In Israel, Romney declares Jerusalem to be capital ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Kasie Hunt - July 30, 2012 - 12:00am Standing on Israeli soil, U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Sunday declared Jerusalem to be the capital of the Jewish state and said the United States has "a solemn duty and a moral imperative" to block Iran from achieving nuclear weapons capability. "Make no mistake, the ayatollahs in Iran are testing our moral defenses. They want to know who will object and who will look the other way," he said. "We will not look away nor will our country ever look away from our passion and commitment to Israel." » Read more

Romney comments at fundraiser outrage Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Kasie Hunt - July 30, 2012 - 12:00am Mitt Romney told Jewish donors Monday that their culture is part of what has allowed them to be more economically successful than the Palestinians, outraging Palestinian leaders who called his comments racist and out of touch. » Read more

Panetta Sidesteps Issue of Israel’s Plans on Iran ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Elisabeth Bumiller - July 29, 2012 - 12:00am Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said Sunday that he did not think Israel had yet made a decision to strike Iran, but that his goal in meeting with the Israeli leadership this week was to strengthen ties with the United States “so that we can be fully prepared to deal with any contingency that may happen.” » Read more

West Bank’s Emerging Silicon Valley Evades Issues of Borders ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - July 29, 2012 - 12:00am The spotless cafeteria is fashionably furnished with fluorescent orange and lime green tables, and there are table tennis and foosball tables in the basement. What else could it be but a tech start-up, even here? » Read more