Romney, Obama pledge Israel backing, agree Iran strike last resort ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Tabassum Zakaria - October 23, 2012 - 12:00am WASHINGTON, Oct 23 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney vied on Monday over who was Israel's strongest defender but both agreed that a military strike over Iran's nuclear program must be a "last resort." Tehran's nuclear program, which the West suspects is for developing weapons and that economic sanctions have so far failed to stop, is almost certain to be among the top foreign policy challenges facing the next president. » Read more

Bomb wounds Israeli officer on Gaza border ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Maayan Lubell - October 23, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM - An Israeli officer was severely wounded on Tuesday when a bomb went off beside an army patrol along the border with the Gaza Strip, a military spokeswoman said. The attack came hours before the Emir of Qatar arrived in Gaza in the first visit by a head of state to the blockaded enclave since it was taken over in 2007 by the Iranian-backed Islamist Hamas movement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will deliver a strong response to the attack. "We will fight and we will hit them very, very hard," Netanyahu said. » Read more

Fatah 'not invited' to meet Qatari emir ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 22, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Fatah has not been invited to meet Qatar's emir who is due to visit the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, a Fatah leader said Monday. Yahya Rabah told Ma'an that Fatah received no invitation from Qatar or the Hamas-led government in Gaza to meet Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. Rabah, who is based in Gaza, said Fatah was not informed of the reason for the visit or any of the arrangements but said the trip raised questions. » Read more

Qatari emir visits Gaza in boost to Hamas rulers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Ibrahim Barzak - October 23, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip —The emir of Qatar received a hero's welcome in Gaza on Tuesday, becoming the first head of state to visit the Palestinian territory since the Islamist militant Hamas seized control of the coastal strip five years ago. » Read more