Investigators to Exhume Arafat
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
October 30, 2012 - 12:00am

A French official says criminal investigators from France will exhume Yasir Arafat’s remains next month to try to find out how the Palestinian leader died. A separate Swiss investigative team will arrive in the West Bank city of Ramallah at the same time. The push to re-examine Mr.

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Israeli Defense Chief Says Iran Postponed Nuclear Ambitions
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Rick Gladstone - October 31, 2012 - 12:00am

Israel’s defense minister said Tuesday that the country had interpreted Iran’s conversion of some enriched uranium to fuel rods for civilian use as evidence that Iran had delayed ambitions to build a nuclear weapon.

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PLO lobbies for convincing win in UN vote
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
by Noah Browning, Ali Sawafta - October 31, 2012 - 12:00am

RAMALLAH (Reuters) -- Palestinians have launched a diplomatic blitz aimed at garnering a strong majority for a vote granting them non-member statehood at the United Nations slated for next month, officials said Tuesday. Despite heading for a sure victory in the UN General Assembly, mostly consisting of post-colonial states historically sympathetic to the Palestinians, West Bank diplomats are courting European countries to further burnish their campaign.

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October 30th

NEWS: Major clashes have broken out in a Palestinian refugee camp near Damascus. Israel arrests 30 Hamas activists in the occupied West Bank, as its policy of isolating the organization by blockading Gaza appears to be unraveling. Pres. Abbas expresses concern that the visit by the Emir of Qatar to Gaza could lead to its separation from the West Bank. Israel believes sanctions against Iran are forcing it to cut back on aid to Hezbollah. Israel says it would limit the use of cluster bombs in any new conflict with Hezbollah. Israeli forces kill a Hamas militant as more projectiles hit southern Israel. PM Netanyahu is going to visit Paris. Two Israeli police officers are indicted for beating an Arab youth. Palestinian citizens in Israel feel unprotected by the Israeli police. European NGOs are pushing for a ban on trade with Israeli settlements. Settler leaders continue to press the Israeli government to adopt the recommendations of the Levy Committee Report. COMMENTARY: Roger Cohen says Jews in Ohio are divided as never before over the election. Abdul-Hakim Salah says the outcome of the US election is unlikely to affect US Middle East policy. Dennis Ross says the two-state solution is not dead and remains the only path to peace. Reuven Pedatzur says Israel has no answer to rocket attacks from Gaza. Kenneth Bandler says the US should make sure other Arab states don't follow Qatar's example in recognizing the de facto Hamas government in Gaza. Gershon Baskin says the situation in Gaza might not escalate, but Israelis and Palestinians must find a way to stop it from continuously repeating. Matthew Brooks says Jewish Americans should vote for Mitt Romney for president. Mel Levine says Romney has many financial ties to Iran. Rami Khouri says a recent letter by American Christian groups to Congress on aid to Israel is an antidote to typical political pandering. Yaron London says Israel is in a low-level war with Gaza whether Netanyahu wants to admit it or not. Andrew Apostolou says the US-Israel relationship is based on practical politics, not romance. Ahram Online interviews former Pres. Carter.

Jimmy Carter on Mideast peace, Arab Spring and looming US elections
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ahram Online
(Interview) October 30, 2012 - 12:00am

  Ahram Online: You said in a recent interview that Israel 'never' keeps its promises regarding the rights of Palestinians. Were there any changes on the ground that prompted the so-called 'Elders' to visit the region to attempt to restart peace talks?

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The Not So Special U.S.-Israel Relationship
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
by Andrew Apostolou - (Opinion) October 29, 2012 - 12:00am

 

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Israel is at War, Whether Netanyahu Admits it or Not
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor
by Yaron London - (Opinion) October 29, 2012 - 12:00am

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toots his own horn that during his term as prime minister, we have not gone to war. He explains his success by stating that war became superfluous once the Israel he headed demonstrated a resolve and determination that deterred its enemies.

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Challenging politics as usual in the U.S.
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
by Rami Khouri - (Opinion) October 29, 2012 - 12:00am

  Two very different ways for the United States to deal with Arabs and Israelis were on show last week in the United States. The contrast was stunning between the televised debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in which “I Love Israel more than You Love Israel” was the background theme song that permeated most discussions of issues, and a letter to Congress by 15 American religious leaders asking for aid to Israel to be assessed according to law-based human rights standards that Washington applies around the world.

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The rich irony: Romney’s many financial ties to Iran
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times of Israel
by Mel Levine - (Blog) October 27, 2012 - 12:00am

During last Monday’s foreign policy debate, President Obama systematically refuted Governor Mitt Romney’s accusations about US policy on Iran.

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Time to stop digging and start building
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
by Matthew Brooks - (Opinion) October 29, 2012 - 12:00am

  As Will Rogers said, “When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging!" In the last four years, the Obama administration has dug our country deeper and deeper into several painful and dangerous holes. It's time to stop digging and find better solutions.

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