Official: Cairo will invite factions for reconciliation talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
November 24, 2012 - 1:00am


BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Egypt will invite Palestinian factions to Cairo to resume reconciliation talks after Palestine's bid for a UN status upgrade this week, a political official said Saturday. Khalil Assaf, who heads the coalition of independents in the West Bank and also chairs the public freedoms committee established under the reconciliation deal, said he expects Egypt's invitation in the coming days.


Israel's strategy in Gaza leads to endless conflict
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
(Editorial) November 21, 2012 - 1:00am


'Cutting the grass" is the euphemism some Israeli strategists have used to describe the policy that has been conducted in Gaza. The idea behind it is that Israel - unable on the one hand to make peace with its neighbours, and unable, on the other, to completely dominate or deter them by force - must resort to regular military incursions and strikes to degrade their military capability.


Israeli strikes on Gaza kill 2 children, 12 others
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
November 20, 2012 - 1:00am


GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday afternoon killed two children, and at least twelve others, bringing the day's death toll to 21. An airstrike on Kishku street in the Zaitoun neighborhood killed two children, medics said. At least six Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on two cars in Gaza City's Sabra neighborhood. Three others were critically injured.


Clinton Visits in Effort to Defuse Gaza Conflict; Egypt Hints at Truce
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Isabel Kershner - November 20, 2012 - 1:00am


JERUSALEM — Diplomatic efforts accelerated Tuesday to end the deadly confrontation between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, as the United States sent Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to the Middle East and Egypt’s president and his senior aides expressed confidence that a cease-fire was close.


Lost in Ramallah
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from NOW Lebanon
by Hussein Ibish - (Opinion) November 20, 2012 - 1:00am


Who can fail to weep for the long-suffering people of Gaza, who again find themselves under Israeli attack? Over 100 have already been killed, at least half civilians and many children. Spare a thought, too, for Israelis with legitimate concerns they might be among the extremely unfortunate few to be struck by an unguided rocket from Gaza not intercepted by "Iron Dome."


Strategic Overreach
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
by Jonathan Spyer - (Opinion) November 20, 2012 - 1:00am


JERUSALEM — The current conflict between Hamas and Israel is the result of the Palestinian Islamist movement overplaying its hand in an attempt to rewrite the rules of engagement between itself and Israel. Hamas's miscalculation of the balance of forces between itself and Israel has now brought the Israel Defense Forces to the brink of a renewed ground operation in the Gaza Strip. If this is to be avoided, much depends on Western pressure on Hamas's allies, above all Egypt, so that they in turn may press the movement to accept a renewed ceasefire.


Before the next baby dies
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Ezzeldeen Abu al-Aish - (Opinion) November 20, 2012 - 1:00am


TORONTO – People have been asking me in the past few days if the current situation has opened the wound in my heart. The truth is that this wound has never been closed, so there is nothing to open.


Fresh Israeli airstrikes raise Gaza death toll to 91
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
November 19, 2012 - 1:00am


GAZA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Newly launched two Israeli airstrikes killed three Palestinians in the Gaza Strip shortly before noon on Monday, as the raids against Gaza entered the sixth day, Palestinian sources said on Monday.


Still Think Middle East Peace Doesn't Matter?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
by Steven A. Cook - (Opinion) November 19, 2012 - 1:00am


Everyone knew it was coming. Once the giddy days of the Arab uprising had passed, it was the subject of discussion at almost every roundtable, panel discussion, and bull session among Middle East analysts: What about Gaza?


PLO leader: Ceasefire talks underway in Cairo
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
November 19, 2012 - 1:00am


BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Negotiations in Cairo for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have made progress, but a truce is unlikely in the coming days, PLO official Nabil Shaath said Sunday. Hamas chief Khalid Mashaal and his deputy Mousa Abu Marzouq updated Shaath on talks in Cairo between Palestinian factions and an Israeli delegate. Fatah leader and President Mahmoud Abbas is also in direct contact with Mashaal, Shaath said.



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