Settlers stone Palestinian bus near Ramallah, 5 hurt
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
August 31, 2012 - 12:00am


NABLUS (Ma’an) -- Five Palestinians were wounded on Friday morning after a group of settlers threw stones at their bus near Ramallah, witnesses said. The bus was traveling from Nablus, when it was attacked by the settlers from a hill near Burqa village, one of those injured, Raed Ewais, said. Settlers threw stones, damaging the bus and injuring passengers, witnesses said. The incident came after settlers gathered on the same road on Thursday night near Sinjil, throwing stones at passing vehicles.


Ahmadinejad 'supports Palestinian reconciliation'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
August 31, 2012 - 12:00am


BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has stressed his country's commitment to reconciliation between estranged Palestinian factions, his office said Friday, days after invitations to Iran strengthened a rift between Hamas and Fatah parties. Ahmedinejad told President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday: "We love Palestine, and we are committed to achieve Palestinian national reconciliation as it will contribute to the Palestinian resistance."


Palestinians slam Israeli attempt to confiscate lands in West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
August 31, 2012 - 12:00am


RAMALLAH, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- A 3,500-dunum of land devoted for future economic and industrial investment in the West Bank, is facing a serious threat of an Israeli confiscation, although it is owned by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), officials revealed on Thursday.


Israeli defense minister says Egypt bent on controlling Sinai
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
August 31, 2012 - 12:00am


JERUSALEM, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Thursday complimented Egypt's new leadership for working to restore law and order in the Sinai Peninsula, saying that Israel should grant the Egyptian military time necessary to root out militant groups operating in the area. "Egypt is certainly trying to gain control (in Sinai), and we must respect and allow them this experience," Barak told Army Radio.


Israeli premier to address UN to condemn Iran
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
August 30, 2012 - 12:00am


JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will address the United Nations General Assembly next month in order to condemn Iran. In a statement from his office Thursday, Netanyahu said he has decided to attend the assembly to tell world nations that Iran is a "terrorist regime" which poses the greatest threat to world peace. Netanyahu said he decided to address the U.N. because diplomats currently in in Tehran for a gathering were silent to what he described as Iran's hateful speech against Israel.


Rocket from Gaza hits house in Israel, no injuries
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
August 31, 2012 - 12:00am


JERUSALEM — A rocket fired by Palestinian militants in Gaza has struck a house in Israel. The Israeli military says no one was hurt in the attack before dawn Friday on the border town of Sderot, less than a mile (2 kilometers) from Gaza. The town of 24,000 has been a favored target for rocket squads in Gaza, whose activity has been curtailed sharply but not halted since Israel's offensive against them in 2009.


Palestinians chip away at male divorce monopoly
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Diaa Hadid - August 31, 2012 - 12:00am


RAMALLAH, West Bank — For decades, Palestinian women seeking to divorce their husbands risked years of miserable, expensive litigation or lengthy domestic battles as they begged their spouses for permission to leave. Now Palestinian religious authorities announced sweeping reforms of divorce laws that will make it easier for a woman to end her marriage. The changes make a huge step forward in a society where many still believe that a woman should have no right to separate from her husband.


August 30th

NEWS: Palestinians say their next moves at the UN will be determined in the coming weeks. An Israeli court yet again rules that a small group of settler families from a tiny unauthorized outpost must relocate. A French murder investigation deepens the controversy about the death of the late Pres. Arafat. The Israeli government says it plans to start rounding up and expelling Sudanese migrants. The religious Shas party in Israel is reportedly wary of war with Iran. An Israeli police officer kills a Palestinian during an alleged carjacking. Pres. Abbas says he won't hold bilateral talks with Iranian leaders during the NAM summit. Palestinian athletes in Gaza face obstacles training for the Paralympic games. Hamas says its politburo office in Damascus is “still open.” Israeli occupation forces destroy numerous Palestinian structures in the occupied West Bank. The University of California rejects an effort to create restrictions on free speech, especially regarding the Middle East conflict. Abbas reportedly tells a delegation of Israelis that “Israel is here to stay,” but that Palestine needs to be added to the map as well. COMMENTARY: Mahdi Abdul Hadi explains the Palestinian logic for Abbas attending the NAM summit. Yossi Verter says the settlers of "Migron" have only themselves to blame for court rulings against them. Gideon Levy says the Rachel Corrie verdict shows anyone protesting Israeli mischief is risking their lives. Carlo Strenger reiterates his view that the two-state solution "is dead.” Oren Yiftachel says Israeli colonization of the occupied West Bank is more dangerous to the country than any threat from Iran. Jonathan Rosen says it is willfully blind to ignore the damage done to the Israeli mindset by the occupation. Donald MacIntyre says the idea that Arafat was poisoned is a conspiracy theory, but widely believed in by Palestinians at all levels of society. Faik Tunay says Palestine is central to Israeli-Turkish relations. Hani al-Masri list three reasons why he thinks Israel is giving more travel permits to Palestinians.

Three Reasons Israel Is Issuing More Permits for Palestinians
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Ayyam
by Hani al-Masri - (Opinion) August 30, 2012 - 12:00am


The Israeli government has been growing more extremist and stubborn, to the point of sabotaging all efforts and initiatives aimed at resuming negotiations and reviving the so-called “peace process.” Furthermore, it is waging a continuous campaign — headed by Foreign Minister Lieberman — against President Abbas, demanding that he be replaced because of the diplomatic and legal campaign he has undertaken against Israel and his plan to resort to the United Natio


Palestine central to Israel-Turkey relations
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Common Ground News Service
by Faik Tunay - (Opinion) August 30, 2012 - 12:00am


Approximately two years have passed since a flotilla of six ships, including the Turkish Mavi Marmara, set sail carrying hundreds of activists protesting the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Before reaching their destination the ship was boarded by Israeli naval commandos and nine Turkish activists were killed in a confrontation on board.



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