October 26th

Europe set for closer trade ties with Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Ferry Bidermann - October 25, 2012 - 12:00am ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS // The European Union took a step towards closer trade ties with Israel despite tensions over the construction of settlements in the Palestinian territories. European opponents of Israel's settler policy, including NGOs, several political blocs and activists, now pin their hopes on a growing movement towards a consumer boycott of goods from Israeli settlements. The European parliament voted by a large margin on Tuesday to open up Europe to Israeli pharmaceutical products after years of delays caused by opposition to the settlement policy. » Read more

'Israeli attack' on Sudanese arms factory offers glimpse of secret war ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Ian Black - October 25, 2012 - 12:00am No one in Israel is admitting that its pilots carried out a long-range raid against a munitions factory in Sudan, said to be supplying weapons to the Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip. But no one is denying it either. Amos Gilad, a senior defence ministry official, ducked a direct question, praising the capabilities of Israel's air force and calling Sudan "a dangerous terrorist state". » Read more

Ahead of Israel election, PA bid in UN may push Netanyahu to harsh unilateral reaction, diplomats say ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - October 26, 2012 - 12:00am The Palestinian Authority's bid for UN recognition as a non-member observer state could lead to a new intifada or the PA's collapse, Israeli diplomats are warning countries worldwide as part of an intensive diplomatic campaign against the move. » Read more

In Israel, Arab MKs seek the impossible - voters ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Jack Khoury - October 26, 2012 - 12:00am Today, the Arab and Muslim world will observe Eid al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice. The holiday atmosphere has been felt since the start of the week. In recent days, stores and shopping malls in Arab towns and villages in the Galilee and the Little Triangle area of Baka al-Garbiyeh, Taibeh and Tira have been packed. Concurrently, however, support committees operating within mosques report that they are fielding numerous calls for assistance from those lacking the resources to prepare holiday meals. » Read more

UN expert calls for boycott of companies in settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Michelle Nichols - October 25, 2012 - 12:00am UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -- A frustrated UN investigator on Palestinian human rights urged a boycott of companies tied to Jewish settlements on occupied Palestinian land on Thursday, while the United States criticized the call as "irresponsible and unacceptable." Richard Falk, the independent special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian Territories, said the companies - which include Hewlett Packard, Motorola, Volvo and Caterpillar - should be boycotted until they adhered to international rights standards and practices. » Read more

Israeli official: Egypt not doing enough in Sinai ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Amy Teibel - October 25, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM —Israel's vice premier voiced rare public criticism of Egypt on Thursday, saying it isn't doing enough to curb Islamist militants operating in Egypt's Sinai desert. The timing of Moshe Yaalon's comments also appeared unusual, given that Egypt spent the previous day brokering an end to the latest round of fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip after several days of rocket fire from Gaza and Israeli airstrikes. » Read more

Churches condemn Israeli security barrier ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press October 25, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM —The heads of Catholic churches in the Holy Land are condemning the route of Israel's security barrier near Bethlehem, saying it affects the livelihood of Christian families there. The churches said in a statement that the barrier would affect the lives of 58 families who live off the land. » Read more

Netanyahu Announces Coalition With a Nationalist Party ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - October 25, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — The prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced Thursday that his conservative Likud Party would run on a joint ticket with the nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu Party in January elections. The surprise joining of forces immediately shook up Israel’s political map and was apparently intended to cement Mr. Netanyahu’s chances of leading the next government. » Read more

Israeli Officials Asked to Be Silent on Issue of U.S.-Iran Talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Jodi Rudoren - October 25, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent an e-mail on Monday to its embassies and consulates around the world, sharing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration that he had no knowledge about the possibility of bilateral talks between the United States and Iran, and advising others not to speak publicly about the issue. » Read more

October 25th

Disappointing Palestine Elections Point to Fundamental Issues ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Ayyam by Talal Awkal - (Opinion) October 22, 2012 - 12:00am The results of the municipal elections did not meet the expectations of election officials in the West Bank. In fact, the outcome of the elections reflects the worsening political scene across the Palestinian territories. These local elections, which were supposed to be a cause for celebration for Palestinians, were a far cry from the 2006 legislative elections, which many Arabs wish to witness again. These were the first municipal elections to take place in seven years, and only occurred following repeated delays. » Read more