2012 - 1:00am

A "crashing wave of applause" filled the hall in which the general assembly was meeting in Flushing Meadow Park, the temporary headquarters of the new United Nations, when the French representative voted for the resolution which partitioned Palestine. The French vote was taken as a signal that the resolution would prevail. "The chamber," wrote Alistair Cooke, our correspondent, "was crackling with currents of elation and despair."

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Palestinians: No rush to join int'l court after UN
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
November 28, 2012 - 1:00am

UNITED NATIONS - The Palestinians will not rush to sign up to the International Criminal Court if they win a UN status upgrade on Thursday, but warned that seeking action against Israel in the court would remain an option, said the Palestinian UN observer.

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Gaza factions to join rally supporting UN bid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
November 28, 2012 - 1:00am

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) – Representatives of all Palestinian factions on Tuesday held a meeting in Gaza City during which all factions agreed to organize a joint rally raising Palestinian flags only to show support to the Palestinian statehood bid. Member of the politburo of the Palestinian People’s Party Walid al-Awad told Ma’an that factions would submit a memo to the government in Gaza about the rally, planned for Thursday.

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Spain to recognize Palestinian state at UN
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
November 28, 2012 - 1:00am

MADRID — Spain's foreign minister says Spain will vote in favor of recognition of a Palestinian state at the U.N. General Assembly this week.

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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.

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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."

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