NEWS: Israel's plans to expand the highly sensitive and controversial E1 settlement area threatens to cut off East Jerusalem from the rest of the occupied West Bank, and reportedly "shocked" the United States. Israeli officials reportedly say they only improved planning, not building, in E1, but commitments not to build in the area made to the US are nonetheless "no longer relevant." Israel also says it will "retaliate" by withholding millions of dollars in Palestinian tax revenues. The Israeli announcement poses a familiar challenge to Pres. Obama. EU states, including Britain and France, voice extreme displeasure over the move and may take additional diplomatic action. UNSG Ban says the plans could be a "fatal blow" to a two-state solution. PM Netanyahu dismisses international criticism. Despite euphoria over the UN vote, Palestinians still face the same challenges. Suspected collaborators in Gaza face a grisly fate. Gaza fishermen struggle despite slightly eased restrictions. A Palestinian man attacks occupation forces in the West Bank. Gaza smuggling tunnels are operating effectively again in the aftermath of the conflict with Israel. Israeli settlers in occupied East Jerusalem seize control of a five-story house. The World Bank announces a $6.4 million effort to save the water system in Gaza. A surge of support for Hamas in Gaza following the conflict with Israel is already beginning to fade. COMMENTARY: B'Tselem looks at the E1 settlement expansion plan and its implications for human rights in the occupied West Bank. The Jerusalem Post defends the plan. Meir Javedanfar says the E1 plan creates the very diplomatic crisis for Israel that Iran failed to create. Barak Ravid says punitive measures aimed at the Palestinians also hurt Israel. A.B. Yehoshua says it's time for Israel to talk to Hamas. Yehuda Ben Meir says the recent UN vote was mainly an international protest against Israel's settlement policies. Mouin Rabbani says Palestinians will have to work hard to make sure the UN vote is not purely symbolic. Raghida Dergham looks at the strategy behind the Palestinian UN initiative. William Saletan says Israel is losing friends by insulting everyone's intelligence. John Bell says after the Gaza war, Palestine has again become a central Arab concern. Matt Duss looks at a recent Washington event featuring PM Fayyad. Mark Baker looks at why Australia abstained at the UN. Hussein Ibish explains how Israel lost almost all European support at the UN. David Remnick describes his interview with Fayyad.

The Death of Israel's "Quality Minority"
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
by Hussein Ibish - (Opinion) November 30, 2012 - 1:00am


 


Fair Go: Australia and the U.N. Vote
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
(Opinion) December 3, 2012 - 1:00am


 


The State-Builder
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
by Matthew Duss - (Opinion) December 3, 2012 - 1:00am


 


Palestine's Man in the Middle
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New Yorker
by David Remnick - (Opinion) December 3, 2012 - 1:00am


 


After the Gaza war, Palestine becomes an Arab concern again
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
(Opinion) December 3, 2012 - 1:00am


 


Get Real, Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Slate
(Opinion) December 3, 2012 - 1:00am


 


The Palestinian Goals behind Demanding a Non-member State
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Hayat
by Raghida Dergham - (Opinion) December 3, 2012 - 1:00am


  Perhaps the most important implication of Palestine receiving recognition as a state, at the UN General Assembly, is the fact that international laws have been reemphasized as a reference point, while Palestine has now obtained the right to ratify international treaties. In truth, this represents a strategic shift in the Israeli – Palestinian conflict, as it backs negotiations with international legitimacy, and releases them from the clutches of politicking or military escalation.


UN vote is symbolic - unless Palestinians take advantage
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Mouin Rabbani - (Opinion) December 3, 2012 - 1:00am


 


A diplomatic defeat
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Yehuda Ben Meir - (Opinion) December 3, 2012 - 1:00am


  Israel suffered a diplomatic setback at the United Nations last week. All the explanations, excuses, wisecracks and circumlocutions by government spokespeople and Likud members can't obscure the bitter truth. The General Assembly vote making the Palestinians a nonmember observer state put Israel's stark isolation on display - isolation we haven't experienced since the Sinai Campaign of 1956.



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