Don't Expect a Romney Intifadeh, the Palestinians Are Used to Disappointment
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Time Magazine
by Tony Karon - (Opinion) September 19, 2012 - 12:00am


It seems the writing is on the wall for the Palestinians: should Governor Mitt Romney win November’s presidential election, they have no credible reason to expect any help from the U.S. in realizing their national aspirations. In a recent Florida session with donors, a tape of which was posted by Mother Jones, the Republican nominee made clear he believes that a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — the standing policy of the U.S.


Handle With Care
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) September 18, 2012 - 12:00am


In a testy exchange with the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, James Baker, then the U.S. secretary of state, set a standard in fantasy counterfactuals that I was sure could never be topped.


Bibi's Blunder
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
by David Rothkopf - (Opinion) September 18, 2012 - 12:00am


Starting Sunday evening, we marked the beginning of the Jewish New Year. Numerologists with too much time on their hands noted that the digits of the year 5773 add up to the same numerical value as the word tovah, meaning good. That is supposed to be an omen, I suppose. But ever since Madonna embraced Kabala, I've been dubious about it. I like my omens more concrete and, where possible, drenched in irony.


Restructuring of PLO Is Key To Palestinian Reconciliation
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from As-Safir
by Hani al-Masri - (Opinion) September 18, 2012 - 12:00am


Following a recent press conference, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that “reconciliation between [Palestinian] factions means holding elections” and that “there will be no further dialogue with Hamas unless the electoral commission resumes voter registration in the Gaza Strip.”


Energy Security a Priority for Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Hayat
by Walid Khadduri - (Opinion) September 18, 2012 - 12:00am


Israel is currently reviewing the policy on gas it intends to adopt in the future, shortly before natural gas production begins in the Tamar field in the spring of 2013. The ministerial committee set up by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and tasked by the government to draft policies on natural gas consumption at home as well as gas exports, finished drafting its final report on August 29, kicking off discussions over its contents.


Binyamin Netanyahu's Iran strategy erases the Palestinian problem
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Chris McGreal - (Opinion) September 18, 2012 - 12:00am


Binyamin Netanyahu's appearance on Meet the Press this weekend was telling. Interviewer David Gregory called him the "leader of the Jewish people". That's certainly how the Israeli prime minister would like to see himself, and he wouldn't be the first.


Blue and white elephant
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Eytan Gilboa - (Opinion) September 19, 2012 - 12:00am


Ahead of the November presidential elections, it appears that the Democrats and Republicans are in a competition to show which party supports Israel more. The Republicans are attacking the Democrats over Obama's attitude toward Israel, while the Democrats are trying to return fire. On the surface this seems harmless, but actually it is a very negative and worrying development.


Giving Israel a new look at Hamas
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Zvi Barel - (Book Review) September 19, 2012 - 12:00am


“Hamas offers two alternatives: 1. A separate track, dealing only with the release of Gilad Shalit in return for 1,000 Palestinian political prisoners. 2. A release of prisoners will take place in the broader context of a strategic approach ‏(as follows‏), and the number of prisoners released will not be in the hundreds.”


Learning about the Holocaust - in Arabic
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Khaled Diab - (Opinion) September 19, 2012 - 12:00am


"Please excuse my broken Arabic," our guide, Yehuda Yarin, tells the mixed group of Palestinians and Israelis who have come to Yad Vashem to learn more about the Holocaust. It's a three-day joint excursion - a Tiyul-Rihla, the words for "trip" in Hebrew and Arabic - to Acre, Haifa and Jerusalem.


Not just Romney: Many in Middle East are losing faith in a two-state solution, too
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Christian Science Monitor
by Christa Case Bryant - September 18, 2012 - 12:00am


Jerusalem A newly leaked video shows presidential hopeful Mitt Romney questioning the longstanding US road map for peace in the Middle East – and, in fact, if the Palestinians want peace at all.



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