November 3rd

Source: Israel to resume tax transfers soon ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 3, 2011 - 12:00am Israel has decided to stop transferring tax revenue to the Palestinian Authority in the aftermath of UNESCO's acceptance of Palestine as a full member, at least temporarily. But according to a high-ranking official in the Palestinian government, Israel is facing considerable international pressure and is unlikely to continue the sanctions long past the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Ahda. » Read more

EU deeply concerned by Israeli settlement plans ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters November 3, 2011 - 12:00am The European Union expressed deep concern on Wednesday about Israel's decision to speed up settlement activity in response to the Palestinian accession to the United Nations cultural agency UNESCO. Israel decided on Tuesday to accelerate Jewish settlement building and withhold Palestinian Authority funds, moves likely to further hold up international efforts to revive peace talks. "I am deeply concerned by the latest Israeli decisions," EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement, adding that settlement building was against international law. » Read more

US 'deeply disappointed' in Israel settlement move ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters November 3, 2011 - 12:00am The United States is "deeply disappointed" with Israel's decision to speed up settlement building following UNESCO's decision to grant full membership to the Palestinians, the White House said on Wednesday. White House spokesman Jay Carney said the move did not advance the goal of bridging long-standing differences between Israelis and the Palestinians. » Read more

November 2nd

Time slipping for Obama Israel trip ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Politico by Carrie Budoff Brown - (Opinion) November 2, 2011 - 12:00am Former President George W. Bush waited until his eighth year in office to touch down in Israel. His father, George H.W. Bush, didn’t go at all. Neither did Ronald Reagan. But for President Barack Obama, the call of Israel has always been more urgent. » Read more

UNESCO fiasco ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Chicago Tribune (Editorial) November 2, 2011 - 12:00am The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, aka UNESCO, is a leading force in promoting literacy, science and education — in other words, vital international values. It does a lot of good work around the world, from promoting literacy in Afghanistan to training teachers in Africa. That's why the U.S. contributes about $80 million annually to UNESCO, or 22 percent of its budget. Or did, until Monday. » Read more

UNESCO and After: Multiple Wrongs Won't Secure Rights ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Council On Foreign Relations by Robert Danin - (Blog) November 2, 2011 - 12:00am The vote by UNESCO to admit Palestine as a full member distracts international attention from the only efforts that will make Palestine a genuine reality: negotiations and state-building efforts on the ground. No good has emerged from the past twenty-four hours’ developments, but already we are seeing considerable harm. » Read more

Condoleezza Rice says prospects for Mideast peace have worsened under Obama ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post November 1, 2011 - 12:00am WASHINGTON — Prospects for Israeli-Palestinian peace are far worse today than when she left office, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday, and she partly blames the Obama administration’s tough line against Israeli settlement-building for spoiling chances for new talks. “When you look at where we are now, we’re a long, long way back from where we were,” Rice said in an interview with The Associated Press. » Read more

Arafat's widow denies Tunisia's corruption charges ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Kifah Zaboun - November 2, 2011 - 12:00am TUNIS/RAMALLAH, Asharq Al-Awsat – The Tunisian government has issued an arrest warrant for the widow of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, in connection with a corruption investigation into the “International School of Carthage”, the Tunisian state-run news agency reported on Monday. The International School of Cartage was founded by Suha Arafat – wife of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat – and former Tunisian First Lady Leila Ben Ali Trabelsi, wife of ousted Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. » Read more

A significant victory for Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News (Editorial) November 2, 2011 - 12:00am Winning their bid for full membership at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) is a great victory for the Palestinians. The importance of this is not confined to the membership per se. Rather, it should be seen within its wider context of its importance and immediacy in giving Palestinians their basic rights. » Read more

UN victory for Palestine needs no extra fallout ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National (Editorial) November 2, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinians won a symbolic but highly important victory on Monday when Unesco, the UN's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, awarded them full membership status, the first UN body to do so since a September request for greater recognition. » Read more