The loneliness of Gaza's long-distance runner ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Donald MacIntyre - August 30, 2011 - 12:00am As the sun sinks slowly behind the stands of the Yarmouk Stadium, it feels a fraction cooler after a day of blistering August heat. Which is just as well, as it is Ramadan and Nader al-Masri, 31, has not eaten or drunk anything since before dawn and will not do so until dusk, still a couple of hours away. Before that, this quiet, slightly built man will have completed 25 circuits of the stadium in around 45 minutes, concealing the arduousness of the task by his straight-backed but graceful, easy running style. » Read more

Israeli weapons cannot prevail on their own ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National (Editorial) August 31, 2011 - 12:00am If Palestinian protesters cross a "red line" around a settlement, the advice is to shoot at their feet. What kind of damage-control policy is that? But those are the instructions that the Israel Defence Forces are giving soldiers preparing for the "mass disorder" expected next month, reported the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. At the same time, the Israeli government is stockpiling anti-riot weapons at settlements, which are already armed to the teeth, in anticipation of trouble. » Read more

The Obama Effect ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post (Opinion) August 30, 2011 - 12:00am When an Orthodox Jewish, kippa-wearing Democratic candidate might lose a congressional election in the most Jewish (and 75% Democratic) congressional district in America – a seat occupied by Democrats for nearly a century – to a non-Jewish Republican, something significant is going on. And Golda Koppelman knows what that something is. » Read more

Gaza's girl surfer battles pollution and prejudice ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Harriet Sherwood - August 29, 2011 - 12:00am Twelve-year-old Sabah Abu Ghanim drags her board through the water as the sinking sun glints on the eastern Mediterranean. The wind has got up a little, and she is hoping the surf will follow – enough, at least, for her to ride the waves. "I feel the sea belongs to me," says the Gaza surfer. "When I'm in the sea I feel content and happy." » Read more

Rivlin in Itamar: Israel is ours in its entirety ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yair Altman - August 31, 2011 - 12:00am Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin visited the West Bank settlement of Itamar in a show of support for the the community where five family members were slaughtered earlier this year, and said he believes that "the land of Israel is ours in its entirety." Rivlin met with Samaria Council Head Gershon Massika, toured an elementary school and paid a visit to the Fogel family's home, the site of the brutal attack that took place in March. » Read more

Israel headed for disaster ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ilan Baruch - (Opinion) August 30, 2011 - 12:00am Media outlets are reporting that a telegram recently sent by Israel’s UN envoy to Jerusalem reveals that the words uttered by senior officials such as Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon are merely empty talk. The UN ambassador estimated that it’s impossible to curb the international wave of support for the notion of an independent Palestinian state. » Read more

Finance Minister reneges on deal to give early payment to Palestinian Authority ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - August 31, 2011 - 12:00am Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz rejected a Palestinian Authority request that it move up payment of NIS 380 million in tax revenues so that the PA could pay salaries before the holiday of Id al-Fitr, which began Tuesday. » Read more

Israel must get ready for its own Hurricane Irene ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - (Opinion) August 31, 2011 - 12:00am

Gaza, West Bank to live in different time zones ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 28, 2011 - 12:00am GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- For the first time in history, Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip will live in different time zones. Clocks were pushed back an hour at the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on August 1 in the West Bank and Gaza. The Palestinian Authority cabinet decided Tuesday to revert to summer time (+3 hours GMT) at the end of Ramadan. The cabinet announced that the Eid Al-Fitr holiday which marks the end of Ramadan would begin Tuesday. » Read more

Steinitz: Palestinian UN bid 'greater threat' than Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 31, 2011 - 12:00am JERUSALEM (AFP) -- The Palestinian campaign to secure full UN membership presents a greater threat to Israel than that posed by Hamas, the Israeli finance minister said on Wednesday. "This Palestinian initiative represents a more serious threat than that posed by Hamas," Yuval Steinitz told Israel's public radio. If the Palestinians made good on their plans to seek United Nations membership, Israel would "respond," he promised. » Read more