October 16th

Gaza tunnels 'become an industry' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News October 15, 2008 - 8:00pm The level of smuggling tunnels between the Gaza Strip and Egypt now amounts to an industry, according to UN officials. A UN report said the tunnels had become a lifeline for Gaza's Palestinians because of the Israeli blockade. Thousands work in the tunnels. The tunnels are used to smuggle a wide variety of products into Gaza - including food and fuel. But Israel says they are also used to import arms. It accuses Egypt of not doing enough to stop the smuggling. Media reports estimate there are hundreds of tunnels in use along the border. » Read more

West Bank Foreign Investment Grows Despite Fears of Foundering Talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Wall Street Journal by Jay Solomon - October 13, 2008 - 8:00pm Efforts to attract foreign investment into the West Bank are accelerating, despite fears that U.S.-brokered peace talks with Israel are foundering, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said in an interview. Mr. Fayyad is spearheading his government's push to revive economic activity in the Palestinian territories and strengthen its institutions, as talks with Israel to formalize a Palestinian state continue. » Read more

U.S. to meet full pledge to P.A. ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) October 15, 2008 - 8:00pm The United States is set to make good on its pledge to transfer $550 million to the Palestinian Authority. Henrietta Fore, the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, made the announcement Sunday at the annual dinner of the American Task Force on Palestine. The United States made the pledge last December at a donors' conference that solicited an overall $7 billion in pledges. Many of the countries, particularly Arab nations, have yet to make good on their pledges. » Read more

October 15th

Officials to discuss Acre Arabs' fate ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Dan Izenberg - October 14, 2008 - 8:00pm Acre Mayor Shimon Lancry and Housing and Construction Minister Ze'ev Boim are scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss the future of Arab families living in a housing project who were forced to flee their homes by Jewish marauders. The two will decide whether to find permanent alternative housing for some of them or to allow them to return to the homes they were forced to abandon. According to city officials and the Mossawa Center for Arab Human Rights, 14 Arab families, a total of 50 people, were left homeless after Jewish rioters forced them to flee. » Read more

Hamas-Fatah tensions rising ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Alex Fishman - October 14, 2008 - 8:00pm The nearing end of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' tenure has the defense establishment on edge, as it has formed a joined team with the Shin Bet and the Foreign Ministry to prepare for January 9 – Abbas' last day as Palestinian Authority president. The main concern is intelligence indicating that Hamas' military wing may begin targeting senior Fatah and Palestinian security officials via abductions and assassination attempts. » Read more

Jewish group: Porush at peace with Arab sovereignty over Temple Mount ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Kobi Nahshoni - October 14, 2008 - 8:00pm The Movement for the Establishment of the Temple has called on its members not to back Jerusalem mayoral candidate Meir Porush, citing a recent interview in which the Knesset member (United Torah Judaism) said he was in favor of upholding Arab authority over the Temple Mount. » Read more

'The war is over,' jailed Fatah activists tell Haaretz journalists ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff - October 14, 2008 - 8:00pm "For five years, I was a wanted man, but we had enough," says Sufian Qandil of the Tigers, an organization associated with Fatah's Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. It's noon, and Qandil woke up only a few minutes ago in the prison cell where according to an agreement with Israel he must now spend his nights. "We keep our agreements, even those signed with the Jews," he says, placing his hand on his pillow with a Mickey Mouse pillowcase. » Read more

Gaydamak Promises Arabs Paradise if Elected Jerusalem Mayor ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Abd el-Raouf Arnaout - October 12, 2008 - 8:00pm Beginning by appointing an Arab as deputy mayor, to opening the way for Muslims and Arabs to invest in the city of Jerusalem, to building an international airport in the city for Muslim pilgrims, Russian-Israeli billionaire Arcadi Gaydamak is promising Jerusalem Arabs paradise if they help elect him mayor of Jerusalem. A weekly news bulletin called “Al-Amal” (hope) appeared for the first time in the streets of Jerusalem a couple of weeks ago with a long interview with Gaydamak clarifying his positions regarding the city of Jerusalem, and making a wide range of promises. » Read more

Salam Fayyad's noteworthy leadership ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Rami Khouri - October 14, 2008 - 8:00pm Some of history's most memorable personalities often are un-flamboyant, low-key people who find themselves thrust into the limelight due to the circumstances of their time and place. Such people sometimes rise to the challenge thrust upon them, and achieve noteworthy deeds. They usually do so by summoning powers of persistence and clarity of focus, while always articulating a sense of what is right for their wider society. » Read more

Palestinian group threatens Israeli minister ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press October 14, 2008 - 8:00pm The Palestinian militant group that assassinated Israeli Cabinet minister Rehavam Zeevi in 2001 said Tuesday it has another politician in its sights. A spokesman for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine made the threat against Israeli lawmaker Avigdor Lieberman. The spokesman identified himself as Abu Jamal and spoke on the group's radio station. Lieberman wants to transfer Israeli Arab towns to Palestinian jurisdiction and annex large Jewish settlements in the West Bank to Israel. » Read more