Abbas says elections decree irrevocable ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 26, 2009 - 12:00am Facing criticism from the Hamas movement and others, President Mahmoud Abbas vowed on Saturday that elections would be held as scheduled. "The decision is irrevocable," he said, speaking in Ramallah at the opening session of the PLO's central committee. Abbas issued a presidential decree late Thursday night, setting the date for the next round of Palestinian legislative and presidential elections for 24 January 2010. Hamas wants the date moved back six months. » Read more

Unrest after Israeli raid on Al-Aqsa ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 26, 2009 - 12:00am At least 30 Palestinians were injured and 20 arrested when clashes between Israeli forces and youth erupted anew in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem on Sunday, Palestinian and Israeli officials said. In violence that followed a reported police raid on the sensitive Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Israeli forces fired stun grenades, tear-gas canisters and rubber-coated bullets at protesters. Palestinian youth hurled stones and set tires and piles of trash ablaze, according to Ma'an's correspondent, who was reporting from the scene. » Read more

No fix soon on Palestinian question ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Times by Arnaud De Borchgrave - (Opinion) October 26, 2009 - 12:00am Unless former Sen. George J. Mitchell, President Obama's special Middle Eastern envoy, is prepared to commute by government executive jet for the next five to 10 years, this isn't a bad time to turn in his badge. » Read more

Israel conference to open amid controversy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Dan Eggen - October 26, 2009 - 12:00am A Washington conference hosted this week by a new liberal Jewish advocacy group has sparked a diplomatic row and proxy battle over the Obama administration's stance on Israel at a time of simmering tensions between Washington and Israel's right-leaning government. J Street, an advocacy and lobbying firm created 18 months ago, is holding its first annual conference beginning Sunday, with participation from about 150 Democratic members of Congress, many current and former Israeli politicians and U.S. national security adviser James L. Jones, who will be giving a keynote speech Tuesday. » Read more

'In spite of everything, there will be peace' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Lally Weymouth - (Interview) October 26, 2009 - 12:00am In Israel, the office of the president is meant to be ceremonial. But at 86, President Shimon Peres, the last founder of the Jewish state to remain active in Israeli politics and a frequent counselor to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, hardly stays on the sidelines. Although Israelis are feeling pressured by a recent U.N. » Read more

'Just means against an unjust attack' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Lally Weymouth - (Interview) October 26, 2009 - 12:00am Lally Weymouth of Newsweek and The Post interviewed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Q: What did you think of the Goldstone report? » Read more

'Institution building' in Palestine ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Lally Weymouth - (Interview) October 26, 2009 - 12:00am Lally Weymouth of The Post and Newsweek interviewed Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad this week in Ramallah. Excerpts: Q: So you have a plan to create institutions and a state within two years? We've committed ourselves to a path of completing the task of institution building. [This means] the capacity to govern ourselves effectively in all spheres of government within two years. So does that mean a central bank, roads? » Read more

Israeli Police Clash With Palestinians at Sacred Compound in Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - October 26, 2009 - 12:00am Israeli police officers clashed Sunday with stone-throwing Palestinians at a site sacred to Muslims and Jews, in the latest sign of tension in this volatile city. The police said that their forces had entered the Temple Mount compound twice after Palestinians hurled rocks at officers patrolling there, and that they dispersed rioters with stun grenades. Palestinian medics at the scene said at least 17 Muslims were wounded. Nine police officers were slightly hurt by rocks, a police spokesman said. » Read more