Qatari Emir's Gaza visit may boost Hamas rule to international open-up ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua (Analysis) October 23, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The visit of the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Ben Khalifa al Thani on Tuesday to the Gaza Strip is politically symbolic, as it was the first ever visit of an Arab leader since Hamas' violent takeover of the coastal enclave in June 2007. » Read more

Support for Netanyahu not to be affected by Gaza region fighting ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Adam Gonn - (Analysis) October 24, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is standing for re-election on Jan. 22 next year and most polls indicate that his Likud party would become the largest party in Knesset (parliament) and that he would form the next government. » Read more

Who Threw Israel Under the Bus? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Efraim Halevy - (Opinion) October 23, 2012 - 12:00am ON Monday, in their final debate, Mitt Romney denounced President Obama for creating “tension” and “turmoil” with Israel and chided him for having “skipped Israel” during his travels in the Middle East. Throughout the campaign, Mr. Romney has repeatedly accused Mr. Obama of having “thrown allies like Israel under the bus.” » Read more

Among Americans in Israel, More Forceful Backing for Romney ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - October 23, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Americans living in Israel went to the polls this week, dropping sealed envelopes into improvised ballot boxes at community centers in this city and at other locations around the country.  Instead of a unifying experience, though, participating in the November presidential elections from afar seemed to accentuate the distance between the American Jewish voters here and those back in the United States. » Read more

Ambassador denies Palestinian involvement in armed clashes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Mohammed Zaatari - October 24, 2012 - 12:00am MAJDALYOUN, Lebanon: The Palestinian ambassador to Lebanon and representatives of rival factions said Tuesday that Palestinians were not involved in the recent armed clashes that erupted in Beirut. » Read more

Liberman vows to emphasize Jewish refugee issue ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Jeremy Sharon - October 24, 2012 - 12:00am “We will not give up on this goal,” Liberman told representatives from the Central Organization for Jews from Arab Countries and Iran on Tuesday afternoon in reference recent developments on his ministry’s efforts to bring the issue of Jewish refugee rights to public and diplomatic attention. » Read more

IDF judge: Troops must halt unlicensed settlement construction ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chaim Levinson - October 24, 2012 - 12:00am An Israeli military court has ruled that soldiers and police officers assigned to guard construction sites at West Bank settlements must ask to see building permits for the work, and to stop work at the site if valid licenses are not forthcoming. » Read more

Palestinians seek to enhance UN status to observer state ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - October 24, 2012 - 12:00am The Palestine Liberation Organization will distribute a position paper to European governments on Wednesday, asking to enhance Palestine's United Nations status to that of Observer State. The document will emphasize that the request is a follow-up to its existing application for UN membership, submitted on September 23, 2011. » Read more

High Court bans work on separation fence near West Bank farming village ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Nir Hasson - October 24, 2012 - 12:00am An injunction against beginning work on the separation fence between Israel and the West Bank in the area of the village of Batir was issued by the High Court of Justice Tuesday. The injunction followed a petition to the court by villagers, who say its construction would threaten ancient agricultural terraces and contravene a historic agreement made after the 1948 war. » Read more

Strikes paralyze West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 24, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian Authority cabinet on Tuesday called on civil servants to go back to work as strikes in ministries, universities, schools and refugee camps paralyzed the West Bank. The cabinet in its weekly meeting said employees who continued to strike would be "held liable." » Read more