October 27th

U.S. General Keith Dayton, security coordinator in Palestine, is interviewed by Al-Ayyam (1). Tzipi Livni abandons efforts to form a coalition government in the face of noncooperation from the Shas party (2). However an Israeli national poll reports that she is maintaining her edge over rival Benjamin Netanyahu (4). The Independent’s Donald Macintyre examines the world of Gaza’s underground smuggling tunnels (3). Palestine hosts its first international soccer game (5). Violence continues to mar the olive harvest in the West Bank (6).

The amusing term ‘coexistence’
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Hisham Nafa' - October 25, 2008 - 8:00pm

Many people have expressed surprise at the recent violence in Acre. Particularly amusing was the mantra that rolled off the tongues of government officials, their eyes wide open: "How could such a thing happen in a city of coexistence?"

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A-G orders probe into settlers' threats
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Dan Izenberg, Tovah Lazaroff - October 26, 2008 - 8:00pm

A settler who apparently made comments calling to kill soldiers distributed an apology letter Monday, saying he was "in a stormy mood" when he made the comments on Sunday. "I didn't speak generally against IDF soldiers," said Kiryat Arba resident Shmuel Ben Yishai in the letter, having been quoted in the media as saying, "God damn the IDF forces. We wish they would be destroyed by their enemies, that all of them would be Gilad Schalit, that they would all be killed and slaughtered, because that's what they deserve."

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Settlers vandalise Arab graves
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Jazeera English
October 25, 2008 - 8:00pm

Jewish settlers have gone on a rampage in the West Bank, vandalising a Muslim cemetery and threatening Israeli troops. Settlers from the Harat al-Jabari neighbourhood in the city of Hebron were responding on Sunday to the dismantling a West Bank outpost by the Israeli army. Four settlers were arrested, including one for allegedly injuring a policeman and two who are suspected of trying to set fire to police cars, police officials said. Settlers also slashed the tyres of two dozen Arab-owned cars and sprayed paint on Muslim graves, the Israeli military said.

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Three Solutions for the Palestinians
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat
by Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed - October 26, 2008 - 8:00pm

There is no comfortable solution for the Palestinians to repair their domestic affairs other than the leaders abandoning their ambitions to lead. This is a fact that has been known for a long time. However, the problem is how to convince all these leaders when it's apparent how happy Hamas is with its sovereignty over Gaza, and its readiness to give everything to preserve it; the same applies to the others.

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Palestinian force enters Hebron in security drive
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
October 24, 2008 - 8:00pm

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sent hundreds of security officers into Hebron on Saturday as part of a Western-backed campaign to strengthen his control over the occupied West Bank. Israel, which is trying to bolster Abbas against his Hamas rivals, approved the deployment of some 550 armed officers in the biggest West Bank city, a frequent flashpoint between Palestinians and Jewish settlers.

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Bottom-Up Meets Top-Down for Progress
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Middle East Progress
by Robert Danin - (Interview) December 31, 1969 - 8:00pm

Can you give our readers a view of the current Palestinian economic situation, from the ground?

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Israelis say Hamas man acknowledged plan to take another soldier prisoner
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
October 26, 2008 - 8:00pm

Israeli security forces have apprehended a Hamas operative whom they say planned to capture Israeli soldiers and smuggle them into the Gaza Strip to be used in future prisoner swaps, the army said on Sunday. An army spokesman said Israeli troops and intelligence agents arrested Gamal Abu Duabah, a 21-year-old Gaza resident, on September 21 after he attempted to infiltrate Israel from Egypt.

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Olive Harvest Becomes West Bank Battleground
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
October 25, 2008 - 8:00pm

The olive harvest was off to a bad start for Said Abu Aliya -- branches torn from the Palestinian farmer's trees lay scattered on the ground, along with bright-green olives. He blamed Israeli settlers in a nearby hilltop camp, and Israeli soldiers patrolled as a buffer while he and his family picked the remaining crop. ''Without their presence, we wouldn't be able to enter our lands because the settlers would attack us,'' said the 47-year-old.

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Palestinians Host First International Soccer Game
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
October 26, 2008 - 8:00pm

Palestinians may not have a state, but now they have a way to express their national pride -- through soccer. On Sunday, the national team hosted an international match for the first time, in the West Bank's only regulation-size stadium. Located in a West Bank suburb of Jerusalem, the stadium was renovated with the help of FIFA, soccer's governing body, and other donors. Thousands watched the friendly game against Jordan, and the crowd roared as Palestinian forward Ahmed Kashkash scored several minutes after kickoff. Jordan tied early in the second half. The game ended in a 1-1 tie.

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