Israeli finance minister admits to doubling settlements' budget ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua November 13, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz admitted Monday that the Israeli government has doubled in recent years its money for the Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Steinitz, who was interviewed by a local radio station, said the budget increment was downplayed in order not to cause a stir within the international community. » Read more

Israeli FM meets ambassadors over Palestinian UN bid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua November 12, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman met Sunday with Israeli ambassadors to the European Union regarding Israel's response to the Palestinians' bid for upgrading their status at the United Nations. The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is expected to submit its application for upgrading their status at the United Nations later this month. » Read more

Abbas tells Obama he'll seek Palestinian UN upgrade, defying U.S. ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Noah Browning, Matt Spetalnick - November 12, 2012 - 1:00am RAMALLAH, West Bank/WASHINGTON, Nov 11 (Reuters) - P alestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told President Barack Obama on Sunday he was intent on pressing ahead with a Palestinian bid for United Nations recognition as a non-member state, despite the U.S. leader's objections. Abbas explained his decision to Obama in a phone conversation, according to Abbas aide Nabil Abu Rdaineh. Continued defiance of Washington on such a sensitive issue casts further doubt on the chances for any renewed U.S.-led Israeli-Palestinian peace drive following Obama's re-election on Tuesday. » Read more

Palestinian, US president discuss UN initiative ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press November 11, 2012 - 1:00am RAMALLAH, West Bank —A spokesman for the Palestinian president says the Palestinians will proceed with asking the U.N. General Assembly to recognize a Palestinian state, despite a personal call from President Barack Obama to abandon the bid. Nabil Abu Rdeneh said President Mahmoud Abbas had a long phone conversation with Obama on Sunday evening. He said Obama "expresses his opposition to this step," but Abbas replied he would carry on. » Read more

Palestinians Renew Push for Enhanced U.N. Status ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - November 9, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM — A Palestinian official in the West Bank said Friday that the distribution of a draft resolution at the United Nations headquarters in New York a day earlier was the “first big step” toward a vote this month on enhancing the Palestinians’ status in the General Assembly. » Read more

Israel says to close cash tap if Palestinians seek UN statehood ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Ori Lewis - November 11, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM (Reuters) -- Israel will stop collecting tax revenues for the Palestinian Authority and not hand over any money if President Mahmoud Abbas continues to seek observer state membership of the United Nations, Israel's finance minister said Saturday. "If the Palestinians continue to advance their unilateral move they should not expect bilateral cooperation. We will not collect their taxes for them and we will not transfer their tax revenues," Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said. » Read more

Palestinians to present UN bid on Nov. 29: Abbas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua November 13, 2012 - 1:00am CAIRO, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinians are set to present their bid for the status of an observer state in the United Nations on Nov. 29, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said here Monday evening. Abbas made the remarks after meeting with Arab League (AL) chief Nabil al-Arabi in Cairo during an AL ministerial meeting on the Syrian crisis. » Read more