April 28th

Above All, Olmert Must Want Peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Uzi Benziman - (Opinion) April 28, 2008 - 6:16pm It's not clear whether Ehud Olmert's situation regarding the possibility of initiating peace moves with Syria resembles that of the man who wants to but can't, the one who can but doesn't want to, or the one who can't and convinces himself that he doesn't want to anyway. » Read more

Mk Ariel: Arabs Should Be Urged To Willingly Emigrate From Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz April 28, 2008 - 6:15pm MK Uri Ariel on Sunday called on the government to encourage Israeli Arabs to "willingly emigrate" from Israel and from large cities within it, so as to solve the problematic situation of the country's minorities. The National Union MK made a speech during a first-of-its-kind conference dealing with the issue of Israel's minorities as well as with "the creeping Arab occupation", and said "the issue of Arabs living within the State of Israel should be addressed." » Read more

Settlers To Move Into E. J'lem Police Hq ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - April 28, 2008 - 6:14pm Based on an agreement signed with former police commissioner Moshe Karadi, right-wing settlers will take up residence in a group of buildings in Jerusalem's predominantly Arab neighborhood Ras al-Amud in the next few days. The building had hitherto served as the Samaria and Judea District Police headquarters. The buildings are slated to become the nucleus of a new Jewish neighborhood in the so-called Holy Basin area, the fate of which is supposed to be decided in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. » Read more

Eu Faults Hamas For Gaza Fuel Crisis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon - April 28, 2008 - 6:13pm Jerusalem expressed mild satisfaction Sunday night that a statement issued by the EU on the fuel shortage in Gaza placed at least part of the blame on Hamas's shoulders. After expressing "grave concern" at reports that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) had suspended its humanitarian work in the Gaza Strip because of a fuel shortage, and after calling for "regular and unrestricted delivery of fuel supplies" through the "controlled reopening of the crossings" into the area, the EU then singled out Hamas. » Read more

Syria And Israel: Paradox And Danger ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Tariq Alhomayed - (Opinion) April 28, 2008 - 6:12pm We are facing an odd political paradox in the region as Syria and Israel continue to flirt in hope of reaching a peace agreement, the price of which is costly for both parties since both sides want a victory that would exclude it from military confrontation, which seems inevitable. Damascus wants the Golan Heights to be returned to it and to break the Arab and international isolation [that it is experiencing] in order to actualize a victory that it could benefit from both internally and externally especially since the Syrians have placed all their eggs in one basket, that is by allying » Read more

Inclusiveness Most Promising Approach ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Ghassan Khatib - (Opinion) April 28, 2008 - 6:11pm Jimmy Carter's visit to the region and his meetings with several parties including Hamas officials coincided with serious Egyptian efforts to try to forge a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. The former US president's meetings with the Syrian leadership and Hamas were controversial in the United States, however, and he was brutally criticized in Israel. Only in Palestine were his efforts welcomed by the full political spectrum. » Read more

Palestinian Plight Is Flip Side Of Israel's Independence Joy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Karin Laub - April 28, 2008 - 6:10pm Mohammed Shaikha was 9 when the carefree rhythm of his village childhood - going to third grade, picking olives, playing hide-and-seek - was abruptly cut short. Uprooted during the 1948 war over Israel's creation, he's now a wrinkled old man. He has spent a lifetime in this cramped refugee camp, and Israel's 60th independence day, to be celebrated with fanfare on May 8, fills him with pain. "For 60 years, Israel has been sitting on my heart. It kicked me out of my home, my nation, and deprived me of many things," he said. » Read more

Israel Firm On No Talks With Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from United Press International (UPI) April 28, 2008 - 6:09pm Israeli government officials reiterated Friday there will be no talks with Hamas leaders despite the group's declaration of a six-month truce. Unidentified sources told Ynetnews the declaration from the Israelis followed four rocket attacks into northern Gaza from the Palestinian territories. Israeli officials said the attacks showed that talks would be futile, the sources said. » Read more

Israeli Fire 'kills Four Children In Gaza' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters April 28, 2008 - 6:08pm Israeli fire hit a house in the Gaza Strip today while a family was eating breakfast, killing six Palestinians, including four children and their mother, residents and medical officials said. The deaths in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun cast another shadow on Egyptian efforts to forge a ceasefire between Israel and militant groups and end violence threatening US-brokered Palestinian statehood talks. » Read more

Hamas Ready To Accept 1967 Borders ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al Jazeera English April 28, 2008 - 6:05pm Hamas has said it is ready to accept a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders but "will not recognise Israel".   Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Khaled Meshaal, the exiled Hamas political leader, reaffirmed Hamas's stance towards Israel and clarified his comments as relayed earlier by Jimmy Carter, the former US president. » Read more