NEWS: Hamas leader Mishaal makes his first visit to Gaza in 45 years. The visit is widely regarded as a sign of Hamas' growing regional acceptance and wider ambitions. Israel is seen as more openly dealing with Hamas, though still within strict limits. Israel reportedly threatens to cancel the ceasefire if the leader of Islamic Jihad visits Gaza. Human Rights Watch says Israel's attack on the Daloo family home in Gaza during the recent conflict, which killed 12 civilians, was unlawful. Palestinian officials say Jordan's King Abdullah II has passed on US assurances that it will not allow Israel to go forward with controversial new settlement plans. Chancellor Merkel reportedly also urges PM Netanyahu not to implement the plans. Even Canada reportedly warns Israel against the plans. 20 are injured in skirmishes between Israeli occupation forces and Palestinian police near Hebron. Israel's Ministry of Education suspends a literature program for fifth graders that includes a novel by Palestinian writer Ghassan Kanafani. A new guidebook is published in Israel to Palestinian villages destroyed after the 1948 war. Palestinian refugees are being increasingly drawn into the war in Syria. Rabbis at a prominent New York synagogue express "regret" for praising the Palestinian UN upgrade vote. COMMENTARY: Ma'an explains why several Pacific islands voted against the recent Palestinian UN upgrade. Sandy Tolan says both Pres. Obama and Israel are walking away from a two-state solution. Menachem Klein says the E1 settlement plan is "recycled and oppressive." Ilan Baruch says Palestinian reconciliation could set the stage for a new phase in the peace process. Alex Fishman says Israel is conducting regular, secret negotiations with Hamas. The Media Line profiles Khaled Jarrar, whose art is based on concrete pieces cut from Israel’s separation barrier.Nathan Jeffay says many Israelis suspect the government's announced E1 settlement plan is a bluff. George Hishmeh asks what's holding Pres.Obama back from confronting Israel. Gil Troy says both Netanyahu and Pres. Abbas are pandering to extremes.

N.Y. shul’s rabbis ‘regret’ email praising U.N. Palestine vote
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
December 6, 2012 - 1:00am


NEW YORK (JTA) -- Rabbis at B'nai Jeshurun are expressing "regret" over an email sent out by the prominent New York synagogue praising the United Nations vote to elevate Palestinians to non-member state status.


Palestinian refugees increasingly drawn into Syrian war
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
by Yolande Knell - December 6, 2012 - 1:00am


Among the diverse sectarian and ethnic groups caught up in the uprising in Syria there are nearly 500,000 Palestinian refugees. Most have tried to stay on the sidelines of the fighting but in recent months it has reached several refugee camps.


The Arab villages that were; a new Israeli guidebook
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Moshe Gilad - December 7, 2012 - 1:00am


A round white dome stands in the middle of the vacation village at Dor Beach, near Caesarea. I've visited this place dozens of times but never noticed the sheikh's tomb on the well-tended lawn. Nor did I remember the large stone building right on the shoreline, a few dozen meters from the water, opposite the bobbing fishing boats.  


Israel's education ministry 'suspends program' over Palestinian novel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
December 5, 2012 - 1:00am


BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) – Israel's Ministry of Education has suspended a literature program for fifth graders because a Palestinian novel was on its syllabus, Israeli media reported Wednesday.


Over 20 hurt in Hebron as soldiers clash with PA police
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
December 6, 2012 - 1:00am


HEBRON (Ma'an) -- More than 20 Palestinians were wounded in clashes with Israeli forces in central Hebron on Thursday afternoon, after a skirmish between Israeli troops and Palestinian police.


Canada frowns on Israel’s settlement expansion plan
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Canadian Jewish News
by Andy Levy-Ajzenkopf - December 7, 2012 - 1:00am


Canada believes Israel went too far when it declared its intent to build 3,000 new settlement units in a controversial tract of the West Bank in response to the Palestinians achieving non-member state status at the UN last week.


Germany's Merkel cautions ally Israel on settlements
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Alexandra Hudson - December 6, 2012 - 1:00am


BERLIN (Reuters) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to avoid "one-sided moves," amid uproar over Israeli plans to build 3,000 settler homes in a highly sensitive area of the West Bank.


Jordanian king carries U.S. assurances to Abbas: official
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
December 6, 2012 - 1:00am


RAMALLAH, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- Jordanian King Abdullah II conveyed U.S. assurances to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that Washington will not allow a new Israeli settlement plan to pass, a Palestinian official said Thursday.


Rights group: Israeli strike on Gaza home unlawful
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Daniel Estrin - December 7, 2012 - 1:00am


  JERUSALEM — 



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