October 9th

Romney on foreign policy: view from Israel and the Palestinian territories
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Harriet Sherwood - (Opinion) October 8, 2012 - 12:00am


Mitt Romney's pledge "to use America's great power to shape history" is likely to be applauded by those in Israel who interpret it as getting tough with Iran. But any indication that interventionism could extend to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would be much less welcome.


Transcript: Mitt Romney Remarks at Virginia Military Institute
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Mitt Romney - (Transcript) October 8, 2012 - 12:00am


MITT ROMNEY: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so very much for that warm welcome. And I particularly appreciate the introduction by my good friend and tireless campaign companion, Governor Bob McDonnell. We have traveled the state together time and time again, and he goes all over the country helping me. He is also showing here in Virginia what conservative leadership can do to build a stronger economy.


Israelis Moving to Golan Heights As Development Booms
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Yedioth Ahronoth
by Ofer Petersburg - October 8, 2012 - 12:00am


A peace agreement with Syria seems to be far away, more so than ever before. Meanwhile, the Golan Heights is enjoying an unprecedented development boom and highly generous incentives are offered to potential settlers. Just come and settle here! Where else in Israel can you receive these days a plot of land for free?


The Palestinian Great Escape?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
by Adam Nicky - October 7, 2012 - 12:00am


AMMAN, JORDAN  -- Abdullah Ashee, a 45-year old investor, is wanted in the West Bank for alleged fraud. But two years ago, while his case was being considered in a court in the West Bank city of Ramallah, he fled to neighboring Jordan. He says he entered Jordan legally and that he fled his home because he does not trust the Palestinian Authority’s legal system.


Erekat: UNGA bid the only way to stop settlements
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Tovah Lazaroff - October 9, 2012 - 12:00am


Palestinian Authority chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said Monday that the Palestinian bid for non-member status at the United Nations is the only way to stop the expanding Israeli settlement enterprise in the West Bank, official PA news agency WAFA reported. Speaking after meetings with foreign diplomats, Erekat called on the international community to support the Palestinian UN maneuver when it comes to a vote in the UN General Assembly, likely in November.


PA: No date set for payment of September salaries
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
October 9, 2012 - 12:00am


BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian Authority has not set a date for the payment of government employees' September salaries, PA spokeswoman Nour Odeh said Monday. The Ministry of Finance will release a statement when the salaries are available to employees, Odeh told Ma'an. On Wednesday, the PA paid part of employees' August salaries. Their full salaries had been put on hold to pay lower wage earners.


Hamas election boycott leaves West Bank Palestinians with only one choice
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
by Ben Lynfield - October 6, 2012 - 12:00am


Municipal elections in the West Bank are still three weeks away, but the self-styled patriarch of Nablus politics, Ghassan Shakaa, speaks as if he is already in the mayor's office. He describes one of his key plans – an after-school program for teens who, he laments, currently languish in coffee shops – as if it's a sure thing.


Prominent Israeli figures hold send-off for a settler who abused Palestinian teen
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Chaim Levinson - October 7, 2012 - 12:00am


Prominent rabbis, public officials and a Knesset member, on Saturday, held a send off for a criminal about to enter prison after being convicted of abusing a Palestinian youth.


Settlers attack undercover Israeli police in Hebron
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
October 8, 2012 - 12:00am


TEL AVIV, Israel (Ma'an) -- Three young Israeli settlers are in custody on suspicion of attacking undercover Israeli officers posing as Palestinian shepherds in southern Hebron, Israeli media reported on Sunday. Israeli police said the settlers punched the officers and attacked them with clubs last week, assuming they were Palestinians, Israeli news site Ynet reported. Another suspect fled the scene when police identified themselves to the masked group, the report said.


Settlers' assaults in West Bank obstruct olives picking again
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
October 8, 2012 - 12:00am


RAMALLAH, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Right after Jom'aa Abu Fkheida and his family members had hardly managed to escape from Israeli settlers' truculent dogs, which tried to attack them in Ras Karkar village near Ramallah, an Israeli army force blockaded them for several hours under their olive trees.



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