NEWS: UN officials say settlement building is a primary obstacle to peace. Some Israelis are planning to boycott businesses that work with Palestinians. A new law making it easier to sue journalists for defamation passes 1st reading in the Knesset and is supported by PM Netanyahu. Netanyahu intervenes to resolve the feud between Israeli intelligence and the Foreign Ministry. A prominent rabbi faces criminal investigation for anti-Arab remarks. A new study says that because of Israeli restrictions, Palestinians invest twice as much in Israel as in the occupied territories. Jordan confirms that it maintains relations with the PA, but not Hamas, but the visit of its King to the West Bank fuels rumors of Pres. Abbas resigning. Israel says it will seek to eliminate UNRWA. COMMENTARY: The Washington Post says it is shocking that Israel would contemplate measures against NGOs reminiscent of authoritarian states. Nasser Lahham says Hamas and Fatah can and should unite, but Maher Abukhater doubts this is possible in practice. Merav Michaeli says a self-victimizing right is misleading Israelis. UK Amb. Gould Says Britain and Israel need to work more closely together. The Jerusalem Post says the new defamation bill will stifle free speech. David Newman says the attack on Israeli democracy is a real and severe. Sami Moubayed says Hamas is benefiting greatly from the Arab uprisings. The Jordan Times says Israel must respect international law. Keith Ellison says the US should not forfeit its influence in the UN by defunding agencies over Palestine.

Netanyahu intervenes to resolve feud between Israel's spy agency, foreign ministry
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
November 22, 2011 - 1:00am


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday stepped in to resolve a dispute between Israel's Mossad intelligence agency and the Foreign Ministry that in recent weeks brought cooperation between the organizations to a grinding halt. Netanyahu on Sunday summoned Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Mossad chief Tamir Pardo for a meeting at the end of which both men agreed to put their disagreements behind them, Army Radio reported.


US shouldn’t forfeit influence within UN
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Hill
by Keith Ellison - (Opinion) November 22, 2011 - 1:00am


As American businesses seek to protect their patents abroad, famine ravages the Horn of Africa and the Arab Awakening unfolds, we need more U.S. engagement at the United Nations, not less. Laws that restrict American participation in U.N. Specialized Agencies are bad for U.S. interests and national security. Congress must act immediately to fix this problem.


Culpable
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
(Editorial) November 22, 2011 - 1:00am


Israel came last week under the scrutiny of the UN body mandated to monitor the application of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The last time Israel appeared before this rights body was in 2003.


Arab Spring blessing in disguise for Hamas
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by Sami Moubayed - (Opinion) November 22, 2011 - 1:00am


On November 11, entire neighbourhoods in the Palestinian camps of Damascus were decorated with photos of Yasser Arafat, marking the 7th anniversary of the Palestinian leader's death. That, of course, was no coincidence, since it struck a raw nerve with Damascus-based Hamas leaders, who detested the late PLO Chairman. Paying homage to Arafat, it must be remembered, is uncommon in Syria, given a historic feud between him and the Baathists in Damascus.


Speaking out against the threat
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by David Newman - (Opinion) November 22, 2011 - 1:00am


It is not a superficial slogan. Neither is it cheap demagoguery.


The new libel bill
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
(Editorial) November 22, 2011 - 1:00am


Dozens of concerned journalists gathered at Tel Aviv’s Cinematheque Sunday to protest what they perceive to be an ominously widespread antagonism against the media. Some of the issues discussed included the government’s declining willingness to come to the aid of the financially-strapped Channel 10, the abrupt shutdown of the joint Palestinian- Israeli Kol Hashalom radio station, policy changes at IBA News – including the firing of Keren Neubach from the investigative news program “Mabat Sheni” and attempts to interfere with radio presenter Yaron Dekel’s “Hakol Diburim.”


The science of diplomacy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Matthew Gould - (Opinion) November 22, 2011 - 1:00am


Ben Gurion University Beersheba will this week host one of the most important events that I have been involved in since coming to Israel last year as Britain’s ambassador. It is a huge scientific conference between the UK and Israel in regenerative medicine. Sixty leading British academics will visit Israel for the conference, joining 200 academics from across Israel. And the conference will launch a major, five-year program of UK-Israel collaboration.


Israel's self-victimizing right is misleading the people
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Merav Michaeli - (Opinion) November 22, 2011 - 1:00am


"Finally, the right is beginning to rule," said MK Uri Ariel (National Union ) after the vote to change the composition of the Judicial Appointments Committee.


Is it possible to have a unity government with zero risks?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons
by Maher Abukhater - (Opinion) November 22, 2011 - 1:00am


Concerning the peace process, Palestinians in general would say: "what peace process?" No one seems worried about impacting a peace process that is obviously long gone. As for the Palestinian people, the issue is more serious. On the one hand, a unity government would lead to reunification of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which means strengthening the home front in light of a bleak and uncertain future. In general, there is strong support for this move. But, on the other, there is apprehension concerning its ramifications on Palestinian daily life.



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