June 30th

Hamas Emboldened By Israel-hezbollah Prisoner Swap
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Ibrahim Barzak - June 30, 2008 - 5:08pm

Hamas militants holding an Israeli soldier said Monday they would stick to their tough demands in negotiations over his release, emboldened by the high price Israel is paying in a planned prisoner swap with Hezbollah. The declaration could complicate Israel's efforts to bring Sgt. Gilad Schalit home after two years in captivity. Israel agreed Sunday to free Samir Kantar, a Lebanese convicted in a grisly 1979 attack, along with other prisoners and bodies of Lebanese fighters, in exchange for the bodies of two Israeli soldiers.

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Israel Reopens Gaza Border, Hamas Looks To Truce
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Nidal Al-mughrabi - June 30, 2008 - 5:05pm

Israel reopened three of its border crossings with the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Sunday following a halt to Palestinian cross-border shelling attacks that had strained an Egyptian-brokered truce, officials said. An Israeli military spokesman said Sufa commercial crossing, the Nahal Oz fuel-transfer deport and the Erez border terminal for travelers resumed operations at 8 a.m. (0500 GMT), with some restrictions in force.

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Israel's Prisoner Swap With Hezbollah: Too Risky?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
by Joshua Mitnick - June 30, 2008 - 4:59pm

In an epilogue to the Lebanon war two summers ago, Israel's cabinet on Sunday approved a prisoner swap with Hezbollah to recover two soldiers whose kidnapping along the Lebanese border sparked six weeks of cross-border fighting. The deal involves trading Samir Quntar – a Lebanese member of a Palestinian militant group responsible for the killing of an Israeli father and daughter in a 1979 terrorist attack – for Israeli soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, who were abducted in 2006 and have probably been killed, say Israeli officials.

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June 29th

Hezbollah and Israel agree to a controversial prisoner swap (1) (3). Israel reopens three of the Gaza crossings that were shut down in response to rocket fire last week (2). Palestinian Prime Minster Salam Fayyad signs a deal with the World Bank to finance three major utility projects in Gaza, which are on hold due to the Israeli blockade (4). The ceasefire continues in Gaza, though few are optimistic about how long it will last (6) (8). An Israeli settlement on South Mount Hebron welcomes ten new families, despite talk of a freeze on settlement expansion (11).

June 27th

Who Is More Pro-israel?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Israel Policy Forum
by M.J. Rosenberg - (Opinion) June 27, 2008 - 4:33pm

I asked a visiting Israeli the other day which of the two candidates for President of the United States is, from his point of view, better for Israel. A diplomatic fellow, he said that not being an American, he could not say. But then he said this: “The best President for Israel is the one who is best for America. Our fate is tied to yours. If America’s prestige is low, you cannot do much for your allies either.” It’s a good answer.

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Haniyeh: All Palestinian Factions Should Honor Truce
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Roee Nahmias - June 27, 2008 - 4:30pm

Hamas wants quiet in Gaza: Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh called Friday on Palestinian factions to adhere to the Gaza Strip lull agreement with Israel. "The factions and the people accepted the lull in order to secure two interests – an end to aggression and the lifting of the siege. Therefore, we hope that everyone honors this national agreement," he said following Friday prayers.

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Palestinian Pm Calls For Gaza Crossings To Reopen
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
June 27, 2008 - 4:27pm

Palestinian authority prime minister Salam Fayyad Thursday called on Israel to reopen border crossing with the Gaza Strip which were shut after rocket attacks tested a fragile truce between the Jewish state and Hamas. "We have 1.5 million of our people with a sense of not having much to lose. That situation must end," Fayyad told a news conference in Prague with Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek.

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Israeli Troops Disperse Wall Protest, Wounding 12: Medics
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Middle East Times
June 27, 2008 - 4:25pm

Twelve Palestinians were wounded on Thursday when Israeli troops dispersed a protest against the separation wall in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian medics said. Around 300 people had gathered outside the village of Nilin for the latest in a series of protests against the wall, which Israel says is necessary for its security and Palestinians say is part of a larger land grab. As the crowd approached the wall troops dispersed the demonstrators using tear gas and rubber bullets, protest organiser Saleh al-Khawaja told AFP.

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An Apology
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arabic Media Internet Network
by Uri Avnery - June 27, 2008 - 4:23pm

his week, the Prime Minister of Canada made a dramatic statement in Parliament: he apologised to the indigenous peoples of his country for the injustices done to them for generations by successive Canadian governments. This way, White Canada tries to make peace with the native nations, whose country their forefathers conquered and whose culture their rulers have tried to wipe out.

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Israel Allows Gaza Fuel Supplies
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News
June 27, 2008 - 4:22pm

Israel has allowed fuel into the Gaza Strip, but kept border crossings closed to all other goods after a Palestinian rocket fire violated a truce. This is the third consecutive day that border crossings into Gaza have been closed, preventing humanitarian and commercial goods into the area. Israel Radio reported that two mortar rounds landed in an open field on the Israeli side of the border on Friday. The military confirmed there had been two explosions, but not the cause.

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