Middle East Comments Could Vex a Romney Administration
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by David E. Sanger - (Opinion) September 18, 2012 - 12:00am


BOSTON — No one has ever had any illusions about where Mitt Romney stands on the two hottest disputes in the Middle East: the argument over the creation of a Palestinian state, and the debate over what can be done to assure that Iran does not get a nuclear weapon.


NEWS: The World Bank says the Palestinian fiscal crisis is intensifying. Various scenarios face Pres. Abbas in the context of the emerging crisis. The Israeli military holds its largest snap drill in many years. The PA criticizes Egypt for hosting a Hamas leader. Like Mitt Romney, many in the Middle East are losing confidence in the prospect of a two-state solution. Abbas says he will deliver a speech at the UN in September asking for nonmember observer state status for Palestine. A Palestinian militant-turned-theater director detained by PA security forces has resumed a hunger strike. Israeli settlements keep expanding despite the evacuation of a tiny “unauthorized” outpost. An advisor to Pres. Morsy says amending the peace treaty with Israel is "only a matter of time.” COMMENTARY: David Sanger says Romney's recent comments could prove problematic if he is elected president. Khaled Diab describes Palestinians and Israelis jointly visiting Israel's Holocaust Memorial. Zvi Bar'el looks at a new Israeli book about Hamas. Eitan Gilboa says Israel would be wise not to interfere in US politics. Chris McGreal says PM Netanyahu has successfully made Iran the only Middle East issue in the United States. Walid Khadduri says energy security is a priority for Israel. Hani al-Masri says restructuring the PLO is the key to Palestinian unity. David Rothkopf says Netanyahu has exposed the fallacy of an all-powerful “Israel Lobby.” Aaron David Miller asks if Romney can be trusted with Middle East policy. Tony Karon says Palestinians are used to unfair attacks such as those in the recently released Romney video.

Amending treaty with Israel 'a matter of time,' says presidential adviser
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Egypt Independent
by Ashgan Harb - September 19, 2012 - 12:00am


An adviser to President Mohamed Morsy has said that amending the 1979 peace treaty signed with Israel is "a matter of time," adding that such a move is necessary to restore full Egyptian control over Sinai.


Settlements Keep Growing Despite Migron Setback
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
by Nathan Jeffay - September 16, 2012 - 12:00am


Jerusalem — Three years after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that he had “no intention of building new settlements,” contractors paid by Israel’s government have constructed a brand-new, exclusively Jewish neighborhood in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.


Detained Palestinian theatre director resumes hunger strike
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Harriet Sherwood - September 18, 2012 - 12:00am


The Palestinian militant turned theatre director Zakaria Zubeidi has resumed a total hunger strike in protest at his continued detention without charge by Palestinian security forces, and his supporters say he could die within days.


Abbas says he will go ahead with UN bid speech
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
September 19, 2012 - 12:00am


BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- President Abbas reiterated on Wednesday that he will deliver a speech at the General Assembly of the United Nations to ask for recognition of Palestine as a non-member state. The comments, which were posted on the president's Facebook page, added that the speech would most likely take place on September 27.


PNA criticizes Egypt for receiving Hamas leader
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
September 18, 2012 - 12:00am


RAMALLAH, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on Tuesday criticized the official reception of the deposed Premier of Hamas government in Gaza Ismail Haneya by Egyptian Premier Hesham Qandil.


Israel military holds largest snap drill in years
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Amy Teibel - September 19, 2012 - 12:00am


JERUSALEM — The Israeli military on Wednesday conducted its largest snap drill in years as tensions with Iran over its nuclear program rise and civil war in neighboring Syria rages.


News Analysis: Various scenarios await Abbas amid a series of Palestinian crises
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
September 18, 2012 - 12:00am


RAMALLAH, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is nowadays busy with preparing to go for a second risky trip to the United Nations in New York next week for the bid of recognizing a non-member Palestinian state in the UN General Assembly.


World Bank: Palestinian fiscal crisis is deepening
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Amy Teibel - September 19, 2012 - 12:00am


JERUSALEM — The World Bank warned Wednesday of a deepening fiscal crisis in the Palestinian territories and appealed to donors to act urgently to prop up the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.



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