July 1st

Gaza Reporter Says Mistreated By Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Nidal Al-mughrabi - July 1, 2008 - 3:43pm

A Palestinian journalist said from his hospital bed on Monday that he was abused and injured by Israeli security personnel on his way home to the Gaza Strip after receiving a journalism award in Britain. Mohammed Omer, who writes for the pro-Palestinian Washington Report, said he was strip-searched and detained for nearly four hours at the Israeli-controlled Allenby Bridge when he crossed from Jordan into the occupied West Bank, en route to the Gaza Strip, on June 26.

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Eu Official: Rafah Won't Be Permanently Opened Any Time Soon
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
July 1, 2008 - 3:41pm

Palestinian diplomat Nabil Amr said Monday that Egypt will open the Rafah border crossing for two days on Tuesday to allow hundreds of stranded on both sides to cross, but EU officials said this was only a temporary move, and did not represent the reopening of the crossing. Lt.-Gen. Pietro Pistolese, head of the EU Border Assistance Mission that monitored the Rafah crossing in 2005 and 2006, said that although the crossing is open from time to time for humanitarian reasons or to allow delegations to pass through, this did not constitute the legal opening of the crossing.

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Israel Seals Gaza Crossings After Rocket Attack
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Amy Teibel - July 1, 2008 - 3:34pm

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned Palestinian militants on Tuesday that Israel would respond with force if attacks from the Gaza Strip persist in defiance of a recent truce. Earlier in the day, Israel once again closed its cargo crossings, accusing Palestinian militants of firing a rocket at southern Israel in violation of a shaky truce. Gaza's Hamas rulers denied a rocket was fired on Monday evening, and accused Israel of looking for excuses to shirk its commitment under the cease-fire agreement to ease its blockade of impoverished Gaza.

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Palestinian Leader, Israeli Defense Minister Meet
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
July 1, 2008 - 3:32pm

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak met briefly Tuesday on the sidelines of a worldwide socialist party conference near Athens. The two met privately for a half-hour on the sidelines of a three-day Socialist International conference in this coastal resort, 25 miles south of Athens. After the meeting, Barak said he expected U.S.-backed peace talks with the Palestinians to continue, according to aides who were there when he spoke.

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Palestinians Queue In Droves As Egypt Reopens Rafah Crossing
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times
by David Byers - July 1, 2008 - 3:25pm

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip were today queuing in their hundreds at the territory's hated border with Egypt after it was opened for the first time in months. Crowds gathered at the Rafah crossing after Egypt agreed to ease the closure for two days, with officials saying that Palestinians requiring medical attention would be allowed treatment at Egyptian hospitals.

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June 30th

Egypt opens the Rafah crossing temporarily after several months of closure, (1) though a permanent opening still appears a long way off (4). Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbbas met briefly with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak outside of Athens (2). Gaza crossings are closed again as rockets fall in southern Israel (3). B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights group warns that the West Bank is looking at a serious water shortage in the near future (6).

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