5 European Nations Summon Envoys of Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Isabel Kershner - December 3, 2012 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM — Britain, France, Spain, Sweden and Denmark summoned the Israeli ambassadors to their countries on Monday to protest Israel’s plans for increased settlement construction, an unusually sharp diplomatic step that reflected the growing frustration abroad with Israel’s policies on the Palestinian issue.

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U.S. intensifies criticism of Israel on settlement plan
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Andrew Quinn, Matt Spetalnick - December 3, 2012 - 1:00am

WASHINGTON, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The United States on Monday ratcheted up criticism of Israel over plans to expand Jewish settlement building on occupied land, urging it to reconsider despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's refusal to back down. The Obama administration's tougher-than-usual words for close ally Israel came after five European governments summoned Israeli ambassadors in their capitals to express concern over the new settlement projects. But Washington stopped short of threatening any concrete measures against the Jewish state.

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Israel arrests settlers suspected of W.Bank attacks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Allyn Fisher-Ilan, Dan Williams - December 3, 2012 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Israeli police arrested three Jewish settlers on Monday whom they suspect of arson and other attacks on Palestinian property in the occupied West Bank. At a time of heightened diplomatic tension over claims to the land, the men were found carrying fuel and spikes shortly after a car was torched in a Palestinian village near Hebron. A police spokesman said they had appeared to be about to conduct a second attack in another village nearby when they were detained.

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France, UK summon Israeli ambassadors over settlements
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
December 3, 2012 - 1:00am

PARIS (Reuters) -- France and Britain on Monday summoned their Israeli ambassadors to express concerns over Israel's plans to expand Jewish settlements after Palestine won de facto UN recognition of statehood. "The ambassador has been summoned in order to express our disapproval," French foreign ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot said. The Israeli embassy also confirmed the meeting.

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Britain, France 'consider recalling Israel envoys'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
December 3, 2012 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -- Britain is considering recalling its ambassador to Israel to protest at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to expand settlement building, a diplomatic source said on Monday. Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported that France was also considering withdrawing its envoy, and the two countries were coordinating discussions over a number of punitive steps.

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Mr. Netanyahu’s Strategic Mistake
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
(Editorial) December 3, 2012 - 1:00am

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel seems determined to escalate a crisis by retaliating against the Palestinians after the United Nations General Assembly voted to elevate Palestine to observer state status. Instead of looking for ways to halt a downward spiral, Mr. Netanyahu on Monday defiantly dug in on his plans to build 3,000 more housing units in contested areas east of Jerusalem and in the West Bank, and to continue planning a development in the most contentious area known as E1.

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Britain, France, Sweden summon Israeli ambassadors over settlement expansion
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - December 3, 2012 - 1:00am

Britain, France, and Sweden summoned the Israeli ambassadors to their countries on Monday to express their condemnation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to move settlement construction ahead in the area known as E1, between Ma’aleh Adumim and Jerusalem.

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How West Bank Construction Hampers Progress for a Two-State Solution
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from PBS
(Interview) December 3, 2012 - 1:00am

RAY SUAREZ: For more on what the construction of this settlement could mean for the stalled peace process, I'm joined by David Makovsky of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and Ghaith Al-Omari, executive director of the American Task Force on Palestine. And, David, is this, strictly speaking, in response to the vote on observer status in the U.N., or is this some something that the Israelis have wanted to do anyway? DAVID MAKOVSKY:, Washington Institute For Near East Policy: Well, it's a little of both.

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Trouble Lies Ahead For Two-State Solution
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor
by Alon Pinkas - (Opinion) December 3, 2012 - 1:00am

What are the implications of the Palestinians' achieving non-member observer status at the United Nations, and the Israeli response announcing more settlements, including in areas east of Jerusalem delineated in maps as possibly part of a future Palestinian state? There are two scenarios.  In one word: Nothing. In one acronym: A LOT, meaning A Lot Of Trouble.

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Israeli settlers occupy 5-story house in Palestinian neighborhood of East Jerusalem
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Nir Hasson - December 3, 2012 - 1:00am

Five Israeli settlers entered a five-story building in the Jabal Mukaber neighborhood of East Jerusalem early Monday morning, apparently in an effort to establish a new settlement in this Palestinian area. The building, which was erected in recent years, has remained largely empty, except for one Palestinian family living on the top floor.

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