Hamas leader downplays expectations for Egypt
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
August 2, 2012 - 12:00am

A Hamas official on Wednesday downplayed expectations from Egypt's President Muhammad Mursi following Gaza premier Ismail Haniyeh's recent visit to Cairo. Hamas leader Ahmad Yousef told Ma'an that Haniyeh met with Mursi to congratulate him on his recent election and to discuss problems facing the Gaza Strip, particularly the power crisis and medical shortages. The transition from Cairo's pledges to ease life in Gaza to actions on the ground will be left to specialists within ministries and security services, Yousef said.

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Palestinian freedom counts for nothing - or so it seems
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Hill
by Mustafa Barghouthi - (Blog) August 2, 2012 - 12:00am

Gov. Romney’s visit to Israel – and occupied East Jerusalem – very nearly succeeded in erasing Palestine from the agenda. Save for a short visit with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, Palestine was largely a non-matter. And Romney did not publicly raise Palestinian rights a single time. 

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Israel warns citizens to return from Sinai
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
August 2, 2012 - 12:00am

Israel is urging its citizens traveling in Egypt's Sinai peninsula to return immediately amid warnings of an attack. The travel warning was based on information alleging militant groups from the Gaza Strip are operating in the area and plan to attack or kidnap Israeli tourists. Thursday's travel warning was issued by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.

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Syria crisis felt in Israel and occupied Golan Heights
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC World News
by Yolande Knell - August 2, 2012 - 12:00am

The deepening crisis in Syria threatens to have a destabilising effect on all of its neighbours but Israel has a particular set of concerns. Technically, the two countries have been in a state of war since 1948. Israel also continues to occupy the Golan Heights, Syrian territory which it captured in 1967 and later annexed, in a move that is not internationally recognised. Yet under President Bashar al-Assad, there has been a long-standing truce and for the past 40 years the border between the two countries has been relatively calm.

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Israeli PM denies rift with military ranks over Iran
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
August 1, 2012 - 12:00am

In an interview with Israel's Channel 2, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that he is still deliberating whether or not to strike Iran's nuclear facilities and downplayed report that the military echelon are not in favor of attacking Iran. Netanyahu said that "Israel cannot count on anyone else" when it comes to the Iranian threat.

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Egyptian president sends peace letter to Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
August 1, 2012 - 12:00am

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi on Tuesday sent a missive to Israeli President Shimon Peres wishing for peace in the Middle East. Although the letter does not specifically mention the peace agreement with Israel, it does include the "Israeli people" as part of Morsi's peace wishes in the region. "I am looking forward to exerting our best efforts to get the Middle East peace process back to its right track in order to achieve security and stability for all peoples of the region, including the Israeli people," the letter read.

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Egypt denies Mursi letter sent to Israel's Peres
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
August 1, 2012 - 12:00am

Israel said Tuesday it had received a letter from Egypt's President Mohamed Mursi indicating he wanted to work for peace in the Middle East, but Mursi's office later denied sending it. An Israeli official, who asked to remain anonymous, said the denial was to be expected, due to the sensitivity of the issue. Israeli President Shimon Peres's office said earlier Tuesday he had received a letter from the Muslim Brotherhood's Mursi, in the first such missive to Israel since Mursi took office at the end of last month.

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Capitalism, not culture, drives economies
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Fareed Zakaria - (Opinion) August 1, 2012 - 12:00am

Mitt Romney has explained that his comments abroad were simply truth-telling. “I tend to tell people what I actually believe,” he said. With regard to one much-debated comment — on the cultural differences between Israelis and Palestinians — many agree with him. The Wall Street Journal editorial page and columnists including Marc A. Thiessen and John Podhoretz all applauded. Podhoretz wrote: “Anyone who publicizes his remark is helping Romney win the election.”

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Is Romney ready for prime time?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Douglas Bloomfield - (Opinion) August 1, 2012 - 12:00am

Mitt Romney’s overseas tour got off to a poor start in London, where he succeeded in insulting nearly the entire country, but did little harm beyond getting a headline in the country’s largest newspaper calling him “Mitt the twit,” and sullying his reputation as not being ready for prime time.

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Palestinian Divisions Displayed During Romney, Haniyeh Visits
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Ayyam
by Hani al-Masri - (Opinion) August 1, 2012 - 12:00am

As is customary for American presidential candidates, Republican candidate Mitt Romney visited Israel. The aim of the visit was to show that he was the “closer friend” to Israel [compared to President Barack Obama].

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