August 24th

FM: Abbas engaging in political terrorism ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh, Herb Keinon - August 23, 2012 - 12:00am Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman stepped up his campaign against Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday, saying not only is Abbas engaged in “diplomatic terror” against Israel, but he is also not in a position to make commitments for the Palestinians. Liberman’s highly critical comments in an Israel Radio interview came just four days after he sent a letter to the Quartet calling for new elections in the PA and the replacement of Abbas. » Read more

Palestinians: Egypt destroyed quarter of Rafah tunnels ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Elior Levy - August 24, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinian sources have said that Egypt's attempts to cleanse Sinai of terrorists, have brought about the destruction of a quarter of the tunnels connecting the Egyptian and Palestinian Rafah. However, sources have estimated that when the operation is completed, the tunnels will be restored. According to unofficial estimates, there are over 1,000 smuggling tunnels in the area.

Hamas top official: Kill every last Jew and American ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) August 24, 2012 - 12:00am A senior Hamas official said in a televised sermon that he wished for the annihilation of every single Jew and American. The sermon by Sheik Ahmad Bahr, deputy speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, was broadcast earlier this month on Hamas’s Al-Aqsa TV. “Oh, Allah, destroy the Jews and their supporters” and “the Americans and their supporters,” he was filmed saying. “Oh, Allah, count them one by one, and kill them all, without leaving a single one.” » Read more

Israel's inquiry into death of activist Rachel Corrie not credible, says US ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Donald MacIntyre - August 24, 2012 - 12:00am Israel has failed to carry out the "thorough, credible and transparent investigation" it had promised into the death of American activist Rachel Corrie in Gaza nine years ago, the US ambassador in Tel Aviv has reiterated to her family. » Read more

'Egypt affirms commitment to Israel peace treaty' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post August 24, 2012 - 12:00am Defense Minister Ehud Barak spoke by telephone to his Egyptian counterpart Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Friday morning, according to Arabic-language news agency Al-Hayat. According to the report, al-Sisi affirmed Egypt's commitment to maintaining the 1979 Camp David peace treaty with Israel in the phone call, ahead of a meeting with Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy. » Read more

Swiss laboratory to investigate Arafat death ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters August 24, 2012 - 12:00am A Swiss laboratory is to help investigate the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat after receiving the go-ahead from his widow, researchers from the Institute of Radiation Physics at Lausanne’s university hospital said on Friday. » Read more

Ashkenazi comes out against Iran strike ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Itamar Eichner - August 24, 2012 - 12:00am Former IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi voiced his firm opposition to a strike in Iran on Thursday, Yedioth Ahronoth reported. » Read more

Palestinian man repeatedly tasered by Israeli police in front of his children ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yaniv Kubovich, Oz Rosenberg - August 24, 2012 - 12:00am A Palestinian resident of East Jerusalem complained to the Justice Ministry department that investigates police misconduct on Thursday after a police officer shocked him five times with an electric stun gun in front of his five children on Tuesday. The Palestinian, 42-year-old Talal Siad of the A-Tur neighborhood, was shot while out with his family at a Tel Aviv water park celebrating the Id al-Fitr holiday. Siad checked himself into the hospital suffering from burns and nausea. » Read more

Hamas security source says three Gazans aid Sinai assailants ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua August 23, 2012 - 12:00am A Hamas security source said Thursday investigations indicated that three people from the Gaza Strip were involved in the deadly attack against Egyptian soldiers earlier this month in the Sinai Peninsula. The three Palestinians are members of extremist Salafi groups and their whereabouts are unknown, the source said. "Their involvement in the attack was marginal and it is no more than providing technical help," the sources said, adding that most of the assailants were Egyptians and other nationals. » Read more

Gaza 'not consulted' over reforms to divorce law ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 24, 2012 - 12:00am Religious authorities in the West Bank failed to consult their counterparts in the Gaza Strip over proposed changes to divorce laws, the head of Islamic courts in Gaza said Thursday. The chief Islamic judge in the West Bank Sheikh Yusef Ideis announced Thursday that the Islamic supreme court would meet Monday to discuss a new law granting women the right to initiate divorce. The law will come into effect in September, Ideis said in a statement. » Read more