October 24th

Hamas policy on attacking Israel has changed
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amos Harel, Avi Issacharoff - (Analysis) October 24, 2012 - 12:00am


Maybe it's the support it received from the official visit of the Qatari emir, maybe it's Hamas' feeling that it has restrained itself for too long in light of the Israeli assassinations of extremist Jihad activists in Gaza – what is apparent, based on the heavy rocket attack from the Strip on Wednesday morning, is that Hamas has changed its policy on attacks against Israel.


That Poll's Apartheid Problem
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
by Noam Shelef - (Opinion) October 23, 2012 - 12:00am


The front page of today's Haaretz featured an article by Gideon Levy about a dramatic survey of Israeli Jewish public opinion. I admire Gideon Levy. He's had the courage over the years to document some of the ugliest aspects of the occupation.


Who's the Bigger Friend of Israel — And Do Voters Really Care?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor
by Shibley Telhami - (Opinion) October 23, 2012 - 12:00am


One of the striking aspects of the third presidential debate was the frequent mention of Israel (34 times). Western Europe and the challenges facing the European Union, or Mexico and Latin America hardly registered. It is as if the Israel issue is a burning one in American politics, or that the American public is dying to see which candidate supports Israel more. Neither is close to the truth.


Christians’ letter was reasonable, worded sensitively
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
by Brant Rosen - (Opinion) October 23, 2012 - 12:00am


CHICAGO (JTA) -- There has long been an unwritten covenant between the Jewish establishment and Christian leaders when it comes to interfaith dialogue: “We can talk about any religious issues we like, but criticism of Israel’s human rights violations is off limits.”


The death of the Israel-Palestine two-state solution brings fresh hope
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Rachel Shabi - (Opinion) October 23, 2012 - 12:00am


We could argue over who killed it, but what's the point? It's increasingly obvious that a continued insistence on zombie peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians is deluded, because the two-state principle framing them is dead.


Improving Arab education
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
(Editorial) October 23, 2012 - 12:00am


As the academic year kicked off this week, the Hebrew University honored the incoming freshman who received the highest grade on the psychometric entrance exam. The winner was Hamza Morad, of the Arab-Muslim town Bu’eine Nujeidat in the North.


Lesson in arrogance
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Hagai Segal - (Opinion) October 24, 2012 - 12:00am


The fascinating turnarounds in the US election campaign should have been an important lesson in humility for Likud, but instead the ruling party's arrogance is reaching new heights. It has learned nothing from the sad case of Obama, who in one debate managed to lose his significant lead in the polls.


Contempt for peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Merav Michaeli - (Opinion) October 23, 2012 - 12:00am


"It would be best for the European Union to concentrate now on the problems arising between the various peoples and nationalities on European soil," Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said in response to the EU's condemnation of Israel's plan to build 800 new housing units in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo. "When those problems are satisfactorily solved, we will be happy to hear proposals from the EU on how to solve the problems with the Palestinians."


Heading toward an irreparable rift between U.S. Jews and Protestants
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Eric H. Yoffie - (Opinion) October 24, 2012 - 12:00am


There have always been ups and downs in the relations between mainline Protestants and American Jews, but they have now hit a 45-year low.  And this time, they may not recover.


Qatari Emir's Gaza visit may boost Hamas rule to international open-up
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
(Analysis) October 23, 2012 - 12:00am


GAZA, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The visit of the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Ben Khalifa al Thani on Tuesday to the Gaza Strip is politically symbolic, as it was the first ever visit of an Arab leader since Hamas' violent takeover of the coastal enclave in June 2007.



American Task Force on Palestine - 1634 Eye St. NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20006 - Telephone: 202-262-0017