January 25th

Shin Bet: No Israelis killed in West Bank terror in 2012, first year since 1973 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Gili Cohen - January 25, 2013 - 1:00am   For the first time since 1973, an entire year passed without an Israeli casualty from a terror attack in the West Bank, according to a report published on Thursday by the Shin Bet. Despite the increasing prevalence of terror in the West Bank in 2012, no Israelis were killed terror attacks. » Read more

Minister says PA financial crisis is structural ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 25, 2013 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority's financial crisis is structural, the finance minister said Wednesday, adding that the deficit has exceeded $1.4 billion. "A structural solution is needed in order to fill the gap between expenses and revenue," Nabil Qassis told a committee of lawmakers in Ramallah.  Qassis told the committee, headed by the speaker of Fatah's bloc in the Palestinian Legislative Council Azzam al-Ahmad, that several measures should be taken to decrease the deficit.  » Read more

Activists re-erect tents at Bab al-Karamah ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 25, 2013 - 1:00am Dozens of Palestinian activists entered a demolished protest village in northwest Jerusalem on Friday, starting to rebuild the al-Karamah (Dignity) encampment. The tent village was established last Friday to protest Israel's land confiscation and settlement building in the area of Beit Iksa. On Monday, Israeli troops demolished all the tents and evacuated all the activists in the camp. Activists entered the village on Friday and performed the weekly prayer, before re-erecting tents and planting olive trees, witnesses said. » Read more

Hamas organizes paramilitary training course for schoolchildren ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua January 25, 2013 - 1:00am   Mohamed Abed Rabbo, a 16-year-old student, held his breath when he jumped and crossed through a flaming ring of iron at a high school graduation ceremony in Gaza city, marking the fulfillment of a one-week paramilitary training course. » Read more

'Two state solution only viable as long as Obama in power' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post January 25, 2013 - 1:00am   "The time to take action in the Middle East is now," was the resounding message of Jordanian King Abdullah II's speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos on Friday. "If we're not too late... the two state solution will only last as long as [US President Barack] Obama's term," he warned. "If it doesn't happen by then I don't think it will happen. » Read more

John Kerry warns of disaster in failed Middle East peace efforts ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua January 25, 2013 - 1:00am   U.S. Senator John Kerry, awaiting his confirmation as the country's next secretary of state, warned on Thursday of "disastrous" consequences in the event of an eventual failure to make peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians.   » Read more

Israel expected to boycott U.N. rights scrutiny session ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Stephanie Nebehay - January 25, 2013 - 1:00am   Israel is expected to boycott a session of the U.N. Human Rights Council next week despite the United States urging its ally to show up for an examination of its record, the U.S. ambassador said on Thursday. » Read more

Arab Israeli voters 56% turnout defies expectations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post January 25, 2013 - 1:00am Arab voter turnout on Tuesday increased by 3 percentage points over 2009 to reach 56 percent, according to statistics released by the Central Elections Committee. This is the first time since 2000 that there has been an increase from the sector. Nevertheless, the three Arab parties maintained the total of 11 Knesset seats they won four years ago. » Read more

Elections in Israel show disenchantment of Arab citizens with Israeli politics ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua January 25, 2013 - 1:00am   The last Knesset (Israel's parliament) election has raised the number of Arab-Israelis going to the polls, but numbers say they are still not quite convinced that their ballots will bring about any real changes for their community. » Read more

Israeli voters force Netanyahu to seek centrist partner ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Alistair Lyon - January 25, 2013 - 1:00am    Israel's next government must heed voters and devote itself to bread-and-butter issues, not foreign policy problems such as Iran's nuclear plans and the Palestinian conflict, senior politicians said on Thursday. » Read more