Hamas upset about new Egyptian policy towards Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua October 3, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement is upset about Egypt's mounting security campaign on the borderline area between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, a well-informed source in Gaza said Tuesday. The source, close to Hamas and speaking on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that the movement watches with anger and disappointment the latest developments along the border. » Read more

PA seeks help from Europe over resolution draft ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon - October 3, 2012 - 12:00am The Palestinian Authority wants EU countries to help draft a resolution that would admit “Palestine” as a non-member state in the UN General Assembly in an effort to gain EU support for the move, The Jerusalem Post has learned. PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat met with the heads of EU missions in Jerusalem last month and asked them – either as individual countries or collectively as the EU – to help draft the resolution that will be taken to the world body. So far no country has expressed a willingness to do so. » Read more

Vote on Palestinian UN bid within two months: Abbas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua October 3, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced Tuesday that the bid for the UN recognition of Palestine as a non-member state will be presented and voted on in October or November. » Read more

Israeli premier to visit Europe, discuss Iran ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Ian Deitch - October 3, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — An Israeli official says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Europe in a few months to persuade leaders to step up sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. The official spoke anonymously Tuesday because he was not authorized to discuss the issue with reporters. Netanyahu told the U.N. last week that Iran will likely have the bomb by next summer. He has said he does not rule out a military strike. » Read more

UN Agency: Israel Continues to Impede Palestinians' Access to Basic Services ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - October 3, 2012 - 12:00am A new report published by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) last week stated that many of the movement restrictions in place on Palestinians in the West Bank were applied during the four years following the outbreak of the second Intifada, and most of them remain in place to this day, despite significant improvements in West Bank security. » Read more