October 25th

Gaza and Qatari guardianship ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Tariq Alhomayed - (Opinion) October 24, 2012 - 12:00am The visit of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, to the Gaza Strip has raised some criticism, specifically from the Palestinian Authority. However this visit also raises a lot of questions, most importantly: Does the visit of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa mean that Gaza is now under Qatari guardianship, after it was previously under the guardianship of Iran and Bashar al-Assad? » Read more

Hamas Rising? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Hussein Ibish - (Opinion) October 24, 2012 - 12:00am Is everyone conspiring to undermine the Palestinian Authority and promote Hamas? This morning, in the context of yesterday's visit of the Emir of Qatar to Gaza, with his pledges of massive financial and diplomatic support, it sure looks that way. The biggest threat to the PA is a fiscal crisis originating in its quixotic U.N. membership bid of September 2012, which produced a confrontation with its main donors, particularly the United States. » Read more

American Elections Matter and the System is Open ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Hayat by Ziad Asali - (Opinion) October 25, 2012 - 12:00am The silly season, the protracted multibillion dollar period of escalating frenzy leading up to US national elections, is coming to a close. All that is said or done in this season is fair if it is deemed legal. The game ends with one winner while two parties share the uneven pie of diffuse power across the nation.  The United States and its elections matter. What other countries do not know about the US system, including elections, cost them. » Read more

Palestinian Authority Hotels Boast A 90% Room Occupancy Rate ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'ariv by Gidi Lipkin - October 22, 2012 - 12:00am Over 90% occupancy has been recorded in the Palestinian Authority hotels, and 95% of the guests are tourists. It has thus been reported by the Palestinian Hotel Association. In Bethlehem and its environs, for instance, 3,000 hotel rooms are available in 30 hotels — an increase of 1,000 rooms since September 2011. In 2013, 700 additional hotel rooms are expected to be built. » Read more

Palestinians Stage Elections; Young Voters Shrug ATFP World Press Roundup Article from 972 Magazine by Lena Odgaard - October 24, 2012 - 12:00am Ramallah, West Bank — Despite Hamas’ boycott of the Palestinian municipal elections and a discouraging 55% turnout, candidates and observers alike saw the Oct. 20 poll as essential to re-establish political legitimacy in the city councils after a seven-year voting hiatus. But among the young electorate, Al-Monitor found few who believed their vote mattered. » Read more

ZOA Cancels Annual Fundraising Dinner ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Josh Nathan-Kazis - October 24, 2012 - 12:00am The Zionist Organization of America has canceled its annual fundraising dinner because of the loss of its tax-exempt status, the organization has confirmed. The fundraiser, usually held in late November or early December, is a key annual event for the group. Recent galas have drawn such high-profile speakers as conservative talk show host Glenn Beck and Republican Rep. Eric Cantor, the House majority leader. » Read more

Israel deports activists from Gaza-bound ship ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) October 25, 2012 - 12:00am Immigration authorities on Wednesday deported 15 international activists who were arrested after their ship, the Estelle, attempted to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza. The pro-Palestinian activists were sent back to their homelands, with two more scheduled to be deported late Wednesday night. Ten other activists were deported on Sunday and Monday. Three of the activists are Israeli and were released on bail. » Read more

'Morsi harsher on Hamas than previous regime' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh, Ben Hartman, Yaakov Lappin - October 25, 2012 - 12:00am Defying expectations, the current regime in Egypt has acted more harshly against Hamas than the previous one, Vice Premier Silvan Shalom told Israel Radio on Thursday. "It's good for the public to know that the current leadership is acting against Hamas in a very tough way," Shalom said, specifying that it is destroying tunnels "one after the other," limiting movement and blocking it from carrying out terrorist activity from Egyptian territory. » Read more

U.S. extends $4 billion loan guarantees to Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by TheMarker - October 25, 2012 - 12:00am The United States extended its $4 billion loan guarantees to Israel by another four years on Wednesday. U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner and Doron Cohen, the director general of Israel's Finance Ministry, signed an agreement extending the loan program until 2016. » Read more

Israel: UN bid risks 'far-reaching consequences' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 25, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israel on Wednesday threatened "difficult and far-reaching consequences" of plans to upgrade Palestine's status in the United Nations next month. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman relayed the warning during talks with visiting EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in Jerusalem, a statement from his office said. If President Mahmoud Abbas "continues unilateral measures against Israel in the UN General Assembly, there will be difficult and far-reaching consequences," Lieberman told Ashton. » Read more