September 27th, 2012

Half of Israelis 'fear for the state's existence' if war breaks out with Iran ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yossi Verter - September 27, 2012 - 12:00am The Jewish New Year that began last week doesn't seem to hold much optimism for Israeli citizens: A majority rates the chance of a war breaking out with Iran in the coming year as "high" or "medium," according to a new Haaretz-Dialog survey. And half of Israelis say they either "fear" or "greatly fear" for the state's continued existence if such a war breaks out. » Read more

Israelis shrug at Netanyahu's urgent warnings on Iran ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Christa Case Bryant - September 25, 2012 - 12:00am Even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presses the United States for “red lines” on Iran’s nuclear development and Iran ramps up its rhetoric, Israelis don’t seem to be expecting a war with Iran anytime soon – and are not frantically preparing for one. » Read more

Netanyahu promises tough response to Ahmadinejad ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Douglas Hamilton - September 26, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday promised a tough response at the United Nations to the latest verbal attacks on Israeli by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and said he was determined to stop Iran developing nuclear weapons. Before boarding a flight to New York to address the annual U.N. General Assembly, Netanyahu issued an open letter to Israelis marking the end of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the most sacred holiday in the Jewish calendar. » Read more

Egypt: No need to amend treaty with Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press September 26, 2012 - 12:00am CAIRO —A spokesman for Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi said Wednesday that there is currently no need to amend the peace treaty with Israel, despite calls in Cairo to revise the 1979 accord to allow the country to beef up its presence in the Sinai Peninsula to combat militants there, the state news agency reported. » Read more

Hamas Leader Meshaal's Exit Sparks Reports of Internal Strife ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Hayat by Tamer Samadi, Mohammad Younes - September 26, 2012 - 12:00am Informed sources in the Hamas movement said the head of the movement’s political bureau, Khaled Meshaal, was discontent with accusations made against him "from within the closed leadership rooms in the Gaza Strip," particularly those made by two leaders, Mahmoud el-Zahar and Khalil al-Hayya. The sources described these accusations as "flawed, shameful and made against a man who served the movement for many years.” » Read more

Abu-Marzuq most likely to head Hamas - Sources ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Saleh Al-Naami - September 26, 2012 - 12:00am   Gaza, Asharq Al-Awsat- with Hamas officially announcing that Khalid Mishal, head of its Political Bureau, will not run again for a new term, sources in the Movement said that they expect to a large extent that his successor would be from the leaders abroad. » Read more

Palestinian delegation working quietly at UN ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency September 26, 2012 - 12:00am NEW YORK (Ma'an) -- In stark contrast to 2011, the Palestinian delegation to the UN General Assembly is working quietly and limiting its remarks to the media. Since Friday, few details have emerged of President Mahmoud Abbas' visit to New York for the UN's 67th General Assembly, or his plan to seek an upgrade to Palestine's status at the world body. » Read more

Abbas meets Clinton, Ashton ahead of UN speech ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency September 27, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas met US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday on the sidelines of a UN summit, the PA's official Wafa news agency reported. The report said the meeting in New York was attended by PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat, senior Abbas aides Nabil Abu Rudeina and Akram Haniyeh, and PLO ambassador Maen Areikat. Abbas was in New York for the 67th General Assembly of the United Nations, where he plans to seek an upgrade to Palestine's status at the world body. » Read more

No date set for UN vote on Palestinian bid for recognition: official ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua September 26, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- A senior Palestinian official revealed Wednesday that no date has been set for the vote in the United Nations General Assembly to recognize a non-member state of Palestine. Palestinian Foreign Minister Reyad al-Malki, who is currently in New York to attend the UN General Assembly meetings, told " Voice of Palestine" radio that the issue is not related to the Palestinian readiness. » Read more

Q&A: Palestinian bid for upgraded UN status ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News September 27, 2012 - 12:00am The Palestinians are to ask the United Nations to upgrade their status to become a "non-member observer state" by the end of 2012. It follows a failed bid to join the international body as a full member state in 2011 because of a lack of support in the UN Security Council. Here is a guide to what is likely to happen and its significance. What are the Palestinians asking for? » Read more