Financial crisis is divine punishment for US - Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Nidal Al-Mughrabi - October 16, 2008 - 8:00pm The leader of the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas said on Friday that the global financial meltdown was God's way of punishing the United States for its support of Israel and its occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. "We see it as God's punishment for the criminals (U.S. and its Western allies). Nothing is more unjust than occupying an Islamic state. Nothing is more unjust than keeping the Palestinian people under occupation for over 60 years," Ismail Haniyeh told worshippers before Friday prayers in the Gaza Strip. » Read more

3 Akko residents arrested on suspicion of damaging cars ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Hagai Einav - October 16, 2008 - 8:00pm Three Jewish Akko residents were arrested Friday morning on suspicion of vandalizing a number of vehicles during the clashes which broke out between Jews and Arabs in the northern city on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. The Akko Magistrates' Court decided to place one of the suspects under house arrest and to extend the remand of the other two. Although calm was restored in the city six days ago, the police continue to search for inciters and residents involved in the damaging of property. » Read more

When settlers strike, Palestinians point and shoot video ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Ilene Prusher - October 16, 2008 - 8:00pm Nahla Mohammed says that it happens almost every weekend. Right-wing Israeli settlers from nearby Yitzhar come to vandalize houses such as hers, which are on the edge of the Palestinian village of Asira il-Qabliya. When she hears them coming, she makes sure her children are inside, locks up, and waits with a small video camera that she was given by Btselem, a human rights group. She tries to capture them cutting water mains, breaking windows, or scrawling graffiti on the sides of the Arab houses. » Read more

Palestinian youth shot dead by Israeli forces ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) October 16, 2008 - 8:00pm Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian and wounded another early on Thursday near the West Bank city of Ramallah, Palestinian emergency services reported. Abdul Aziz Beerat, 20, was killed when Israeli soldiers in a jeep opened fire in the village of Kafr Malik, northeast of Ramallah, the sources said. Another man, who was not identified, was shot in the back and taken to hospital, where his condition was listed as serious. » Read more

Hamas likely to extend truce with Israel, say Gaza sources ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff - October 16, 2008 - 8:00pm Hamas is likely to seek to extend its truce with Israel for another six months, Palestinian sources in the Gaza Strip predicted Thursday. The current six-month truce, brokered by Egypt, expires in December. A senior Hamas official told Haaretz that the Islamic group has not yet made a decision on extending the truce. » Read more