Don't Expect a Romney Intifadeh, the Palestinians Are Used to Disappointment ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Time Magazine by Tony Karon - (Opinion) September 19, 2012 - 12:00am It seems the writing is on the wall for the Palestinians: should Governor Mitt Romney win November’s presidential election, they have no credible reason to expect any help from the U.S. in realizing their national aspirations. In a recent Florida session with donors, a tape of which was posted by Mother Jones, the Republican nominee made clear he believes that a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — the standing policy of the U.S. » Read more

Handle With Care ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) September 18, 2012 - 12:00am In a testy exchange with the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, James Baker, then the U.S. secretary of state, set a standard in fantasy counterfactuals that I was sure could never be topped. » Read more

Bibi's Blunder ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy by David Rothkopf - (Opinion) September 18, 2012 - 12:00am Starting Sunday evening, we marked the beginning of the Jewish New Year. Numerologists with too much time on their hands noted that the digits of the year 5773 add up to the same numerical value as the word tovah, meaning good. That is supposed to be an omen, I suppose. But ever since Madonna embraced Kabala, I've been dubious about it. I like my omens more concrete and, where possible, drenched in irony. » Read more

Restructuring of PLO Is Key To Palestinian Reconciliation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from As-Safir by Hani al-Masri - (Opinion) September 18, 2012 - 12:00am Following a recent press conference, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that “reconciliation between [Palestinian] factions means holding elections” and that “there will be no further dialogue with Hamas unless the electoral commission resumes voter registration in the Gaza Strip.” » Read more

Energy Security a Priority for Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Hayat by Walid Khadduri - (Opinion) September 18, 2012 - 12:00am Israel is currently reviewing the policy on gas it intends to adopt in the future, shortly before natural gas production begins in the Tamar field in the spring of 2013. The ministerial committee set up by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and tasked by the government to draft policies on natural gas consumption at home as well as gas exports, finished drafting its final report on August 29, kicking off discussions over its contents. » Read more

Binyamin Netanyahu's Iran strategy erases the Palestinian problem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Chris McGreal - (Opinion) September 18, 2012 - 12:00am Binyamin Netanyahu's appearance on Meet the Press this weekend was telling. Interviewer David Gregory called him the "leader of the Jewish people". That's certainly how the Israeli prime minister would like to see himself, and he wouldn't be the first. » Read more

Blue and white elephant ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Eytan Gilboa - (Opinion) September 19, 2012 - 12:00am Ahead of the November presidential elections, it appears that the Democrats and Republicans are in a competition to show which party supports Israel more. The Republicans are attacking the Democrats over Obama's attitude toward Israel, while the Democrats are trying to return fire. On the surface this seems harmless, but actually it is a very negative and worrying development. » Read more

Giving Israel a new look at Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Zvi Barel - (Book Review) September 19, 2012 - 12:00am “Hamas offers two alternatives: 1. A separate track, dealing only with the release of Gilad Shalit in return for 1,000 Palestinian political prisoners. 2. A release of prisoners will take place in the broader context of a strategic approach ‏(as follows‏), and the number of prisoners released will not be in the hundreds.” » Read more

Learning about the Holocaust - in Arabic ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Khaled Diab - (Opinion) September 19, 2012 - 12:00am "Please excuse my broken Arabic," our guide, Yehuda Yarin, tells the mixed group of Palestinians and Israelis who have come to Yad Vashem to learn more about the Holocaust. It's a three-day joint excursion - a Tiyul-Rihla, the words for "trip" in Hebrew and Arabic - to Acre, Haifa and Jerusalem. » Read more

Not just Romney: Many in Middle East are losing faith in a two-state solution, too ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Christian Science Monitor by Christa Case Bryant - September 18, 2012 - 12:00am Jerusalem A newly leaked video shows presidential hopeful Mitt Romney questioning the longstanding US road map for peace in the Middle East – and, in fact, if the Palestinians want peace at all. » Read more