ATFP News Roundup October 13, 2015
News:
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas [1] on Wednesday pardoned a military officer [2] sentenced to a year in jail [3] for criticizing him for attending the funeral of Israeli statesman Shimon Peres, an official said. (Reuters\Ma'an\Times of Israel)
Dore Gold resigns [4] as director general of the Israeli Foreign Ministry. (Ha'aretz)
Thirty-nine U.S. Congressmen and Senators [5] have urged a United Nations agency to oppose a resolution that diminishes Jewish and Christian ties to the Old City of Jerusalem. (JTA)
A Palestinian child was allegedly killed [6] by Israeli forces on Wednesday evening in the southern Gaza Strip, while Israeli authorities denied responsibility in his death. (Ma'an)
The Israeli human rights group B’Tselem faced criticism [7] Thursday for its scheduled participation in a United Nations Security Council forum debate on Israeli settlements, where it says it will “lay out the reality of the occupation.” (Times of Israel)
Palestinians say [8] they’ll go to court unless FIFA suspends settlement teams. (Ha'aretz)
The Israeli navy opened fire [9] at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of the northern Gaza Stripon Thursday, locals said. (Ma'an)
Billionaire Saban [10] advises Clinton to differentiate herself from Obama on Israel. (Ha'aretz)
Renewed bombing [11] of rebel-held eastern Aleppo has killed more than 150 people this week, rescue workers said on Thursday, as the Syrian government steps up its Russian-backed offensive to take the whole city. (Reuters)
Britain and France are leading [12] EU efforts to impose more sanctions on Syrians close to President Bashar al-Assad in response to the devastating bombing of Aleppo, diplomats said, signaling that Russians may eventually be added to the list. (Reuters)
Britain is looking [13] at its military involvement in Syria but any action would need to be part of a coalition involving the United States and is not likely to happen soon, foreign minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday. (Reuters)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry [14] will meet his Russian counterpart in Switzerland on Saturdayto discuss Syria, officials said on Wednesday, as a devastating bombing campaign of the city of Aleppo intensified. (Reuters)
The U.S. military launched [15] cruise missile strikes on Thursday [16] to knock out three coastal radar sites in areas of Yemen controlled by Iran-aligned Houthi forces, retaliating after failed missile attacks this week on a U.S. Navy destroyer, U.S. officials said. (Reuters\New York Times)
Low crude prices and the war in Yemen [17] have sent a shock through the kingdom’s budget and forced it to revise its social contract even as it seeks to diversify its businesses. (New York Times)
Commentary:
Adnan Abu Amer [18] says Hamas' Interior Ministry in Gaza has appointed several new officials to top security positions, raising questions about its motives. (Al-Monitor)
Mohammed Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Thani [19]says the world must not stand by while the Assad regime massacres Syrian civilians and here is a plan. (New York Times)
Afshon Ostovar [20]says the war won’t end until Assad’s most powerful backer has a seat at the table — and that isn’t Putin. (Foreign Policy)
Diana Moukalled [21] looks at the White Helmets and the Syrian conflict. (Al Arabiya)
April Longley Alley [22] says the bombing of a funeral has empowered the country's worst forces and could drag America into the fray. (Foreign Policy)
The Washington Post [23]says if Saudi Arabia continues to target civilians in Yemen, the Obama administration should pull its support. (Washington Post)
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