Abbas aide meets Egypt intelligence chief ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 3, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas' senior aide Tayyeb Abdul-Rahim on Wednesday met Egypt's intelligence chief Raafat Shehata to discuss relations. Abdul-Rahim, Abbas' secretary-general, thanked the newly-appointed Shehata for Egypt's official and popular support for Palestinians and their struggle for statehood, and the Egyptian government's efforts to release Palestinians detained in Israeli jails, a statement from his office said.

Bypassing Israel, French capital endorses unprecedented agreement with ‘East Jerusalem’ ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times of Israel by Elhanan Miller - October 4, 2012 - 12:00am France’s most populous administrative zone, encompassing the capital Paris, has signed a cooperation agreement with the Palestinian district of Jerusalem, a move organizers say is designed to send a “political message” of solidarity with the Palestinians and their aspirations for a future capital in the city. The French region described the agreement as the “first of its kind.” » Read more

Settlers to appeal decision on Hebron building ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Tovah Lazaroff - October 4, 2012 - 12:00am Settlers plan to file a legal appeal to of the Civil Administration’s refusal to certify their purchase of a three family building, known as Beit Hamachpela, located in the West Bank city of Hebron. The refusal was based on technical reasons. Settlers moved into the building at the end of March after buying it from its Palestinian owners. In early April, security forces forcibly evicted them within a week pending investigation of the purchase claim and because they had failed to obtain the necessary permits to enter the building. » Read more

Arab-Israeli indicted on espionage charges ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ahiya Raved - October 4, 2012 - 12:00am It has been cleared for publication that a 26-year-old resident of Majd al-Kurum has been arrested and indicted on espionage charges following a joint police and Shin Bet investigation.  Milad Mohammed Khatib, a truck driver, is suspected of spying for Hezbollah and gathering intelligence on IDF bases and defense facilities. He has also allegedly tracked the movement of President Shimon Peres. » Read more

S. African Jews, minister at loggerheads amid West Bank labeling row ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Jeremy Gordin - October 4, 2012 - 12:00am JOHANNESBURG – The leader of South Africa's central Jewish organization recently slammed Trade and Industries Minister Rob Davies for ignoring the Jewish community when proposing legislation labeling goods imported from the West Bank as originating from “the Occupied Palestinian Territories.” » Read more

PA budget crisis expected to worsen ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 3, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian Authority does not expect a significant boost in foreign budget assistance to follow a meeting of donor countries in New York last month. A report presented by Nabil Qassis, the Palestinian Authority finance minister, has received no significant response, a senior government official told Ma'an. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said late Tuesday that the financial crisis would likely escalate widely in the coming weeks and months due to foreign aid shortfalls. » Read more

Hamas ministry rejects torture allegations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 3, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- The Ministry of Interior in Gaza on Wednesday said it was reviewing a Human Rights Watch report that accused the Hamas security forces of torturing detainees. The Hamas-run ministry says it applauds the role of human rights organizations in protecting rights. "We assure you that our detention centers are open for human rights centers," the ministry said in a statement. » Read more

Palestinian UN status likely to be debated in November ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters October 4, 2012 - 12:00am UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -- The United Nations is likely to hold a debate on whether to upgrade the Palestinians' UN status to a sovereign country in mid-November -- after the US election, the president of the 193-member UN General Assembly said Wednesday. Having failed last year to win recognition of full statehood at the United Nations, President Mahmoud Abbas said last week he would seek a less-ambitious status upgrade at the world body to make it a "non-member state" like the Vatican. » Read more

Israel's Haaretz paper strikes over layoffs ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press October 3, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM —Workers at Israel's respected Haaretz newspaper have begun a strike to protest layoffs. The workers said Wednesday that they would not update the Haaretz website until midnight and will not publish the next day's paper. The issue is the planned dismissal of about 100 employees. Haaretz has a relatively small circulation, but it is an influential daily popular with Israel's elite. » Read more

Who "Froze" The Peace Process? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Peter Beinart - (Opinion) October 3, 2012 - 12:00am Jeff Goldberg has a new Bloomberg column arguing that President Obama has not done enough to support the rebels in Syria, which had me mostly nodding in agreement until I reached this offhand comment about Israel: "Obama was wrong to draw a line in the sand over settlements, which are a derivative issue (if the Israelis and Palestinians settle their borders, the settlement issue will also be solved). But because he made it an issue without a thought to follow-up, he managed to freeze the process." » Read more