February 19th

Rice Meets Olmert In Peace Push ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News August 26, 2008 - 12:00am US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has met Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ahead of three-way talks aimed at a Mid-East peace agreement. The visit is her seventh to the region since the Annapolis meeting where the Israelis and Palestinians agreed to push for a deal by the end of 2008. Ms Rice has played down the possibility that details of an interim agreement might be published next month. She said the talks were "intensive" amid heavy doubts a deal can be agreed. » Read more

Bush Struggles With Legacy On Mideast Peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Danna Harman - August 26, 2008 - 12:00am Nine months since President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hosted the much touted Annapolis Conference on Middle East peace – at which all sides pledged to work toward a settlement by the end of 2008 – Ms. Rice is once more pushing in person for some kind of deal before the administration leaves office. Her arrival here Sunday marks the 22nd time she's shown up to shuttle between the sides. Yet the main thing Israelis and Palestinians seem to have come any closer on is a shared sense of disappointment. » Read more

Abbas Greets Liberated Prisoners With Hero's Welcome In Occupied West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star August 26, 2008 - 12:00am Israel freed 198 Palestinian prisoners on Monday in a gesture to President Mahmoud Abbas as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in the region to spur US-backed peace talks. The prisoners were welcomed by thousands of cheering supporters at an outdoor celebration at Abbas' headquarters in the Occupied West Bank political capital of Ramallah. "The release of this group fills us with joy, but we will not be satisfied until all prisoners are released, the 11,000 who are still waiting," Abbas told the crowd, referring to Palestinians still in Israeli jails. » Read more

Rice: 'a Lot Of Work Ahead' To Reach Mideast Peace Deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) August 26, 2008 - 12:00am US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice admitted on Monday that the Israelis and Palestinians have a lot of work to do if they are to strike a peace deal by the end of the year. At the start of her 18th visit to Israel and the Palestine in the past two years, Rice welcomed Israel's release of 198 Palestinian prisoners but urged both sides to make much more progress. "We continue to have the same goal, which is to reach agreement by the end of the year," Rice told reporters traveling with her on the plane from Washington to Tel Aviv. » Read more

Israel Settlement Surge Draws Rice Criticism ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Arshad Mohammed - August 26, 2008 - 12:00am Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Israel on Tuesday not to undermine peace talks with the Palestinians after a report found it had nearly doubled Jewish settlement construction. On her seventh visit this year in a long-shot push for a peace deal by January, Rice said the two sides were "somewhat closer" in their talks despite deep public skepticism about the chances of ending the six-decade conflict. Rice offered no further details, but said: "God willing, and with the goodwill of the parties and the tireless work of the parties, we have a good chance to succeed." » Read more

Israel Shuts Gaza Crossings After Rocket Attack ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters August 26, 2008 - 12:00am Israel shut its border crossings with the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, a day after two rockets were fired into the Jewish state, an Israeli official said. The official said Defence Minister Ehud Barak had "ordered the closure of crossings with Gaza" without saying for how long. The Israeli military said two rockets were fired from Gaza at Israel on Monday, causing no damage or casualties. The measure came as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited the region to press ahead with efforts to achieve an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal in the coming months. » Read more

Two State Solution Is Best For Israelis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Angus Reid Global Monitor August 25, 2008 - 12:00am The vast majority of people in Israel think that the best solution to the ongoing conflict with the Palestinians is to establish a separate Palestinian state alongside Israel, according to a poll by Market Watch. 74 per cent of respondents share this view, while 14 per cent think the best way to solve the problem is by creating a bi-national state including both Israelis and Palestinians. However, 62 per cent of respondents do not believe it will be possible to reach a final agreement with the Palestinians. » Read more

Mohammed Deif Back In Spotlight ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ali Waked - August 26, 2008 - 12:00am The notorious leader of Hamas' military wing, Mohammad Deif, is alive and kicking. And, apparently, writing as well. The shadowy leader has broken his two-year silence in the forward to a new book issued by Hamas in honor of group members killed in Gaza. Deif vowed Hamas would continue it fight. » Read more

Amnesty For Dozens Of Wanted Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ali Waked - August 26, 2008 - 12:00am Less than 24 hours after the release of 198 Palestinian prisoners as a gesture to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in the region to further the diplomatic negotiations – Israel on Tuesday has granted 'amnesty' to dozens of wanted Palestinians. A senior Palestinian source told Ynet that 45 wanted men would receive full amnesty, allowing them complete freedom of movement in the Territories and even beyond their borders. Other will be restricted to the 'A' Territories. » Read more

Barak To Mubarak: Egypt Is Central Factor In Return Of Shalit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amos Harel - (Analysis) August 26, 2008 - 12:00am Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Egyptian President Husni Mubarak on Tuesday that Israel views Egypt as a central factor in the return of kidnapped Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit. Shalit was abducted by Gaza militants in a cross-border raid in 2006. Egyptian-mediated talks with Hamas for his release have apparently reached a standstill. » Read more