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December 5, 2012

Middle East News: World Press Roundup

NEWS: Jewish congregations experience controversy in embracing the Palestinian UN upgrade. Israel says it's moving forward with controversial building plans in near occupied East Jerusalem. Pres. Abas says the plans cross a Palestinian and international red line. Palestinians would face many obstacles in trying to bring international criminal prosecution against Israeli officials. Palestinians say Israeli settlement construction is leading to the creation of a single, unequal state. PM Netanyahu says Israel is still committed to a two-state solution. Deputy FM Ayalon is dumped from his party's election list. The UK downplays the prospect of European economic sanctions against Israel. Palestinians say European states are considering ways of reviving peace negotiations. Israel's high court is hearing a case about a law that allows the targets of boycotts to sue boycotters. Chancellor Merkel is reportedly warning Netanyahu that Israel faces further isolation without a meaningful peace process in place. Hamas says it wants to reopen the airport in southern Gaza. Efforts to include retaliatory measures against the Palestinians for their UN upgrade fail in the US Senate. COMMENTARY: Tom Friedman says missile defense systems and walls are not enough to protect Israel. Carlo Strenger says Netanyahu is leading Israel into an abyss.Yossi Alpher says the UN may have set the stage for a rebirth of the peace process. The Jerusalem Post argues that it's completely reasonable for Israel to be excluded from the NPT and nuclear nonproliferation regimes. Jill Jacobs says the silence of Jewish-American groups over Israel's planned expansion of the E1 settlement block is shocking. The Forward condemns the plan. Osama Al Sharif says the UN vote upgrading Palestine has transformed the legal and diplomatic context of the issue. Ian Buruma says history shows the kind of rule Israel is conducting in the occupied Palestinian territories is very fragile. Khaled al-Houroub says Abbas should go to Gaza. Danny Rubinstein says Israeli-Palestinian economic ties have declined and are unlikely to improve under the current circumstances. Saree Makdisi says that if Israel will not agree to two-state solution, it must accept a single, equitable state.


[5]



Cheering U.N. Palestine Vote, Synagogue Tests Its Members

Article Author(s): 
Joseph Berger
Article Author(s): 
Sharon Otterman
Media Outlet: 
The New York Times
Date: 
December 4, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/05/nyregion/jewish-congregation-applauds-un-vote-... [6]

Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, a large synagogue on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, is known for its charismatic rabbis, its energetic and highly musical worship, and its liberal stances on social causes.



Abbas says new Israeli settlements 'red line'

Article Author(s): 
Dalia Nammari
Media Outlet: 
Associated Press
Date: 
December 5, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/top-news/palestinians-to-un-stop-2-big-israeli-se... [7]

RAMALLAH, West Bank —

An Israeli-Palestinian showdown over plans for new Jewish settlements around Jerusalem escalated on Wednesday. Israel pushed the most contentious of the projects further along in the planning pipeline, and the Palestinian president said he would seek U.N. Security Council help to block the construction.



Palestinian war crimes case faces long road

Article Author(s): 
Josef Federman
Media Outlet: 
Associated Press
Date: 
December 4, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/top-news/palestinian-war-crimes-case-faces-long-r... [8]

JERUSALEM —

Days after winning upgraded status at the United Nations, the Palestinians are threatening to join the world's first permanent war crimes court and pursue charges against the Israelis.



Palestinians: settlement expansion means 1 state

Article Author(s): 
Karin Laub
Media Outlet: 
Associated Press
Date: 
December 4, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/international/israel-could-face-palestinian-war-c... [9]

RAMALLAH, West Bank —

The Palestinians will ask the U.N. Security Council to call for an Israeli settlement freeze, President Mahmoud Abbas and his advisers decided Tuesday, as part of an escalating showdown over Israel's new plans to build thousands more homes on war-won land in and around Jerusalem.



Netanyahu says Israel still committed to Palestinians peace deal

Media Outlet: 
Reuters
Date: 
December 5, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/netanyahu-says-israel-still-committed-to-pale... [10]

PRAGUE, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Israel remains committed to a negotiated settlement with the Palestinians, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday, despite worries among the Jewish state's European allies over its plans to build more settlements.



Blunt Israeli diplomat dropped from election list

Media Outlet: 
Associated Press
Date: 
December 4, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/top-news/blunt-israeli-diplomat-dropped-from-elec... [11]

JERUSALEM —

Israel's foreign minister has dropped his deputy, known for international incidents, from his list of candidates for Israel's January 22 election.



UK downplays economic sanctions against Israel

Media Outlet: 
Associated Press
Date: 
December 4, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/international/uk-downplays-economic-sanctions-aga... [12]

LONDON —

British Foreign Secretary William Hague has downplayed the possibility of European economic sanctions against Israel for its latest settlement-building plans, saying there is "no enthusiasm around the European Union" for such measures.



Europe mulls new Mideast peace plan: Palestinian official

Media Outlet: 
Xinhua
Date: 
December 4, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-12/04/c_132019517.htm [13]

RAMALLAH, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- European countries are mulling a new plan to revive the peace talks that have been stalled since 2010 between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), a Palestinian official said Tuesday.



Israel's High Court hears appeal against controversial 'Boycott Law'

Article Author(s): 
Jack Khoury
Media Outlet: 
Haaretz
Date: 
December 5, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israel-s-high-court-hears-appeal-against-co... [14]

Israel's High Court of Justice will hear an appeal against the controversial "Boycott Law," on Wednesday, and decide whether to fulfill requests to issue an order nisi against it.



Merkel to warn Netanyahu: Promote peace process or face world seclusion

Article Author(s): 
Barak Ravid
Media Outlet: 
Haaretz
Date: 
December 5, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/merkel-to-warn-netanyahu-promote-p... [15]

With Israel and European Union states embroiled in a diplomatic crisis, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel Wednesday night in Berlin.



Hamas seeks to reopen airport in southern Gaza

Article Author(s): 
Khaled Abu Toameh
Media Outlet: 
The Jerusalem Post
Date: 
December 5, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=294642 [16]

The Hamas government is working toward reopening the only airport in the Gaza Strip.

Named after Yasser Arafat, the airport, which is located close to the Egyptian border, opened in 1998, when the Palestinian Authority was still in control of the Gaza Strip.



Senate amendment penalizing Palestinians for U.N. status does not pass

Media Outlet: 
Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
Date: 
December 5, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://www.jta.org/news/article/2012/12/05/3113656/amendment-penalizing-palestin... [17]

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- A U.S. Senate amendment that would have penalized Palestinians for seeking non-member state status at the United Nations was not attached to its intended law.



Iron Empires, Iron Fists, Iron Domes

Article Author(s): 
Thomas L. Friedman
Media Outlet: 
The New York Times
Article Type: 
Opinion
Date: 
December 4, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/05/opinion/iron-empires-iron-fists-iron-domes.htm... [18]

 

I went to synagogue on Saturday not far from the Syrian border in Antakya, Turkey. It’s been on my mind ever since.



Netanyahu is leading Israel into an abyss

Article Author(s): 
Carlo Strenger
Media Outlet: 
Haaretz
Article Type: 
Opinion
Date: 
December 5, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/strenger-than-fiction/netanyahu-is-leading-israel-i... [19]

 



The UN may have given birth to a new peace paradigm

Article Author(s): 
Yossi Alpher
Media Outlet: 
Haaretz
Article Type: 
Opinion
Date: 
December 5, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/the-un-may-have-given-birth-to-a-new-peace-paradi... [20]

 



The UN’s NPT vote

Media Outlet: 
The Jerusalem Post
Article Type: 
Editorial
Date: 
December 4, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Editorials/Article.aspx?id=294633 [21]

In yet another anti-Israel vote backed by an overwhelming majority, the UN General Assembly singled out Israel – not Iran or Syria – for supposedly violating the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

In a 174-6 with six abstentions, the General Assembly called on Israel Monday to join the NPT &



Jews Keep Head in Sand on 'E1' Settlements

Article Author(s): 
Jill Jacobs
Media Outlet: 
The Jewish Daily Forward
Article Type: 
Opinion
Date: 
December 4, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://forward.com/articles/167203/jews-keep-head-in-sand-on-e-settlements/ [22]

 



Two States and E1

Media Outlet: 
The Jewish Daily Forward
Article Type: 
Editorial
Date: 
December 5, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://forward.com/articles/167242/two-states-and-e/ [23]

 



Palestinian statehood

Article Author(s): 
Osama Al-Sharif
Media Outlet: 
The Jordan Times
Article Type: 
Opinion
Date: 
December 4, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://jordantimes.com/Palestinian+statehood++-54778 [24]

 

The look on the US representative at the United Nations Susan Rice’s face said it all. She had a bad day at the office last Thursday, when 138 nations voted for a General Assembly resolution to upgrade Palestine’s status to a non-member observer state at the international body.



The observer state of Palestine

Article Author(s): 
Ian Buruma
Media Outlet: 
The Jordan Times
Article Type: 
Opinion
Date: 
December 4, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://jordantimes.com/the-observer-state-of-palestine [25]

 

Palestine is no longer an “entity”, but a state — or, to be precise, a non-member observer state of the United Nations, just like the Holy See.



Abu Mazen Should Go to Gaza

Media Outlet: 
Al-Monitor
Article Type: 
Opinion
Date: 
December 5, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2012/12/its-time-for-mahmoud-abbas-to-v... [26]

 



Israeli-Palestinian Economic Ties Decline

Article Author(s): 
Danny Rubenstein
Media Outlet: 
Al-Monitor
Article Type: 
Opinion
Date: 
December 5, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/business/2012/12/the-palestinian-economy-seeks-i... [27]

 



If Not Two States, Then One

Article Author(s): 
Saree Makdisi
Media Outlet: 
The New York Times
Article Type: 
Opinion
Date: 
December 5, 2012
Source Link(s): 
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/06/opinion/global/if-not-two-states-then-one.html... [28]

 

Source URL (retrieved on Dec 28 2024 - 4:22pm): http://www.americantaskforce.org/world_press_roundup/20121205t000000

Links:
[1] http://www.americantaskforce.org/print/29207
[2] http://www.americantaskforce.org/printmail/29207
[3] http://www.americantaskforce.org/printpdf/29207
[4] http://www.americantaskforce.org/rss/wpr
[5] http://www.americantaskforce.org/world_press_roundup/20121205t000000
[6] http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/05/nyregion/jewish-congregation-applauds-un-vote-on-palestine.html?ref=middleeast
[7] http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/top-news/palestinians-to-un-stop-2-big-israeli-settlements/nTNCd/
[8] http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/top-news/palestinian-war-crimes-case-faces-long-road/nTMmZ/
[9] http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/international/israel-could-face-palestinian-war-crimes-charges/nTMKY/
[10] http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/netanyahu-says-israel-still-committed-to-palestinians-peace-deal/
[11] http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/top-news/blunt-israeli-diplomat-dropped-from-election-list/nTMkj/
[12] http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/international/uk-downplays-economic-sanctions-against-israel/nTMcx/
[13] http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-12/04/c_132019517.htm
[14] http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israel-s-high-court-hears-appeal-against-controversial-boycott-law.premium-1.482625
[15] http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/merkel-to-warn-netanyahu-promote-peace-process-or-face-world-seclusion.premium-1.482465
[16] http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=294642
[17] http://www.jta.org/news/article/2012/12/05/3113656/amendment-penalizing-palestinians-for-un-status-does-not-pass
[18] http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/05/opinion/iron-empires-iron-fists-iron-domes.html?ref=opinion&_r=0
[19] http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/strenger-than-fiction/netanyahu-is-leading-israel-into-an-abyss.premium-1.482634
[20] http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/the-un-may-have-given-birth-to-a-new-peace-paradigm.premium-1.482617
[21] http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Editorials/Article.aspx?id=294633
[22] http://forward.com/articles/167203/jews-keep-head-in-sand-on-e-settlements/
[23] http://forward.com/articles/167242/two-states-and-e/
[24] http://jordantimes.com/Palestinian+statehood++-54778
[25] http://jordantimes.com/the-observer-state-of-palestine
[26] http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2012/12/its-time-for-mahmoud-abbas-to-visit-gaza.html
[27] http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/business/2012/12/the-palestinian-economy-seeks-in.html
[28] http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/06/opinion/global/if-not-two-states-then-one.html?_r=0