February 18th

Shake Up in the PLO ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Kifah Zaboun - February 18, 2009 - 1:00am Ramallah, Asharq Al-Awsat- High-ranking Palestinian sources have revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas transferred the task of leading the Palestinian negotiating team from Ahmad Quray, alias Abu-Ala, to Saeb Erekat, head of the PLO's negotiations department. » Read more

Israel 'must give up considerable territory in exchange for peace' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News February 17, 2009 - 1:00am Occupied Jerusalem: Tzipi Livni, who hopes to be appointed Israel's prime minister-designate, said on Monday Israel must give up considerable territory in exchange for peace with the Palestinians, drawing a clear distinction with her rival, Benjamin Netanyahu. » Read more

Who can probe Gaza war crimes claims? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News by Bethany Bell - February 18, 2009 - 1:00am There have been numerous calls for investigations into whether war crimes were committed during the recent Israeli offensive in Gaza. The Geneva Conventions and additional protocols prohibit the destruction of property, "except when rendered absolutely necessary by military operations" and "indiscriminate attacks" affecting civilians. Concerns about the number of civilian casualties and damage to buildings in Gaza have been raised - among others - by the United Nations, by the Palestinian Authority, the Arab League and by human rights groups. » Read more

Explosives haul missing in Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News by Tim Franks - February 17, 2009 - 1:00am A large stockpile of unexploded weapons has disappeared in Gaza, before United Nations experts were able to dispose of it safely, the BBC has learned. The explosives, including aircraft bombs and white phosphorus shells, were fired by the Israeli military during its recent offensive in the Gaza Strip. UN officials said they were urgently trying to establish where the arms had gone and have called for their return. Israel has accused Hamas of taking the stockpile, which was under Hamas guard. 'Extremely dangerous' » Read more

Israel links Gaza deal to soldier's release ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Adam Entous - February 18, 2009 - 1:00am Israel decided Wednesday against lifting its border blockade of the Gaza Strip until Hamas agreed to the release of a captured Israeli soldier, putting a longer-term ceasefire proposal by Egypt on hold. The unanimous decision by outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's security cabinet raised the stakes in delicate negotiations over Hamas demands that Israel free up to 1,400 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the soldier, Gilad Shalit. » Read more

Hamas Seeking To Come In From Cold ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Middle East Times by Sana Abdallah - August 28, 2008 - 12:00am Chances of coming in from the cold are looking better for Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement ruling the Gaza Strip, as the world braces itself for crucial changes in political leaderships and power shifts that might also bring strategic policy turns in the Middle East. » Read more

February 17th

One on One: 'I was the resident skeptic' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Ruthie Blum Leibowitz - (Interview) February 12, 2009 - 1:00am The one thing Elliott Abrams and I do not discuss during our hour-long interview in Jerusalem this week is his imminent career move. More specifically, how someone who has spent the better part of the last three decades vilified by those who consider "neoconservatism" a four-letter word will fare as a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, a key part of the liberal establishment. » Read more

From Dividing the Palestinians to Threatening Bahrain ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed - February 15, 2009 - 1:00am Some people still think that all that is said about Iran is mere lies. However, Iran's latest hostile claim to Bahrain has made the picture all the clearer, and that Iran is a big problem for the Arab region in all the sense of the word. Iranian officials have again made statements claiming that the Kingdom of Bahrain is part of Iran and that it is the 14th province of Iran. It is as though Iran's occupation of the three UAE islands is not enough. That is not all. » Read more

Optimism and the Dangers of Relapse ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat by Abdullah Iskandar - February 16, 2009 - 1:00am There are conflicting signs related to the two main areas of conflict in our region, Lebanon and Palestine. On the one hand, there is optimistic talk about defusing the crises that have recently swept the region, in a manner that enhances the inter-Arab reconciliation and cements optimism. On the other hand, there are warnings that herald a potential relapse and a return to square one. » Read more

Egypt's strategy toward Gaza is an incremental, long-term one ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Gamal A. G. Soltan - (Opinion) February 17, 2009 - 1:00am The Gaza war was seemingly an inevitable conflict. The pre-war reality was unacceptable to any of the concerned parties. Hamas was not satisfied with a ceasefire that kept the tiny Gaza Strip isolated from the world. Palestinian suffering in besieged Gaza challenged Hamas' claim of effectiveness as an elected government capable of providing for the wellbeing of its people. Nor did the terms of the ceasefire allow Hamas to pursue the program of resilient resistance that is so central to the movement's identity. The war was Hamas' way out of this entrapment. » Read more