Israeli Defense Chief Says Iran Postponed Nuclear Ambitions ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Rick Gladstone - October 31, 2012 - 12:00am Israel’s defense minister said Tuesday that the country had interpreted Iran’s conversion of some enriched uranium to fuel rods for civilian use as evidence that Iran had delayed ambitions to build a nuclear weapon. » Read more

PLO lobbies for convincing win in UN vote ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency by Noah Browning, Ali Sawafta - October 31, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (Reuters) -- Palestinians have launched a diplomatic blitz aimed at garnering a strong majority for a vote granting them non-member statehood at the United Nations slated for next month, officials said Tuesday. Despite heading for a sure victory in the UN General Assembly, mostly consisting of post-colonial states historically sympathetic to the Palestinians, West Bank diplomats are courting European countries to further burnish their campaign. » Read more

October 30th

Jimmy Carter on Mideast peace, Arab Spring and looming US elections ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ahram Online (Interview) October 30, 2012 - 12:00am   Ahram Online: You said in a recent interview that Israel 'never' keeps its promises regarding the rights of Palestinians. Were there any changes on the ground that prompted the so-called 'Elders' to visit the region to attempt to restart peace talks? » Read more

The Not So Special U.S.-Israel Relationship ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Andrew Apostolou - (Opinion) October 29, 2012 - 12:00am   » Read more

Israel is at War, Whether Netanyahu Admits it or Not ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Yaron London - (Opinion) October 29, 2012 - 12:00am   Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toots his own horn that during his term as prime minister, we have not gone to war. He explains his success by stating that war became superfluous once the Israel he headed demonstrated a resolve and determination that deterred its enemies. » Read more

Challenging politics as usual in the U.S. ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Rami Khouri - (Opinion) October 29, 2012 - 12:00am   Two very different ways for the United States to deal with Arabs and Israelis were on show last week in the United States. The contrast was stunning between the televised debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in which “I Love Israel more than You Love Israel” was the background theme song that permeated most discussions of issues, and a letter to Congress by 15 American religious leaders asking for aid to Israel to be assessed according to law-based human rights standards that Washington applies around the world. » Read more

The rich irony: Romney’s many financial ties to Iran ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times of Israel by Mel Levine - (Blog) October 27, 2012 - 12:00am During last Monday’s foreign policy debate, President Obama systematically refuted Governor Mitt Romney’s accusations about US policy on Iran. » Read more

Time to stop digging and start building ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Matthew Brooks - (Opinion) October 29, 2012 - 12:00am   As Will Rogers said, “When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging!" In the last four years, the Obama administration has dug our country deeper and deeper into several painful and dangerous holes. It's time to stop digging and find better solutions. » Read more

The end of rocket fire from Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) October 29, 2012 - 12:00am There is an argument within the Israeli security establishment regarding what should be done vis-àvis the Gaza Strip. All agree that the continued rocket fire from Gaza against the civilian population in the south is intolerable and must be stopped. The argument is mainly between those who favor a major military operation a la Cast Lead II and those who believe that developments in Egypt, Qatari influence in Gaza and some of the more pragmatic elements inside of Hamas can contain the more radical militant forces inside the Gaza strip. » Read more

Qatar’s Gaza gambit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Kenneth Bandler - (Opinion) October 29, 2012 - 12:00am Recep Tayyip Erdogan earnestly wanted to be the first head of state to visit Hamas-controlled Gaza. Turkey’s Islamist prime minister had hoped to add the stop to his Cairo visit in September 2011, when he also traveled to Tunisia and Libya to join new governments in celebrating the Islamist fruits of the Arab Spring. But he changed his mind just before leaving Turkey for his regional tour. “I will not visit Gaza, but I’m longing to visit Gaza as soon as possible,” said a disheartened Erdogan. » Read more