August 27th

Official: Qatar to open office to oversee Gaza reconstruction ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 24, 2012 - 12:00am Qatar will open an office in Gaza to oversee its reconstruction projects in the enclave, an official in Gaza said Friday. Minister of Public Works and Housing Yousif al-Mansi said a Qatari delegation had agreed to start the first phase of a $224 million project during a visit to Gaza in June. "We're waiting for the delegation to come back in the next week or two to open a Qatari office in Gaza to start signing contracts and start the reconstruction projects," al-Mansi told Ma'an. » Read more

Report: Fayyad seeks advice from Bank of Israel governor ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 27, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad met with the Governor of the Bank of Israel Stanley Fischer last Friday in Jerusalem, Israeli media reported on Monday. Hebrew-language news site Maariv said that the meeting came at Fayyad’s request, and he was seeking advice on future economic steps. The officials, who worked together at the International Monetary Fund in the 1990s, met at the American Colony Hotel in East Jerusalem, the report said. Fischer’s office confirmed that he met with Fayyad, but they gave no further details. » Read more

Israel closes key Jerusalem checkpoint, limiting Palestinian residents' access ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Oz Rosenberg - August 27, 2012 - 12:00am The Defense Ministry is planning to seal up the Ras Khamis checkpoint, one of the only two exits into Israel for the 65,000 Palestinian residents of the Shoafat refugee camp in northeast Jerusalem. The Palestinian, who are considered residents of Jerusalem, can now enter Israel only through the Shoafat central checkpoint, severely limiting their access to the city. » Read more

Sources: Iran was forced to withdraw Khamenei invite to Haniyeh ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 27, 2012 - 12:00am Informed sources told Ma'an on Monday that Iran's Supreme Leader had asked Gaza premier Ismail Haniyeh to the Non-Aligned summit in Tehran, but Iran was later forced to withdraw the invitation. Haniyeh announced the invitation on Friday, drawing ire from West Bank officials who said President Mahmoud Abbas would pull out if the Hamas premier attended. An Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman later said only Abbas had been invited to represent Palestine. Haniyeh then insisted he had declined the invitation, citing Palestinian unity. » Read more

Gaza Hamas premier drops plan to go to Iran summit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press August 26, 2012 - 12:00am A Hamas official says Gaza's Hamas prime minister has dropped plans to attend this week's summit of Non-Aligned Movement in Tehran. The prospect of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh attending the summit elicited an angry response from the rival Palestinian government in the West Bank. Its foreign minister, Riad Malki, warned he would pull out of the summit and urge other nations to do the same if Haniyeh showed up. » Read more

Egypt: 76 convicted for attack on Israeli Embassy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press August 26, 2012 - 12:00am A Cairo court has convicted 76 Egyptians on charges linked to last year's attack by protesters on the Israeli Embassy. Seventy-five of the defendants received suspended one-year sentences Sunday, while one defendant tried in absentia was given a five-year prison term. The court listed eight charges, including "an assault against diplomatic missions" and "sabotage." » Read more

Israeli police arrest suspects in firebomb attack ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press August 26, 2012 - 12:00am Israeli police say they have arrested three Jewish youths from a West Bank settlement as suspects in firebomb attack that wounded six Palestinians in a taxi. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Sunday the three suspects were minors, aged 12-13. They will appear in a Jerusalem court to face charges. The attack 10 days ago targeted a taxi driving in the West Bank. A firebomb struck the vehicle, injuring the six people inside, one seriously. The military suspected Jewish extremists. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders condemned the firebombing. » Read more

Egypt reopens Gaza border crossing for passengers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Ashraf Sweilam - August 26, 2012 - 12:00am An Egyptian security official says Egypt has reopened its passenger terminal with the Gaza Strip and resumed normal operations there after nearly three weeks of disruption following a deadly attack on Egyptian soldiers by Islamic militants. The official said from inside the Rafah crossing that it will be open six days a week, with normal security measures. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief reporters. » Read more

Israel stops activists from entering West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Dale Gavlak - August 26, 2012 - 12:00am Israeli authorities refused entry on Sunday to about 100 pro-Palestinian activists, including three Americans, attempting to cross overland to the West Bank from Jordan, according to their leader. French organizer Olivia Zemor of the "Welcome to Palestine" campaign said Israeli authorities asked no questions and stamped "entry denied" into the passports without an explanation. Israel's Defense Ministry denounced the protesters as "provocateurs and known troublemakers." » Read more

Family of slain US activist awaits verdict ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Diaa Hadid - August 27, 2012 - 12:00am Almost a decade after their daughter was crushed to death by an Israeli army bulldozer as she tried to block its path in a Gaza Strip conflict zone, Rachel Corrie's parents are preparing for a judge's ruling in their high-profile civil lawsuit against the military. They hope Tuesday's court decision will conclude a case that's turned their daughter into a rallying cry for pro-Palestinian activists, taken years of their life and drained their savings. » Read more