October 30th, 2012

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

IDF reached a dead end in Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Reuven Pedatzur - (Opinion) October 30, 2012 - 12:00am   The Israel Defense Forces has reached a dead end in the Gaza Strip. The defense minister and the prime minister are arrogantly threatening Hamas day and night with a painful reaction if the rocket fire doesn't stop. And the chief of staff has declared that "the IDF is powerful and ready to react, initiate and respond to any threat at any time." » Read more

Dennis Ross: Two-state solution is not dead, only way to Mideast peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chemi Shalev - (Analysis) October 30, 2012 - 12:00am   "Those who say that the two-state solution is dead are not serving the interests of peace and certainly not serving the interests of Israel and the Palestinians," says former top White House adviser and peace negotiator Dennis Ross. » Read more

US elections result unlikely to change Mideast policy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency by Abdul-Hakim Salah - (Opinion) October 30, 2012 - 12:00am As the countdown to the US presidential race nears, and polls show very close results, Palestinians both at popular and official levels are more concerned about an expected change in US foreign policy than about who will win.  Whether the US will devote greater efforts to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and be more realistic and objective when dealing with Palestinian and Israeli affairs, is the major question the Palestinians need an answer to. » Read more

The Jews of Cuyahoga County ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Roger Cohen - (Opinion) October 29, 2012 - 12:00am   Things are getting ugly among the Jews of Cuyahoga County, with family splits and dinner invitations declined. “I have never seen the divisions this acute,” said James Ratner, an executive of the Forest City real estate group. » Read more

Settler leaders lobby PM to pass Levy report ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Tovah Lazaroff - (Analysis) October 30, 2012 - 12:00am As Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu weighs bringing the Levy Report on legalizing West Bank outposts to the cabinet, settler leaders on Monday held a small protest outside the Knesset. The leaders plan to sit there throughout the week, as part of their lobby to get Netanyahu to approve the report, which states that West Bank settlements are legal under international law. » Read more

NGOs urge European states to cut trade with Israeli settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - (Analysis) October 30, 2012 - 12:00am   » Read more