ADL pulls out of interfaith talks over Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Religion News Service by Michele Chabin - October 11, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM (RNS) The Anti-Defamation League said Thursday (Oct. 11) it has withdrawn from an Oct. 22 U.S. Jewish-Christian interfaith meeting to protest a letter from some Protestant participants that urged Congress to rethink U.S. funding to Israel. Numerous Jewish organizations have condemned the letter, which was signed by leaders of the Presbyterian, United Methodist, Lutheran, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ denominations, as well as the head of the National Council of Churches. » Read more

Hamas bans announcement of new Gaza Islamic party ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua October 11, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement obstructed Thursday the declaration of a new Islamic party in the Gaza Strip, a spokesman for the Al-Nour Salafi party said. Hamas, which controls Gaza, summoned the members of the party's founding committee for questioning "in order to prevent the launching of the party" that was scheduled Thursday, said the spokesman, who calls himself Abu Outba. » Read more

Poll shows center-left "super party" could win Israeli elections ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua October 12, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- If the main leaders of Israel's center and left political forces would join forces in one party, they could defeat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the early general elections to be held in January, a survey revealed Thursday. » Read more

Iran, economy to dominate Israeli elections ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Adam Gonn - October 12, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- In the Israeli elections scheduled on Jan. 22, 2013, the right-left fault line may not be drawn as in the past along issues such as relations with the Palestinians, but over Iran's controversial nuclear program and Israel's economy, analysts said. » Read more

Hezbollah says it sent drone over Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Zeina Karam - October 11, 2012 - 12:00am BEIRUT —The leader of Hezbollah claimed responsibility Thursday for launching an Iranian-made drone aircraft into Israeli airspace earlier this week, adding more tension to an already explosive Mideast atmosphere. Sheik Hassan Nasrallah warned that it would not be the last such operation by his Lebanese militant group. » Read more

Netanyahu agreed to full Golan Heights withdrawal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Shimon Shiffer - October 12, 2012 - 12:00am The onset of the rebellion against Bashar Assad in January 2011 interrupted intense negotiations between the Syrian president and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which the latter agreed to a full Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights in exchange for a peace agreement, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Friday. » Read more