October 19th, 2012

Many disillusioned Arabs say voting is pointless ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Ilene Prusher - October 18, 2012 - 12:00am At the Khubez bakery and coffee shop in the village of Abu Ghosh, west of Jerusalem, men meet for coffee and conversation every morning. Faisal Abdul Rahman is in the minority, because he says he’ll vote in national elections this January. Most of the others, including Muhammad Ibrahim – who has worked with Abdul Rahman in construction in the past – say that voting is pointless. » Read more

Hamas vows to kidnap more Israeli soldiers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff - October 18, 2012 - 12:00am Hamas vowed Thursday to abduct more Israeli soldiers and hold them as bargaining chips for militants in Israeli jails, on the anniversary of the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. A Hamas spokesman said that "soldiers of the enemy can be a target anytime, they can be killed, wounded or held captive by militants." » Read more

Syrian rebels 'killed Palestinian leader' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 19, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Gunmen from the Free Syrian Army on Friday assassinated a Palestinian leader in Deraa refugee camp, the Palestinian Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command said. Free Syrian Army rebels shot dead PFLP-GC leader Adel Hasan in the southern Syrian city, PFLP-GC said in a statement. PFLP-GC added that Palestinians would continue to support the Syrian people and resist "terrorists" trying to overthrow President Bashar Assad. » Read more

Scholars say Jewish shift to GOP a long way off ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Rachel Zoll - October 18, 2012 - 12:00am NEW YORK —Like Chicago Cubs fans in spring, Jewish Republicans start every presidential election season hoping this will be their year: American Jews, who have voted overwhelmingly Democratic for decades, will start a significant shift to the political right. But scholars who study Jewish voting patterns say not this year. Or anytime soon, for that matter. Although recent studies have found potential for some movement toward the GOP, analysts say any revolution in the U.S. Jewish vote is a long way off. » Read more

TV show 'Homeland' irks Lebanese, Israelis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Bassem Mroue - October 18, 2012 - 12:00am BEIRUT —Militants carrying assault weapons clear the area around a street, shouting in Arabic for people to get out of the way. A jeep pulls up: The world's No. 1 jihadi has arrived for a meeting with top Hezbollah commanders. On rooftops, U.S. snipers crouch unseen, the kingpin in their crosshairs at last. The scene, from a recent episode of the hit U.S. Showtime series "Homeland," is supposed to be Beirut. But it is really in Israel, a country similar enough in some areas to stand in for Lebanon, yet a world away in most other respects. » Read more

Morsi’s office confirms warm letter to Peres is authentic ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times of Israel October 18, 2012 - 12:00am A spokesman for Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi confirmed on Thursday that the president had sent a letter to Israeli counterpart Shimon Peres calling him a good friend. The letter, presented to Peres by incoming ambassador Atef Salem on Wednesday, sparked an outcry in Egypt for marking a new level of normalization, with one Muslim Brotherhood official calling it a “fabrication.” » Read more

More than 1,000 women running in Palestinian elections ATFP World Press Roundup Article from CNN by Samuel Burke, Claire Calzonetti - October 18, 2012 - 12:00am This Saturday, Palestinians in the West Bank will hold elections for the first time in six years, voting for municipal leaders. It takes place against a backdrop of a deep sense of frustration with the split between Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah, the stalled economy, and the stalemate with Israel over final statehood. What's so unusual about this election is the number of women running.  Maysoun Qawasmi is leading the first all-female independent ticket, their slogan: 'by participating, we can'. » Read more

Palestinians, heading to the polls, complain about lack of competition ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Karin Brulliard, Sufian Taha - October 19, 2012 - 12:00am HEBRON, West Bank — When local elections open on Saturday, Palestinians across the West Bank will exercise their right to vote for the first time in six years. Here in this city, the poll will carry even more significance: A long 37 years have passed since residents last cast ballots for their municipal council. » Read more

Palestinian local elections kick off in West Bank among concerns ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua October 18, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian municipal elections started in the West Bank Thursday for the first time since 2005 among concerns of excluding the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. The voting on Thursday was allocated for policemen and security staff, and the polling stations will be open for more than 518,000 eligible voters Saturday, Palestinian officials said. » Read more

Israel approves more expansion of settlement near Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Ori Lewis - October 18, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Israel on Thursday issued a detailed plan for the building of some 800 new homes on annexed land in the West Bank that is certain to attract further international condemnation of its settlement policies. A planning committee issued a call for bids from contractors to start building 797 housing units on the western slopes of the urban settlement of Gilo, an area that Israel seized in the 1967 Middle East war and later declared part of Jerusalem. The annexation has never been recognised internationally. » Read more