Official: 51 states 'undecided' over Palestinian UN bid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
(Analysis) November 9, 2012 - 1:00am

 Fifty-one countries are undecided over whether to support in its bid to become a non-member state of the UN, an Arab League official said Friday.

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Russia’s Putin hosts Israeli counterpart for talks on economy, international crises
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
November 8, 2012 - 1:00am

MOSCOW — Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has hosted his Israeli counterpart Shimon Peres for talks focusing on economic ties and international crises. Putin said at the start of Thursday’s meeting with Peres that bilateral ties have been developing successfully. The two leaders were expected to discuss the situation in Syria among other international issues.

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Blair: Obama win opens way for new Mideast push
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Crispian Balmer - November 8, 2012 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -- President Barack Obama's election victory opens the way for renewed efforts to revive moribund peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, Middle East envoy Tony Blair said on Wednesday. Speaking hours after Obama won a second term in office, the former British prime minister told Reuters he did not believe the United States had lost interest in the decades-old conflict, adding that he hoped to see a fresh initiative soon.

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After jail sentence, Bassem Tamimi declared prisoner of conscience
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
November 8, 2012 - 1:00am

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Palestinian activist Bassem Tamimi, who has been sentenced to four months in prison in a plea bargain with an Israeli court, is a prisoner of conscience and should be released, Amnesty International said on Wednesday. Tamimi was detained on Oct. 24 during a protest at an Israeli supermarket in a Jewish settlement near Ramallah. Ofer military court sentenced him to four months in prison and fined him 5,000 shekels ($1,280) in a plea bargain on Tuesday, Amnesty said.

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Obama's test
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
(Editorial) November 8, 2012 - 1:00am

America's ceremonial political rituals played themselves out on Wednesday in all their glory before the entire world. There was the respectable appearance by the loser, who could barely conceal his disappointment but still praised the victor to the point where you wondered if perhaps he voted for him and not for himself; and the passionate address of the winner, who made similar gracious gestures to the loser and challenged the entire nation to unite and overcome together the many obstacles that lie in its path.

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Sovereignty over occupied territories
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
by Kamel S. Abu Jaber - (Opinion) November 7, 2012 - 1:00am

A voice is being heard loud in the wilderness of Arab politics. It carries with it the weight of experience and a deep knowledge of Arab politics. It is the voice of HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal, joined, lately, by that of Farouk Qaddoumi of the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

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Appoint Bill Clinton Peace Envoy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
by Bernard Avishai - (Opinion) November 7, 2012 - 1:00am

President Obama's next move in the Middle East is so obvious I almost hesitate to suggest it: before the Israeli election season completely unfolds, ask, cajole, or beg Bill Clinton to take on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

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A Memo to the US President
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from NOW Lebanon
by Hussein Ibish - (Opinion) November 6, 2012 - 1:00am

Dear Mr. President: congratulations on winning today's election. The third debate with your esteemed opponent reflected a broad consensus on foreign policy. Both of you therefore appeared well-positioned to make any necessary course corrections, but the job is yours. US Middle East policy needs to be tweaked rather than overhauled. On most pressing issues, current policies reflect a reasonable balance between American values and interests, and the really existing options and politically plausible positions for any administration. 

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Israel preparing to ‘ensure collapse’ of Palestinian U.N. bid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
November 6, 2012 - 1:00am

Israel is preparing to counter a Palestinian bid for enhanced United Nations status later this month, a foreign ministry spokesman told AFP on Tuesday. The comments came as Israel’s private Channel 10 reported that Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman last month pledged to ensure the “collapse” of the Palestinian Authority if the bid for non-member status at the General Assembly goes forward.

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Turkish court tries Israelis in Gaza flotilla case
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
November 6, 2012 - 1:00am

ISTANBUL —A Turkish court on Tuesday opened a trial in absentia of four former Israeli military commanders in the killing of nine people aboard a Turkish aid ship that tried to break a Gaza blockade. Prosecutors have demanded life in prison for several officers in command at the time of the 2010 Israeli raid, but it appears unlikely that any sentence could be carried out.

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