As Israeli elections near, Palestinians feel nothing but despair ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - (Analysis) October 15, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH - On Monday, Yossi Beilin sat alongside Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas  in a convention hall in Mukataa, and waxed nostalgic. “We used to work without the Americans,” he said. “Clinton heard about Oslo two weeks before the White House ceremony." Abbas, a bitter smile on his face, corrected him. “A week before,” he said. » Read more

Romney Campaign Announces “Arab-Americans for Romney” ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Arab American Institute (Press Release) October 15, 2012 - 12:00am Washington, DC – On Friday, October 12, 2012, the Romney campaign announced “Arab Americans for Romney,” a national coalition of Arab American supporters of Gov. Mitt Romney’s bid for the presidency of the United States. » Read more

Palestinians plan protest to halt Shadma development ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Tovah Lazaroff - October 15, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinians on Sunday held the first of what they hope will be weekly protests meant to halt any attempt by settlers to develop a small Gush Etzion hilltop, known to Israeli as Shadma and to Palestinians as Oush Ghrab. Several dozen Palestinians holding flags and signs stood in the parking lot behind the hill, which is sandwiched between the Palestinian village of Beit Sahur and the Nokdim road. » Read more

Analysis: Israel's Netanyahu faces wild cards ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Dan Perry - October 14, 2012 - 12:00am TEL AVIV, Israel — The Israeli government has called a general election for Jan. 22, and polls suggest Benjamin Netanyahu's rightist-religious coalition is likely to win a renewed majority — but an array of wild cards make the outcome of this campaign unpredictable nonetheless. » Read more

Diplomacy Ministry seeks to boost settlers' global image ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Itamar Fleishman - October 15, 2012 - 12:00am Against the backdrop of the upcoming Knesset elections, the Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs is set to launch a campaign aiming to boost the West Bank settlements' global image. » Read more

Arafat aide: Israel reaching out to Abbas successors ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 15, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- A former adviser to President Yasser Arafat on Saturday accused Israel of working to replace the current president behind the scenes. Bassam Abu Sharif said Israeli officials were making calls to Palestinian figures in Israeli jail to scope out a successor to President Mahmoud Abbas, as well as to people close to the president. » Read more

Report: Emir of Qatar set to visit Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 15, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- The Emir of Qatar is set to visit the Gaza Strip in the coming few days, the first visit by an Arab leader since Hamas took power in the coastal enclave, a Gaza TV channel said on Sunday. Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and his wife Sheikha Mozah are slated to come to Gaza following the arrival of Qatari delegates on Sunday, al-Kitab satellite channel said. » Read more

Salafis say Hamas security preventing new political party ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 15, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- The founders of a new Salafi political party said Monday that their official launch is being obstructed by Hamas security forces, not legal regulations as the government in Gaza has claimed. Last week, Salafis announced the Al-Nur party, or 'party of the light', would start officially operating in the coming days. It said it would work on similar lines to an Egyptian party of the same name, which follows an ultra-conservative Islamic ideology. » Read more

Abbas says Olmert was "two months" from peace deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters October 14, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, West Bank, Oct 14 (Reuters) - In comments that may stir Israel's election campaign, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday that he and Ehud Olmert were "two months" away from a peace deal before Olmert had to resign as Israeli prime minister. » Read more

Abbas says Olmert was "two months" from peace deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters October 14, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, West Bank, Oct 14 (Reuters) - In comments that may stir Israel's election campaign, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday that he and Ehud Olmert were "two months" away from a peace deal before Olmert had to resign as Israeli prime minister. » Read more