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.”

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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.

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Arafat widow questioned in French murder probe: source
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
October 17, 2012 - 12:00am

French investigators probing the death of Yasser Arafat questioned his widow Suha, who claims the veteran Palestinian leader may have been poisoned, in France in mid-September, a source told AFP Wednesday. France opened a murder enquiry in late August after Arafat’s family launched legal action following reports he may have died from radioactive polonium near Paris in 2004.

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Ulterior motives
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
(Editorial) October 17, 2012 - 12:00am

Palestine has once again faced vocal rejection of its statehood bid, this time in a statement from the United States declaring that such a move would set back the peace process. The U.S. has said the decision must include Israel, and has further warned European countries, in a private memo, not to support Palestine’s bid.

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Palestinians urged by Britain to delay 'non-member state' bid at UN
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Harriet Sherwood - October 17, 2012 - 12:00am

Britain is urging the Palestinian leadership to delay its bid for upgraded status at the United Nations general assembly, warning that the move is likely to be detrimental to US re-engagement with the peace process following next month's presidential election.

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Arafat death probe to Ramallah next month: Palestinian
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
October 16, 2012 - 12:00am

RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories — French investigators into the death of Yasser Arafat will arrive on November 26 in Ramallah, where the former Palestinian leader is entombed, a Palestinian source familiar with the case said on Tuesday.

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The Lessons of Novembers Past
In Print by Hussein Ibish - Ynetnews (Opinion) - October 16, 2012 - 12:00am

Historically, November often signifies numerous crucial turning points in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The lessons of Novembers past demand close attention. Palestinians and Israelis can learn from them to address their differences and common future, and American leaders to be more balanced.

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World powers will soon support our cause, says top Palestinian official
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amira Hass - (Opinion) October 15, 2012 - 12:00am

Twice during an hour-long interview, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi let out a laugh that sounded embarrassed. The first time was when she explained what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did in his UN General Assembly address: a speech she deemed patronizing, cut off from reality, stuck in an outdated Manichean perception. The doctor of comparative literature suggests that he did not convince his audience.

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South Africa publishes West Bank labeling notice, despite negotiations with Jewish community
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times of Israel
October 15, 2012 - 12:00am

PRETORIA (JTA) — The South African Trade Ministry has published a second notice concerning the labeling of Israeli products, despite working with the Jewish community on a compromise.

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Rights groups: Protect Palestinian olive trees
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Tovah Lazaroff - October 12, 2012 - 12:00am

Five human rights groups on Thursday penned an urgent letter to the IDF and the police urging security forces to do more to protect Palestinian olive trees in the West Bank. Although the olive harvest only began on Wednesday, there have been a high number of vandalism incidents this week starting on Sunday, said B’Tselem spokeswoman Sarit Michaeli. Her organization – along with Rabbis for Human Rights, Yesh Din, Association of Civil Rights in Israel and Hamoked – plan to send their letter to the security forces in the coming days.

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