Hamas chief to make first visit to Gaza on Friday ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Nidal al-Mughrabi - December 5, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal will make his first visit to the Gaza Strip on Friday to attend the Palestinian Islamist group's 25th anniversary rally, Hamas sources said on Wednesday. The two-day visit comes in the wake of last month's air offensive by Israel against Hamas and other armed Islamist factions to stop them firing rockets from the enclave at southern Israeli towns. » Read more

Hamas chief to make first visit to Gaza on Friday ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Nidal al-Mughrabi - December 5, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal will make his first visit to the Gaza Strip on Friday to attend the Palestinian Islamist group's 25th anniversary rally, Hamas sources said on Wednesday. » Read more

Israel, Palestinians escalate settlement showdown ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Amy Teibel - December 5, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM — Palestinians and Israelis hardened their positions Wednesday over a contentious new settlement push around Jerusalem, with Israel going full throttle on plans to develop the area and the Palestinians trying to block it through an appeal to the U.N. Security Council. » Read more

Israel, Palestinians escalate settlement showdown ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Amy Teibel - December 5, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM —Palestinians and Israelis hardened their positions Wednesday over a contentious new settlement push around Jerusalem, with Israel going full throttle on plans to develop the area and the Palestinians trying to block it through an appeal to the U.N. Security Council. » Read more

Jordan king in West Bank to support Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Dalia Nammari - December 6, 2012 - 1:00am RAMALLAH, West Bank — Jordan's King Abdullah II paid a rare visit to the West Bank on Thursday in a show of support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' successful bid for U.N. recognition of a Palestinian state. » Read more

Jordan king in West Bank to support Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Dalia Nammari - December 6, 2012 - 1:00am RAMALLAH, West Bank —Jordan's King Abdullah II paid a rare visit to the West Bank on Thursday in a show of support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' successful bid for U.N. recognition of a Palestinian state. The Jordanians spoke out sharply against Israel's latest plans to build thousands of new settler homes in response to the Palestinian move, including initial plans to revive a contentious project east of Jerusalem. » Read more

Israel bars academic from Berlin diplomatic event ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Amy Teibel - December 6, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM — Israel barred a dovish Israeli academic from taking part in a science symposium in Berlin on Thursday that was part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Germany, drawing renewed charges that his government has little tolerance for dissent. » Read more

Peace Process Pulls at Germany-Israel Ties ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Nicholas Kulish - December 5, 2012 - 1:00am BERLIN — Growing up as a teenager in Germany, Jonathan Logan’s opinion of the Middle East conflict was black and white. » Read more

Israel bars academic from Berlin diplomatic event ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Amy Teibel - December 6, 2012 - 1:00am JERUSALEM —Israel barred a dovish Israeli academic from taking part in a science symposium in Berlin on Thursday that was part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Germany, drawing renewed charges that his government has little tolerance for dissent. » Read more

Despite souring relations with Israel, Europe not about to boycott settlement goods, sources predict ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times of Israel by Raphael Ahren, Joshua Davidovich - December 6, 2012 - 1:00am Sources in the European Union on Thursday played down a report in the Hebrew daily Maariv that Europe was seeking to pass a series of harsh sanctions against Israel following Jerusalem’s announcement last week of plans to expand settlement construction. That move by Israel came in response to the upgrading of the Palestinians’ status the previous day at the UN. » Read more