October 16th

South Africa publishes West Bank labeling notice, despite negotiations with Jewish community
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times of Israel
October 15, 2012 - 12:00am


PRETORIA (JTA) — The South African Trade Ministry has published a second notice concerning the labeling of Israeli products, despite working with the Jewish community on a compromise.


Brave Film Tells Story of Egypt and Its Jews
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
by Aaron Ross - October 15, 2012 - 12:00am


Cairo — Sitting in a Cairo coffee shop, with his boyish face and gaunt physique, Amir Ramses looks at first glance like someone half his age. But the prominent 33-year-old film director has already directed three major commercial films and several acclaimed documentaries. His new film, the independently produced “Jews of Egypt,” Ramses says, is his most important feature film to date.


Palestinians Cry ‘Feed My Children’ as Abbas Rule Imperiled
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bloomberg
by Jonathan Ferziger, Fadwa Hodali - October 16, 2012 - 12:00am


In the Palestinian city of Ramallah, protesters thronged the streets this month shouting “feed my children” after the government once again failed to pay 170,000 civil servants their monthly salaries on time. In Hebron to the south, hundreds of demonstrators burned tires in September to protest the economic squeeze, while in Bethlehem residents tore down road signs to show their anger.


Stifled West Bank economy drains Palestinians' hopes
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
by Yolande Knell - October 16, 2012 - 12:00am


The city is the largest in the West Bank and a major commercial and industrial hub, accounting for about one third of the West Bank's GDP. Recently it was also the scene of some of the worst violence during Palestinian economic protests. Locals blame the discontent on high unemployment, low wages and the rising cost of living as well as the heavy burden of consumer debt. "Our economy depends 100% on customers and as you can see, now the customers have no money," says Ayman, a tour guide.


Rice: US does not accept legitimacy of settlements
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
October 16, 2012 - 12:00am


US Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Susan E. Rice said on Monday that the US "does not accept the legitimacy of Israeli settlement activity, and will continue to oppose any efforts to legalize outposts." Speaking at the Security Council Open Debate on the Middle East, Rice emphasized: "The fate of existing settlements must be dealt with by the parties along with other permanent-status issues."


PA plan would boost trade with Arab countries
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
October 12, 2012 - 12:00am


RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- The Palestinian Authority economy minister hopes to boost revenues for the occupied territories through increasing trade between Palestine and Arab states. Jawad al-Naji told Ma’an on Friday after participating in talks at the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation that opening Arab markets to Palestinian products would boost the economy. The Organization for Islamic Cooperation-sponsored conference was held in Turkey.


New iPhones snapped up in Gaza despite high prices, poverty
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
October 15, 2012 - 12:00am


GAZA CITY (Reuters) -- Apple's new iPhone 5 is selling well in the Gaza Strip despite inflated prices, reaching the enclave via smuggling tunnels even before high-tech hub Israel next door. The cutting edge smart phone is being snapped up for almost double what it costs in the United States, its price jacked up by middlemen on its circuitous delivery route from Dubai via tunnels linking the blockaded territory with Egypt.


In Gaza's smuggling tunnels, Egypt's interests trump Brotherhood ties
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
by Ahmed Aldabba, Kristen Chick - October 15, 2012 - 12:00am


As Egypt's closure of some of the smuggling tunnels from Gaza drives up prices in the tiny coastal enclave, it has also spurred anger toward Egypt’s new Islamist president for throttling one of Gaza's main sources of goods.


Israeli Army Radio ban on protest song raises controversy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Los Angeles Times
by Batsheva Sobelman - October 15, 2012 - 12:00am


JERUSALEM — A leading Israeli radio station's decision to ban for broadcast a protest song is stirring controversy and underscoring the sensitive intersection of art, politics and freedom of speech in the country.


Abbas secretly meets Israeli minister
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
October 15, 2012 - 12:00am


RAMALLAH, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas secretly met Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak in Jordan Thursday, a Palestinian source revealed Monday. King Abdullah II of Jordan also participated in the meeting which was held in Amman, the source added. The meeting focused on efforts to resume peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians and their plans to seek a state recognition through the United Nations.



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