July 28th

Red-dead Canal Just One Option To Save Endangered Dead Sea - Wb ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Mohammad Ghazal - July 28, 2008 - 4:36pm A study looking into alternatives to save the shrinking Dead Sea will kick off later this year, according to the World Bank (WB). Experts warn the water body is dropping by one metre every year, calling for a plan to save this "world heritage" attraction and make available much needed water in the area. » Read more

Hamas Militants Vow Revenge After Israel Kills Top Operative ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star July 28, 2008 - 4:35pm Israeli forces killed a top Hamas operative in an early morning gunfight in the southern Occupied West Bank city of Hebron, according to Palestinian security officials who said another three people were arrested in the raid. Hamas' armed wing vowed to take revenge for the killing of Shihab al-Natshe, who Israeli media reported was behind a suicide bombing in February that killed an Israeli woman and wounded 11 other people. » Read more

Palestinian Factional Fighting Wounds Six In Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) by Sakher Abu El Oun - July 28, 2008 - 4:33pm Clashes broke out in Gaza City on Sunday, wounding at least six people, as Hamas-run security forces pressed on with a territory-wide crackdown on rival Palestinian factions after a deadly bombing. The fighting erupted when Hamas-run police moved to arrest members of the Army of Islam, a small shadowy group believed to have links to Al-Qaeda. "Hamas forces came to arrest us early this morning, just after midnight," one member of the group who asked not to be identified told reporters. » Read more

Israel To Move Small Part Of West Bank Barrier - Report ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters July 28, 2008 - 4:31pm Israel plans to tear down a small portion of an internationally condemned barrier and move it closer to its border with the occupied West Bank, an Israeli newspaper reported on Monday. The Haaretz daily said a 2.4 km stretch of fencing would be moved in response to a petition filed with Israel's high court by Palestinians from two villages. Palestinians would recover most of some 700 acres Israel had confiscated for the barrier near the West Bank town of Qalqilya, the report said. » Read more

U.s. Still Hopes For Israeli-palestinian Deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Sue Pleming - July 28, 2008 - 4:30pm U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Friday there was still time for Israelis and Palestinians to reach a peace deal by the end of 2008. Rice said trilateral peace talks in Washington next week between the United States, Israel and the Palestinian Authority should be closed to offer the best hope of progress. Rice said the latest round of talks which began in Annapolis in the United States in November 2007 had laid a "firm foundation on which these two parties can finally end their conflict". » Read more

West Bank Residents Face Severe Water Shortages As Drought Continues ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press July 28, 2008 - 4:29pm West Bank Palestinians are suffering a serious water shortage this year as a severe drought has exacerbated already existing supply problems, the head of the Palestinian Water Authority said Sunday. » Read more

Israel Downplays Prospect Of 2008 Peace Deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Matti Friedman - July 28, 2008 - 4:27pm Israel's prime minister backed away Monday from a target date - announced with great fanfare at a U.S.-hosted Mideast peace conference last November - for reaching a deal with the Palestinians by year's end. Ehud Olmert said the sides will need more time to bridge differences over Jerusalem, long the toughest sticking point in Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking. » Read more

Israeli Leaders Find Generous Donors In U.s. ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Griff Witte - July 28, 2008 - 4:26pm American businessman Morris Talansky has riveted Israel with tales of bankrolling the plush lifestyle of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert: the expensive cigars and five-star suites, a fine watch and an Italian vacation. While most Israelis have been galled at the extent of the alleged corruption, no one has been surprised by the source of the funds. Politicians in Israel have long known that if they want to raise large amounts of money, for whatever reason, they'll find it in the United States. » Read more

Does “pro-israel” Mean Anything? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Israel Policy Forum by M.J. Rosenberg - July 28, 2008 - 4:23pm Watching Barack Obama in Israel it became clear that he knows the Arab-Israeli issue well. Those who hoped he would make some gaffe that would hurt his candidacy were disappointed. He knows the ins and outs of the issue the way President Bill Clinton did. He feels no need to rely on sound bites about “our democratic ally” or Israel’s obvious “right to defend itself.” Maybe it’s because he is so close to the Chicago Jewish community, which has backed him since the start of his career, but he can talk about Israel with fluency and comfort. » Read more

Arab Aid To Palestinians Often Doesn't Fulfill Pledges ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Glenn Kessler - July 28, 2008 - 4:21pm In 2002, when oil prices were hovering around $21 a barrel, nearly two dozen Arab nations joined to pledge yearly contributions of $660 million to support the Palestinian Authority's annual budget. Now, even with oil prices more than six times higher and the Palestinian Authority bordering on financial ruin, only a handful of Arab countries are sending even a small portion of the money they promised, according to data examined by The Washington Post. » Read more