'PLO leader backs Jordan annexation of W. Bank' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Oren Kessler - October 31, 2012 - 12:00am A senior leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization expressed support for a new proposal for Jordan's annexation of the West Bank, in an interview with the London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi. PLO leader Farouk Kaddoumi, a founding member of the PLO, said the move would involve the establishment of a Jordanian-Palestinian confederation. » Read more

Netanyahu: Israeli strike on Iran nuclear plants will only serve to calm Mideast ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - October 30, 2012 - 12:00am An Israeli strike against Iran's nuclear facilities won't destabilize the Middle East, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview to a French magazine on Tuesday, adding, moreover, that such a move would only serve to restore security in the region. » Read more

Israeli forces arrest 24 across the West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 31, 2012 - 12:00am NABLUS (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces detained 24 people across the West Bank overnight Tuesday, Israel's army said. Seven people were arrested in Nablus, five in Ramallah, three in Jenin, three in Hebron, two in the south Hebron hills, two in Tuqu, one in Anata and one in Yatta, an Israeli army spokeswoman said. They were detained "on suspicion of illegal activities", the spokeswoman added. » Read more

Israel to build '180 housing units' in East Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 31, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli authorities plan to build 180 new housings units in East Jerusalem, an Israeli peace group said Monday. Israel's Land Administration made the announcement last week, saying that the new units will be built for the families of Israeli security forces, Peace Now said. The area slated for construction is located between the Palestinian neighborhoods of Sur Baher and Um Lison, on land confiscated by Israel in 1970, Peace Now said. » Read more

Israeli group: 2 new outposts established in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 31, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Two illegal settler outposts have been recently established in the West Bank, representing the first such developments since 2005, Peace Now announced Wednesday. Foundations for Nahalei Tal, north of Ramallah, and Tzofim North, in Qalqiliya, have been built over the last few months and the outposts now contain mobile homes, electricity, water, roads and infrastructure, the Israeli peace group said. » Read more

Israeli rightists unite while center-left remains in disarray as elections near ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua October 31, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Israel's governing Likud party approved teaming up with Yisrael Beiteinu in a move that united the country's right-of-center forces and left contenders on the left treading water ahead of the elections slated for early next year. » Read more

Sudan dismisses Israeli concerns on arms supplies ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters October 30, 2012 - 12:00am KHARTOUM, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Sudan dismissed as "misleading" Israeli allegations it supplies arms to foes of the Jewish state and said there was no foreign involvement in a munitions factory Khartoum says was bombed by Israel. » Read more

Syria rebels bring fight to pro-Assad Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters October 31, 2012 - 12:00am BEIRUT, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Syrian rebels said on Wednesday they had formed a brigade of sympathetic Palestinians in a Damascus district to fight armed Palestinians aligned with President Bashar al-Assad. » Read more

Netanyahu to push tougher Iran sanctions in France ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press October 31, 2012 - 12:00am PARIS — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will urge French leaders to help strengthen sanctions against Iran and efforts to fight terrorism. » Read more

Investigators to Exhume Arafat ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press October 30, 2012 - 12:00am A French official says criminal investigators from France will exhume Yasir Arafat’s remains next month to try to find out how the Palestinian leader died. A separate Swiss investigative team will arrive in the West Bank city of Ramallah at the same time. The push to re-examine Mr. » Read more