June 10th

Likud To Bring Motion To Dissolve Knesset Before House Next Week ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Amnon Meranda - June 10, 2008 - 5:04pm The Likud Party has openly announced Tuesday it would bring a bill calling for the disollusion of the current Knesset before the House within a week. MK Silvan Shalom informed the faction that "on June 18 we will bring forth a motion calling for the dissolution of the Knesset in order to hurry the coming election in the most dignified way possible… The decision has been made. Olmert's government has reached the end of the road. All it cares about now is political survival." » Read more

Cabinet Ministers: Large-scale Gaza Op Needed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Roni Sofer - June 10, 2008 - 5:00pm   "Israel must launch a large-scale operation in Gaza against Hamas and the rest of the terror organizations," Housing Minister Ze'ev Boim said prior to Tuesday's cabinet meeting, "everyone understands that any ceasefire would only be temporary. Hamas is under pressure. The blockade did its job." According to Boim , any truce agreement would only serve Hamas' interests and give it time to regroup. » Read more

Gaza Decision In Days ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Alex Fishman - (Opinion) June 10, 2008 - 4:56pm   “The sand in the hourglass is running out,” Defense Minister Ehud Barak promised Thursday in a meeting with municipal leaders in the Gaza region. » Read more

Abbas Retakes Lead In Palestinian Poll ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Itamar Sharon - June 10, 2008 - 4:53pm Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has received a boost in popularity in light of his recent efforts to reconcile with Hamas, while the terror organization's standing with the Palestinian public has declined, a poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) shows. » Read more

Chances For A Ceasefire Are Minimal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Ghassan Khatib - (Opinion) June 10, 2008 - 4:51pm Egyptian efforts to secure a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in Gaza are continuing, but the different parties' interests and their definition of what a ceasefire should constitute are throwing obstacles in the way. » Read more

Israel Strike Kills 3 Gaza Militants Firing Mortar ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Matti Friedman - June 10, 2008 - 4:49pm An Israeli airstrike killed three Palestinians firing mortars at southern Israel on Tuesday, while Israel's leaders debated whether to pursue a truce with Gaza's Hamas rulers or launch a broad military offensive against militants in the coastal strip. In a related development, the father of an Israeli soldier held captive in Gaza by Hamas said his son pleaded for his life and appealed to the government not to abandon him in a newly received letter. » Read more

People Vs. Dinosaurs ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Thomas L. Friedman - (Opinion) June 10, 2008 - 4:45pm Question: What do America’s premier investor, Warren Buffett, and Iran’s toxic president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have in common? Answer: They’ve both made a bet about Israel’s future. Ahmadinejad declared on Monday that Israel “has reached its final phase and will soon be wiped out from the geographic scene.” » Read more

June 9th

Defense Sources: Talk Of Major Idf Operation In Gaza Premature ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amoss Harel - June 9, 2008 - 4:36pm Despite stern warning from Israeli officials about an impending massive operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the big invasion is less certain and imminent than how it is painted in the media, according to defense and military sources. The sources told Haaretz on Saturday that negotiations on a cease-fire will continue for the next two weeks with Hamas, barring Israeli casualties from Qassam rockets. Only after that period, the sources said, will the government formulate and decide on its next moves vis-a-vis the Islamist organization. » Read more

Gaza Op Likely Before J'lem Signs Truce ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Yaakov Katz, Herb Keinon - June 9, 2008 - 4:34pm In response to the recent string of fatal Hamas rocket attacks, Israel is likely to conduct a medium-size military operation against the Islamist group before agreeing to a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, senior defense officials told The Jerusalem Post on Saturday. A final decision on Israel's course will be made on Tuesday during a meeting between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. Barak, officials said, favored first striking at Hamas and only then agreeing to a truce. » Read more

Palestinian Public Opinion Poll No. 28 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Palestinian Center For Policy And Survey Research June 9, 2008 - 4:30pm These are the results of the latest poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip between 5 and 7 June 2008. This period witnessed the declaration by the President of the Palestinian Authority (PA) Mahmud Abbas of his desire to renew dialogue with Hamas. It also witnessed continued closure of the Rafah border crossing despite Hamas’s attempt to open it. » Read more