October 17th

PA workers to strike over unpaid salaries ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 17, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- The Palestinian Authority's public workers union has called for full strike Wednesday and Thursday and again next week in protest of the government's failure to pay salaries. The head of the union, Bassam Zakarneh, said Tuesday that the Palestinian Authority was allowing the United States and Israel's pressure over the UN bid to affect the Palestinian people. » Read more

In letter, Abbas tells Obama still wants 2 states ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters October 17, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas sent a letter to US President Barack Obama on Tuesday insisting his government was still committed to the two-state solution. The letter, according to Abbas' political adviser Nimir Hammad, explains that the intended bid to the UN General Assembly to obtain the status of a non-member state was not a unilateral move. » Read more

Israel's Netanyahu banks on tough guy image to win early elections ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Christian Science Monitor by Christa Case Bryant - October 16, 2012 - 12:00am Jerusalem Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has come charging out of the gate with his reelection campaign, fashioning himself as a tough leader who is unrivaled in his ability to keep Israel safe and prosperous at a crucial time. » Read more

Uprooting of olive trees brings bitter harvest for Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Irish Times by Mark Weiss - October 17, 2012 - 12:00am PALESTINIANS PROTESTING against the uprooting of olive trees by West Bank Jewish settlers yesterday blocked the main 443 motorway to Jerusalem before being dispersed by Israeli border police using stun grenades. » Read more

Palestinians protesters shut West Bank highway to avoid settlers' raids ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua October 16, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian protesters and international peace activists on Tuesday briefly blocked a street in the West Bank allocated for the use of Israeli vehicles only. The protesters shut Route 443 on a highway linking Jerusalem and Tel Aviv near Ramallah city, causing traffic jam for half an hour. » Read more

Israeli DM denies reported meeting with Abbas in Jordan ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua October 16, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Defense Ministry on Tuesday denied a Palestinian report alleging that Minister Ehud Barak recently met with Palestinian National Authority (PNA) President Mahmoud Abbas in Jordan. » Read more

Israeli ex-PM Olmert faces appeal against his corruption case acquittals ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua October 17, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli State Attorney's office announced Tuesday evening it is appealing the acquittals of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in two corruption cases to the Supreme Court. The State Attorney's office notified Olmert's legal team about the appeals on Tuesday. » Read more

Israel counted food needs in Gaza blockade ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Amy Teibel - October 17, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — The Israeli military calculated the number of calories Gaza's residents would need to consume to avoid malnutrition during a sweeping blockade imposed on the Palestinian territory between 2007 and mid-2010, according to a document the Defense Ministry released under a court order. Critics claim the document is evidence that Israel limited food supplies in order to put pressure on Hamas, the violently anti-Israel militant group that seized power in the coastal strip in mid-2007. » Read more

Middle East: Antiaircraft Missile is Fired From Gaza, Israeli Officials Say ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press October 16, 2012 - 12:00am Israeli defense officials say that Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip have for the first time fired an antiaircraft missile at Israeli aircraft. The officials say the militants fired a Strela shoulder-fired missile at an Israeli helicopter operating over Gaza last week but missed their target. The officials said Israeli intelligence has long believed that militants in Gaza possessed these weapons, but this was the first time they were fired. » Read more

October 16th

Qatari emir to visit Gaza as 'Hamas reward for breaking Assad ties' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Hugh Naylor - (Analysis) October 16, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA CITY // The Qatari emir is to make an official visit to the Gaza Strip this week, in a move analysts say is to strengthen the country's influence with Arab Islamists and reward Hamas rulers for breaking ties with the Syrian president, Bashar Al Assad. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani would be the first Arab head of state to officially visit Gaza since the Palestinian Islamist group wrested control in 2007. » Read more