If Netanyahu is reelected, history will repeat itself ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yossi Verter - (Opinion) September 21, 2012 - 12:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's selection as Man of 5773 - that is, of the Year to Come - is so painfully obvious that maybe it even begs to be set aside. Netanyahu is indeed the man of the year in which Iran, according to the minimalist forecast, is expected to become a member of the nuclear club - or at least to reach the threshold of the club. Unless the United States does the dirty work for him, the premier is the man who, in the next few months, will make the most critical decision in these parts since David Ben-Gurion decided to declare Israel's statehood. » Read more

Fayyad’s democracy of bread ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by David Rosenberg - (Opinion) September 20, 2012 - 12:00am The economic protests of the last couple of weeks have been principally about the rising price of fuel and the government’s austerity measures. But across the Middle East, it’s the price of bread that can spark revolution or ensure political quiet, which is why Egypt spends billions of dollars annually subsidizing bread prices. Thus, the agreement reached earlier this week between the Palestinian Authority and bakery owners in the West Bank to freeze bread prices until next month is laden with symbolism. » Read more

Palestine to Bid For Observer Status at UN General Assembly ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Carnegie Middle East Center by Yezid Sayigh - (Opinion) September 20, 2012 - 12:00am Following a month of contradictory statements from various Palestinian Authority (PA) officials, on September 5 Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas confirmed that he would seek non-member observer status for Palestine at the United Nations when he addresses the General Assembly on September 27. In his announcement, he pointed to support for the bid from the Non-Aligned Movement, the Arab League's Council of Foreign Ministers and the Islamic states. » Read more

Palestine — The Sustainable Unsustainable Status Quo? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) September 20, 2012 - 12:00am In recent months, the issue of Palestine has been pushed over the world’s and region’s radar screen by Iran, Syria and recent anti-American demonstrations sweeping the Arab and Muslim world.  hat’s happening here? Is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict old hat? Does anyone care anymore? Will it simply keep? » Read more

Ireland moves to ban imports from Israeli settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Arabiya September 21, 2012 - 12:00am A committee in Ireland’s Oireachtas, the country’s legislature, has called for a national ban on imported products from Israeli settlements considered internationally as illegal. The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade is set to write a proposal on the ban to the deputy head of government, Eamonn Gilmore, who is also the minister of foreign affairs, Irish Times reported on Wednesday. » Read more

PLO: Over 400 Palestinians killed in Syria conflict ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh - September 20, 2012 - 12:00am More than 400 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the fighting between the Syrian army and anti-government forces, Zakariya al-Agha, a senior PLO official, announced Thursday. The announcement came as Palestinian refugees who fled from Syria to Jordan complained that the Palestinian Authority was doing nothing to assist them. Nearly 500,000 Palestinians live in a number of refugee camps in Syria. » Read more

Romney makes no mention of peace process during call with Jewish leaders ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times of Israel by Yoel Goldman - September 21, 2012 - 12:00am Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney held a conference call with Jewish community leaders on Thursday night, but did not mention the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Romney stressed the need to adopt an aggressive policy toward Iran’s nuclear program, which the Islamic Republic has long insisted is being cultivated for non-military purposes. » Read more

IDF soldier killed in terrorist attack on Egypt border ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yoav Zitun - September 21, 2012 - 12:00am   Another serious incident on southern border: An Israeli soldier was killed and another was lightly to moderately injured when terrorists in the Sinai Peninsula opened fire on an IDF patrol in the Mount Sagi area, on the Israel-Egypt border, at around noon Friday. Heavy exchanges of fire ensued, during which the terrorists were killed. » Read more

Gaza ministry: Tunnel closures hurt imports ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency September 21, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Basic goods are becoming more scarce in the Gaza Strip after Egypt moved to close dozens of tunnels under their border, Gaza's ministry of national economy said Friday. Monthly imports of basic foodstuffs, including flour, rice, sugar, and wheat, have fallen 31 percent since the tunnel closures, the ministry said in a statement. Construction materials brought through the tunnels have declined by 45 percent, it added. » Read more

Aid groups appeal to Quartet to halt demolitions ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency September 21, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- The international Quartet of Middle East negotiators must take immediate action to stop 13 Palestinian villages from being destroyed and evacuated in south Hebron, a group of 30 international organizations said Friday. The rare appeal comes after several development agencies received demolition or stop work orders for aid projects in the area. Oxfam said it was given notice by Israeli authorities that it is not permitted to enter the villages to continue its development projects. » Read more