September 27th, 2012

Abbas set to renew bid to upgrade Palestine's UN status ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Hugh Naylor - September 27, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH // When Mahmoud Abbas addresses the UN General Assembly today, those in attendance could be forgiven if they experience a sense of déjà vu. During his speech at last year's annual gathering of the world body, the Palestinian Authority (PA) president announced his intention to seek recognition for a Palestinian state amid great fanfare and popular support back home. Today, he is expected to make a similar request. Only this time, the distinguished guests will notice the Palestinian leader doing so under less enthusiastic circumstances. » Read more

September 26th

Welcome to 'Fortress Gaza,' Home of the Newly Radicalized Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Atlantic by Zvika Krieger - (Opinion) September 25, 2012 - 12:00am Top officials in Hamas have confirmed this week that the group's leader, Khaled Mishaal, has decided to resign his post. Hamas official Salah al-Bardawil tried to dismiss any suspicions of internal discord: "He has decided to retire to make room for the younger members." But Mishaal's decision belies significant shifts within the organization. » Read more

Stop Blaming Bibi ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) September 25, 2012 - 12:00am It's been a bad month for Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli prime minister has been hammered for being trigger-happy on Iran, he won't see his good friend Barack Obama at the opening of the U.N. General Assembly, and he's being blasted for intervening in American politics. » Read more

Can Israel Win Turkey Over? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Milliyet by Semih Idiz - (Opinion) September 25, 2012 - 12:00am Israel is probing its relations with Turkey. Moderate remarks from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his extreme right-wing Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman reflect their search for reconciliation. » Read more

Abbas’ grim options ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Osama Al-Sharif - (Analysis) September 25, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas finds himself in an unenviable position as he prepares to fly to New York to pursue the difficult goal of upgrading Palestine’s status from observer status to a non-member observer state. » Read more

Netanyahu gets tangled up in US election ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News by Mark Mardell - (Analysis) September 24, 2012 - 12:00am Iran is not on the agenda. But it is on their minds. As the big United Nations meeting gets underway, the West's biggest foreign policy challenge is not likely to be discussed. » Read more

The Israeli prime minister is unfit to serve ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Sefi Rachlevsky - (Opinion) September 25, 2012 - 12:00am Early in the summer of 1983 Menahem Begin became unfit to serve as prime minister. For weeks this fact was concealed from the Israeli public by cabinet ministers and military leaders. » Read more

Palestinians set for Pyrrhic victory in United Nations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Crispian Balmer - (Analysis) September 26, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (Reuters) -- If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. After failing last year to win recognition of full statehood at the United Nations, President Mahmoud Abbas returns to New York on Thursday to ask the General Assembly for a less ambitious status upgrade. » Read more

No Drama at Turtle Bay ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast by Ziad Asali - (Opinion) September 26, 2012 - 12:00am At the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meeting, the world will be watching—though with markedly less intensity than last year—to see what the Palestinians will do. » Read more

PA minister suspected of sexual harassment revealed to be Fatah member in charge of coordination with Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff - September 25, 2012 - 12:00am The Palestinian minister that has been suspected of sexually harassing an employee was revealed to be Civil Affairs Minister Hussein al-Sheikh, a senior Fatah member and the person in charge of the civilian and security coordination with Israel. » Read more