April 16th

Un Calls For Disarming Of Hezbollah, Israel-lebanon Solution ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press April 16, 2008 - 6:00pm The UN Security Council called Tuesday for the disarming of Hezbollah and all other militias in Lebanon and greater progress toward a permanent ceasefire and long-term solution to the conflict between Lebanon and Israel. A statement adopted by consensus by the 15-member council reiterates its commitment to the full implementation of all provisions of Resolution 1701 which ended the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in August 2006. » Read more

Obama Slams Carter For Meeting Hamas, Tries To Reassure Jewish Voters ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press April 16, 2008 - 5:58pm U.S. Senator Barack Obama on Wednesday criticized former U.S. President Jimmy Carter for meeting with leaders of the Islamic terrorist group Hamas as he tried to reassure Jewish voters that his presidential candidacy is not a threat to them or U.S. support for Israel. The Democratic presidential candidate's comments, made to a group of Jewish leaders in Philadelphia, were his first on Carter's controversial meeting scheduled this week in Egypt. Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting John McCain called on Obama to repudiate Carter in a speech Monday. » Read more

Legitimizing Hamas: Carter's Visit Sends The Wrong Message ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Weekly Standard by Matthew Levitt - (Opinion) April 16, 2008 - 5:57pm Imagine the Alice in Wonderland scene that will take place later this week, when U.S. Secret Service agents entrusted with protecting former president Jimmy Carter stand guard over a meeting with the head of a designated terrorist group responsible for near daily attacks targeting civilians, including numerous attacks in which American citizens have been injured and killed. The former president may have altruistic motives, but his meeting with Hamas leader Khaled Mishal is both imprudent and dangerous. » Read more

How Many West Bank Barriers Will Israel Forgo? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Joshua Mitnick - April 16, 2008 - 5:55pm This crossroads used to be a daily battle for Palestinian motorists, with traffic stretching a half-mile and wait time before inspection by Israeli soldiers longer than an hour. Now, as a small step toward peace that included Israel's removal of 60 security barriers throughout the Palestinian territories, soldiers are gone from the road, and traffic between the northern West Bank and Jericho glides through the junction. » Read more

April 10th

The Settlements Are The Biggest Impediment To Security ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Yossi Alpher - (Opinion) April 10, 2008 - 2:01pm At the very heart of the roadmap phase I issues that dominated US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit a week ago are security and settlements. The West Bank-based Palestinian leadership that Israel is negotiating with has little to brag about in terms of improving security. But at least it is sincerely trying. The Olmert government is not trying as hard, particularly with regard to settlements. And settlements are the biggest impediment to security. » Read more

U.s. Wants To Hold Summit At Sharm During Bush Visit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - (Opinion) April 10, 2008 - 2:00pm The United States is keen on holding a summit at the Sinai resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to coincide with President George Bush's visit to Israel next month for the country's 60th anniversary celebrations. Bush would like to use the event as a way station in the diplomatic process, following November's Annapolis conference, so as to provide another boost to efforts to reach an agreement by the end of the year over the core issues for a final-status agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. » Read more

Egypt Makes Gaza Border Warning ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News April 10, 2008 - 1:59pm Egypt has warned that it will not accept any further violation of its border with the Gaza Strip. A government official said Egypt's borders were a red line that could not be crossed. It came after Hamas said it was prepared to take action to break the Israeli blockade of the territory. Militants destroyed parts of the Gaza border with Egypt in January, allowing hundreds of thousands of people stock up on much-needed supplies. » Read more

Empty Gestures Destroy Credibility ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Ghassan Khatib - (Opinion) April 10, 2008 - 1:58pm There would appear to be two strands of interaction between Palestinians and Israelis in the current negotiations process. One deals with final status issues and involves the top political leadership on both sides, Mahmoud Abbas and Ahmed Qurei and Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni. The other deals with day-to-day practicalities and is led by Salam Fayyad and Ehud Barak. » Read more

Gazans Grapple With Fuel Shortages, Turn To Black Market ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters April 10, 2008 - 1:56pm Sleeping in their cars outside petrol stations, Palestinians are feeling the pinch of a fuel crisis in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, where black market gasoline sells for about $7.50 a litre. Station owners, decrying Israel's reduction of shipments since Hamas took over the territory in June, and accusing the armed group of siphoning off fuel for its own use, declared a protest at the pumps this week. » Read more

Jitters At A West Bank Junction ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Week by Joshua Mitnick - April 10, 2008 - 1:55pm Rimonim Junction, West Bank — The crossroads is set among idyllic hilltops that feed herds of sheep on the edge of the Judean desert. There is a steady rhythm of Palestinian minivan taxis shuttling between the West Bank’s northern half and the center. Occasionally, the sedan of an Israeli settler swooshes by. At the side of the road leading toward the Christian village of Taiybeh, a booth of concrete cubes sits empty. » Read more