Never mind the settlements, it's the absurdity ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - (Opinion) October 31, 2012 - 12:00am Compared to the value of the security technology Israel sells overseas, the value of European imports from the settlements are mere pocket money. Israel's economy won't be hurt even if European governments adopt the measures proposed by a group of nongovernmental organizations in order to shrink trade with the settlements and reduce the contradiction between European pronouncements ("the settlements are illegal" ) and imported dates from the Jordan Valley. » Read more

Obama reelection would be bad for Jerusalem, Rivlin says ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times of Israel by Ilan Ben Zion - October 30, 2012 - 12:00am A week before Americans head to the polls, Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin on Tuesday said that US President Barack Obama’s reelection would bode ill for the State of Israel. » Read more

As Morsi and Brotherhood spur alarm, what to do about Egypt? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ron Kampeas - October 30, 2012 - 12:00am WASHINGTON (JTA) – Jewish groups looking for signals from Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi regarding his views were appalled when one finally came -- in the form of a nod and what appeared to be a muttered “amen” to an imam’s call for God to “deal harshly” with the Jews. » Read more

Scots Hotel: Why the Church of Scotland has a Galilee getaway ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News by Angus Roxburgh - October 30, 2012 - 12:00am Spot the odd one out: Hilton, Marriott, Radisson, Church of Scotland, Holiday Inn. Yes, you're right, they are all names of hotels apart from… but wait a minute, the Church of Scotland also owns a hotel, and a very splendid one at that. » Read more

'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