West Bank building freeze to continue in practice, if not officially
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Akiva Eldar - September 8, 2010 - 12:00am


The agreement beginning to take shape on the settlement construction freeze is based on an "unspoken understanding" that security authorities will not sign new building permits, but the government will not issue a formal resolution extending the freeze. Furthermore, a review found that the building moratorium is due to expire on September 30, not September 26, as previously thought.


Hamas warns PA: Stop arresting our people or we'll strike
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Avi Issacharoff - September 8, 2010 - 12:00am


Hamas on Wednesday warned that it would harm the Palestinian Authority if security forces continued to arrest its operatives in the West Bank. In a harshly worded announcement, the Islamist group declared that "our patience will soon run out" and that they would not remain silent for long, Israel Radio reported. "You know that the hands that have reached the heart of the occupier can reach you too," Hamas warned, referring to its recent attacks against Israelis in the West Bank, adding that Hamas cannot be stopped, and will strike anywhere, at any time it wishes.


No injuries in Palestinian mortar attack on Israeli kindergarten
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
by Dave Bender - (Analysis) September 8, 2010 - 12:00am


JERUSALEM, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian militants in northern Gaza fired a mortar into a nearby Israeli kibbutz community Wednesday morning that slammed down between kindergarten classrooms. The shell, which caused slight damage but no casualties, failed to trigger an early-warning system meant to detect rocket fire from the Hamas-ruled area.


Israel eyes impound of ships breaking Gaza blockade
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Dan Williams - (Analysis) September 8, 2010 - 12:00am


JERUSALEM/LONDON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Anticipating fresh bids by pro-Palestinian activists to sail against its Gaza Strip blockade, and hoping to avoid a repeat of its bloody boarding of a Turkish aid ship in May, Israel has turned to maritime law. Israeli officials say vessels will be warned in advance that they face costly impoundment and the possible detainment of crews -- a strategy first floated in July when the threat of such action helped turn a Libyan-chartered ship away from Gaza.


Abbas: No peace without Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
(Analysis) September 7, 2010 - 12:00am


RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian Authority would "not leave Gaza or the West Bank to Hamas or others,” President Mahmoud Abbas told the Kuwait-based daily newspaper Ar-Ray on Tuesday. The interview followed one in the Ramallah-based Al-Ayyam newspaper on Monday, where Abbas said that if he was forced to concede on key issues such as refugees or borders during the next round of direct negotiations with Israel, he would "pack my bags and leave."


PA to continue reducing public expenses
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
(Analysis) September 8, 2010 - 12:00am


RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian Authority will continue efforts to reduce public sending to reduce dependence on external financial support, a spokesman told Ma'an on Tuesday. Ghassan Al-Khatib said that while the reduction alone would not suffice to limit dependence on external support, the PA would also increase revenues through investment and the development of the Palestinian economy.


ARAB WORLD: Opinions grim about new peace talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
(Blog) September 7, 2010 - 12:00am


When Middle East peace talks began this month in Washington, there were glimmers of optimism and excitement over the renewed discourse between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, which hadn't engaged in direct talks in almost two years.  But since then, Arab opinion makers have spoken. And the outlook is grim. 


Saudi Time
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Thomas L. Friedman - (Opinion) September 7, 2010 - 12:00am


It’s been a week and the newly minted Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have not broken down yet! Surely that is a good sign. It is a measure of how low expectations are for these talks that they have to be celebrated by the week. Now that they have begun, though, both sides will try to avoid being the one that scuttles them — and not only to avoid the wrath of the United States.


Finding a Steadier Path in Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Ethan Bronner - (Analysis) September 7, 2010 - 12:00am


KHAN YUNIS, Gaza — Tough-looking ambulance drivers in this central Gazan city are drawing images of their fears with crayons. In the northwestern village of El Atatra, in an overheated hall without electricity, 10-year-olds are closing their eyes and imagining a reassuring place. In Gaza City, women who have lost children to political violence are dancing away their tensions, their black abayas shaking and flowing.


PA says nabbed West Bank terrorists
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Ali Waked - (Analysis) September 7, 2010 - 12:00am


Palestinian Authority announced Tuesday that it had arrested six men who had carried out two terror attacks that killed four Israelis and injured two last week. The Palestinians say the first attack, which killed four residents of Beit Hagai at a junction near Hebron last Tuesday, was carried out by two shooters and an accomplice. A similarly composed terror cell was responsible for the attack that occurred one day later and injured a couple, according to the authority.



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