Hamas: Gilad Schalit may become Ron Arad 2 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post August 19, 2008 - 8:00pm "If the enemy continues with its stubborn attitude, Gilad Schalit will become a second Ron Arad," a spokesman for Izzadin Kassam, Hamas's armed wing, said Wednesday, after the group held a large-scale drill on the site of the ruins of the former Gaza settlement of Netzarim. Schalit has been held captive in Gaza for over two years. Arad is an IAF navigator who parachuted into Lebanon in the 1980s and was captured by the Amal Shi'ite group, but went missing some years later. His fate is unknown. » Read more

‘Talks with Hamas focused on security’ ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Hani Hazaimeh - August 20, 2008 - 8:00pm The government on Wednesday said recent talks with Hamas mainly focused on security-related issues but their scope could be expanded once these issues are aptly addressed, a senior official said. "The meetings between Director General of the Jordanian Intelligence Department [Lt. General Mohammad Dahabi] and the Hamas movement aimed to address outstanding issues," between the two sides, Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Nasser Judeh said. » Read more

Jordan acknowledges meetings with Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press August 19, 2008 - 8:00pm Jordan acknowledged Wednesday that it held clandestine meetings with the militant Palestinian Hamas - the kingdom's first public confirmation of the recent talks. Nasser Judeh, Jordan's minister of information, told reporters that the meetings, which were headed by Jordanian intelligence chief Mohammed al-Dahabi, were held in an effort to "solve pending security issues." He declined to elaborate. » Read more

The Jordanian Position on Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Akhbar by Hamada Faraneh - December 31, 1969 - 8:00pm In light of the Jordanian, Palestinian, and Arab concerns that forced decision makers to respond and agree to Hamas’s repetitive calls and strong interest in holding an official meeting and having talks with the Jordanian state, a meeting took place between the head of intelligence and a delegation of the political arm of Hamas. » Read more

Partnering for peace Zionist, Arab groups share interns for summer ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Washington Jewish Week by Ben Weyl - August 19, 2008 - 8:00pm Every June, countless young people descend on Washington, D.C., and immerse themselves in the traditional internship experience: attending think tank briefings, conducting research at the office and, of course, networking at happy hours. This summer, Ben Schildkraut, Dana Montalto and Dana Pozza took part in this ritual, though it differed in some respects from the average internship program: They spent their time working to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and they did it on behalf of organizations on "each side" of the conflict. » Read more