November 10th, 2008

This land isn’t Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yair Lapid - (Opinion) August 18, 2008 - 8:00pm Last week, we marked three years to the disengagement. An overwhelming majority of Israelis has an ambivalent attitude towards it to this day: On the one hand, feeling that the experiment has failed; on the other hand, glad that we are no longer in Gaza. But also ashamed of the disgraceful treatment of the evacuees; yet proud of the fact that it turned out that the State is still able to implement something once it decides to do it. There are other views in addition to that, depending on who you talk to. » Read more

Analysis: Prisoner release does nothing for Abbas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh - August 17, 2008 - 8:00pm It's hard these days to find one Palestinian who regards Israel's decision to release some 200 Palestinian prisoners as a "goodwill gesture." It's also hard to see how the release of the prisoners would "boost" the popularity of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas among his people. The argument that the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails strengthens the "moderates" has never proven to be correct. » Read more

PA welcomes Hamas-Jordan rapprochement ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Mohammed Mar’i - August 18, 2008 - 8:00pm The Palestinian Authority yesterday welcomed the improving relations between Jordan and Hamas movement saying that the Jordanian move “was another Arab attempt to end the unnatural situation in Gaza.” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ media adviser, Nimer Hammad, said that “we (Palestinian Authority) don’t fear the dialogue between Jordan and Hamas, instead, we welcome any effort that could persuade Hamas to step back.” » Read more

Olmert to face additional round of police questioning on Friday ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press December 31, 1969 - 8:00pm Israel Police spokespman officer says investigators are to quiz Prime Minister Ehud Olmert again on corruption allegations in what will be the sixth round of questioning so far. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said detectives would interview Olmert at his official residence in Jerusalem on Friday morning. Olmert is suspected of improperly accepting funds from U.S. businessman Morris Talanksy and of violations in funding trips abroad. Talansky previously testified that he gave Olmert $150 thousand, mostly in cash, for political campaigns and travel expenses. » Read more

Israeli court to review Palestinian abuse case ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press August 18, 2008 - 8:00pm Israel's Supreme Court will review the army's proposed punishment for two soldiers who were filmed abusing a Palestinian. The court said it would look at the case Tuesday in response to a request from a human rights group that thinks the army's indictment is too lenient. The video was released by Israeli rights group B'Tselem last month. It shows a soldier firing a rubber bullet toward the foot of a West Bank man whose hands were bound and eyes were blindfolded. The bullet bruised the 27-year-old man's toe. » Read more

Israel: Prisoners to Be Released ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press August 17, 2008 - 8:00pm Israel said on Monday that it would free two prominent Palestinian prisoners — Said al-Atba, who has served 32 years of a life sentence, and Mohammed Abu Ali, who was elected to the Palestinian Parliament while behind bars — among 199 inmates to be released as a good-will gesture to Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president. The move drew fierce criticism from some Israeli politicians, who said it could undermine attempts to free a captured Israeli soldier, Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who was being held in the Gaza Strip, which is ruled by the militant Palestinian organization Hamas.

Israel to treat Gaza peace boats 'like pirates' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Telegraph by Carolynne Wheeler - December 31, 1969 - 8:00pm The SS Free Gaza and the SS Liberty, which are sailing from Crete to Cyprus and then on to Gaza after being delayed by a storm, will carry about 40 protesters campaigning against Israel's economic sanctions on the Palestinian territory, including an 84-year-old Holocaust survivor and Lauren Booth, sister-in-law of Tony Blair, who is the international special envoy to the Middle East. The boats, which will also carry a cargo of balloons, musical instruments and thousands of hearing aids, are expected to approach Gaza early next week. » Read more

Anticipating truce breakdown, Gaza women training as suicide bombers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz August 19, 2008 - 8:00pm The cease-fire agreement struck between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip has brought a semblance of calm to the region, but neither side has stopped preparing for the possible renewal of violence. In Gaza, Islamic Jihad members recently offered TV cameras a rare glimpse into training undergone by women who are prepared to carry out suicide attacks should the Israel Defense Forces reinvade the coastal territory. The women take as an example Fatma Al-Najar, a 57-year-old grandmother who blew herself up in Gaza in 2006, wounding three soldiers.

Hamas rejects Arab deployment plan ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh - August 18, 2008 - 8:00pm Hamas has rejected a proposal to deploy Arab troops in the Gaza Strip, saying such a move would only deepen divisions among the Palestinians. The proposal, which was presented to Hamas by Egypt and Jordan in recent days, has won the full backing of the Palestinian Authority leadership in Ramallah. The initiative has also won the backing of the Saudis, who told visiting PA President Mahmoud Abbas that they would do their utmost to persuade Hamas to accept it, a senior PA official said Tuesday. » Read more

Hamas upset by Fatah prisoner release ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post August 18, 2008 - 8:00pm Israel's plan to release 200 Fatah prisoners as a goodwill gesture to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has angered Hamas and could result in a policy change regarding any future prisoner exchange deal with Israel to secure the release of captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit. Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Zahar was quoted Tuesday by the London-based Arab daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi as saying that if only Fatah prisoners are released it will convince Hamas to demand the release of prisoners that "would fit" its agenda. » Read more