How will the election affect U.S. efforts for Mideast peace? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua November 5, 2010 - 12:00am GAZA, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday of trying to hinder national reconciliation. The accusation followed Abbas' remarks that security control in the Palestinian territories can not be shared with Hamas. Abbas statements "meant to ruin Damascus meeting" next week, in which Hamas and Abbas' Fatah party will discuss inter- reconciliation, especially the security issue, Hamas Spokesman Ayman Taha told Xinhua. » Read more

Haaretz exposé / State gave East Jerusalem lands to rightist groups without tenders ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Nir Hasson - November 5, 2010 - 12:00am The Israel Lands Administration is transferring properties in the Silwan neighborhood and the Old City of Jerusalem to right-wing groups Elad and Ateret Cohanim for low prices, without issuing a tender as required by law, a Haaretz investigation has found. The state and the groups involved concealed the transactions and refused to give any information about them. At the end of a lengthy legal struggle conducted by left-wing activist Dror Etkes, the court decided to have the ILA release only part of the information, to prevent the properties' identification. » Read more

Hamas accuses Abbas of trying to fail reconciliation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua November 4, 2010 - 12:00am Islamic Hamas movement accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday of trying to hinder national reconciliation. The accusation followed Abbas' remarks that security control in the Palestinian territories can not be shared with Hamas. Abbas statements "meant to ruin Damascus meeting" next week, in which Hamas and Abbas' Fatah party will discuss inter- reconciliation, especially the security issue, Hamas Spokesman Ayman Taha told Xinhua. » Read more

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/how-will-the-election-affect-u-s-efforts-for-mideast-peace-1.323023 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Lara Friedman - (Opinion) November 5, 2010 - 12:00am The bottom line of this week's midterm Congressional elections: The House of Representatives is now in the hands of the Republicans, while the Democrats still control the Senate, albeit by a smaller majority. What does this election mean for American efforts to promote Israeli-Palestinian peace? The conventional answer is: Buckle your seat belts - we're in for a bumpy ride. The more serious answer is: It depends mainly on President Obama. » Read more

UK: Israeli officials shouldn't fear arrest ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman by Ian Deitch - November 4, 2010 - 12:00am Israeli officials should not fear arrest warrants initiated by pro-Palestinian activists when they travel to Britain on official business, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Thursday. Hague's comments sought to reassure Israeli leaders after they suspended an annual strategic meeting in Britain last month due to fears they could be arrested under the principle of "universal jurisdiction." Pro-Palestinian activists in Britain have sought the arrest of Israeli officials under the principle, which allows courts to prosecute alleged war crimes from elsewhere in the world. » Read more

UN Gaza leaders given submachine guns for protection 'against Hamas' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chaim Levinson - November 5, 2010 - 12:00am The defense establishment has taken the unusual step of granting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency approval to take four weapons into Gaza. The weapons, submachine guns, are to serve the security detail guarding the heads of the agency in Gaza. The request to bring in the weapons was made three years ago and approved last week. The director of UNRWA's activities in Gaza, John Ging, said on his website that his life is in constant danger and he needs more suitable protection than the handguns his bodyguards had been carrying. » Read more

Israelis mull leaving settlers in Palestine ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman by Amy Teibel - November 5, 2010 - 12:00am It has become an article of faith in the Israeli-Palestinian equation: Israel's withdrawal from occupied lands must be accompanied by a removal of Jewish settlers. But perhaps there's another option. Although it's hardly mainstream thinking, voices on both sides are quietly contemplating an alternative: Perhaps some Jews can live in a future Palestine, even if only in small numbers, the way Arabs live in Israel. » Read more

Hilltop Youth presents: Cursing lexicon ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Akiva Novick - November 5, 2010 - 12:00am With the end of the construction freeze and the beginning of the outpost-razing season, settlers present a new lexicon of conversational curse words for everyday use. The new pocket book dictionary has been distributed recently among Hilltop Youth, and contains behavioral guidelines to be followed during the razing of outposts, as well as a list of recommended swear words to use against police officers. » Read more

Palestinians to give U.S. peace effort more time ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Andrew Quinn - November 4, 2010 - 12:00am The Palestinians will give the United States several more weeks to try to relaunch direct peace talks with Israel, but will not buckle on their key demand for a halt to Israeli settlement activity, a top Palestinian official said on Thursday. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said that an Arab League decision on Oct. 9 giving the United States one month to persuade Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop settlements could slip -- but that the core demand would remain unchanged. » Read more

Abbas: Israel building ferociously in Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews November 5, 2010 - 12:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated that he would not resume direct peace talks with Israel until it freezes construction in the West Bank's settlements. After meeting US envoy Mitchell in Washington, chief negotiator Erekat says, 'Key is in Netanyahu's hands. The choice is his: settlements or peace. He cannot have both' "Our demand to halt settlement construction is not a precondition," Abbas said in response to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claims. "We reached an agreement with the Israelis on this matter when we accepted the road map back in 1995. » Read more