November 18th, 2008

Israel’s Livni faces tough battle to win Olmert’s job ATFP World Press Roundup Article from United Press International (UPI) by Martin Sieff - July 30, 2008 - 8:00pm Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is the front-runner to succeed her boss, Ehud Olmert, as prime minister of Israel, but she could lose out to tough old Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, and, even if she wins, she isn't likely to keep the job long. Olmert, the most unpopular and discredited prime minister in Israel's entire history, announced Wednesday he would resign in September as a corruption probe that could put him in court to face possible bribery charges crawls ever closer. » Read more

Abbas orders Hamas fighters freed, but arrests reported of Fatah officials ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) July 31, 2008 - 8:00pm President Mahmud Abbas has ordered the release of Islamist Hamas militants arrested by his forces in the West Bank over the past week, the Palestinian Authority said on Thursday, but arrests of Fatah officials by Hamas were reported in the Gaza Strip. 'President Abbas has ordered his security officials to free all the Hamas militants arrested in recent days in the West Bank,' the authority said in a statement. » Read more

Police to grill Israeli OM again over graft claims ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) by Patrick Moser - July 31, 2008 - 8:00pm Israeli police grilled Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for three hours on Friday over graft allegations that have dogged his term in office, two days after his surprise resignation announcement. It was the fourth time since May that anti-fraud squad officers have interviewed Olmert, 62, at his official residence in Jerusalem in connection with the allegations of wrongdoing, which he has strongly denied. » Read more

Candidate who wants Olmert's job once 'sought deaths of 70 Palestinians a day' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Donald MacIntyre - July 31, 2008 - 8:00pm A leading candidate to be Israel's next premier called for a death toll of 70 Palestinians a day when he was head of the military during the second intifada, according to a best-selling book by two Israeli journalists. » Read more

Truth and Consequences Under the Israeli Occupation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Nation by Mohammed Omer - July 30, 2008 - 8:00pm I am a Palestinian journalist from Gaza. At the age of 17, I armed myself with a camera and a pen, committed to report accurately on events in Gaza. I have filed reports as Israeli fighter jets bombed Gaza City. I have interviewed mothers as they watched their children die in hospitals unequipped to serve them because of Israel's embargo. I have been recognized for my reporting, even in the United States and United Kingdom, where I have won two international awards. I have also been beaten and tortured by Israeli soldiers. » Read more

Israel’s Political Situation Dims Hopes for Peace Deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Helene Cooper - July 31, 2008 - 8:00pm The official line in Washington, Jerusalem and Ramallah is that the decision by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel to resign will not affect American efforts to negotiate a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians before the end of the year. Israeli officials said Thursday that Mr. Olmert could still try to reach a peace pact in his remaining time in office. In Tunisia, Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian leader, pledged to work with Mr. Olmert and his successor. » Read more

November 17th

Livni to Miliband: U.K. plan to label West Bank goods is 'exaggerated' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - November 16, 2008 - 8:00pm Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Sunday told her visiting British counterpart, David Miliband, that the U.K. was taking an "exaggerated" stance in its initiative to distinctly label produce imported from the West Bank. Miliband arrived in Israel on Sunday, where he met with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Livni, for a two-day visit aimed at advancing Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. » Read more

8 Qassams hit western Negev ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ilana Curiel - November 16, 2008 - 8:00pm Eight Qassam rockets were fired at communities in the western Negev's Eshkol Regional Council on Monday morning. There were no reports of injuries but several houses were damaged. Residents of the Eshkol Regional Council were ordered to enter fortified rooms. The Al-Quds Brigades, the Islamic Jihad's military wing, claimed responsibility for the attack. Following the barrage, the transfer of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip was put on hold. » Read more

New dovish faction shaping up in Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Amy Teibel - November 16, 2008 - 8:00pm A group of high-profile Israeli politicians, intellectuals and business leaders have banded together to form a new dovish faction ahead of February elections, worried by polls that give hardline opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu a strong chance of winning. » Read more

Analysis: Hamas, Israel trying to rewrite truce ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Karin Laub - November 16, 2008 - 8:00pm A June truce between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers comes up for renewal next month and it looks like both sides are trying to dictate more favorable terms. That would explain why Israel and Hamas have been trading rocket fire and air strikes for two weeks, even as they keep saying they're interested in a continued cease-fire. But the attempt to establish new ground rules could easily spin out of control, especially if there are civilian casualties. Domestic concerns further complicate the situation. » Read more