January 3rd

Netanyahu aide Ron Dermer brings American sensibilities to Israeli politics ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ben Sales - January 2, 2013 - 1:00am   Like many Israeli politicians, Ron Dermer is an unapologetic defender of Israel’s actions, even if it might mean being undiplomatic. » Read more

Likud members call for Israeli annexation of West Bank territories ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Harriet Sherwood - January 3, 2013 - 1:00am Prominent members of Israel's ruling Likud party have proposed the annexation o » Read more

Palestinian owners barred from Jordan Valley land, while Israeli farmers profit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chaim Levinson - January 3, 2013 - 1:00am   Settlers in the Jordan Valley are farming more than 5,000 dunams (1,250 acres) of private Palestinian land located between the border fence and the actual border with Jordan. They received the land from the World Zionist Organization in the 1980s. » Read more

PA cancels electricity debts for every West Bank resident ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 2, 2013 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority announced on Wednesday that it is cancelling outstanding electricity debts for each West Bank resident, on the heels of a deal that aims to help assuage the electricity companies' own arrears. » Read more

Abbas to visit Egypt on Jan. 11 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua January 2, 2013 - 1:00am   Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is set to visit Egypt on Jan. 11 to discuss Palestinian reconciliation issues, Egyptian official MENA news agency reported Wednesday quoting a Palestinian source. » Read more

Israel completes bulk of Egypt border fence ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Jeffrey Heller - January 2, 2013 - 1:00am   Israel completed the main segment of a razor-wire fence along its border with Egypt on Wednesday, a barrier against illegal migrants and Islamist militants hiding out in the lawless Sinai region. » Read more

Israel orders Bedouins to leave West Bank area ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Mohammed Ballas - January 3, 2013 - 1:00am   The Israeli military on Wednesday ordered dozens of Palestinian Bedouins to leave their communities so it could conduct military exercises in a remote area of the West Bank. » Read more

Construction in Jerusalem neighborhoods beyond Green Line peaked in 2012 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Nir Hasson - January 3, 2013 - 1:00am   Last year was a record year with regard to construction in the Jerusalem neighborhoods over the Green Line, with tenders for 2,386 apartments issued in 2012 compared to only 726 in 2011. » Read more

Israel 'yet to decide' over tax revenue transfer to PA ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 3, 2013 - 1:00am The Israeli government has not yet decided whether to transfer tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority this month, the spokesman of the Israeli Prime Minister said Thursday. » Read more

Tamoun reeling from IDF raid, riots ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Elior Levy - January 3, 2013 - 1:00am Residents of the West Bank village of Tamoun, south of Jenin, are still trying to reel from the raid that took place in their village on Tuesday, when a covert IDF force was dis » Read more