No 'shortcuts' In Mideast Peace Deal: Palestinian Negotiator ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) by P. Parameswaran - July 31, 2008 - 3:55pm The United States, Israel and the Palestinians agreed in talks Wednesday to strive for a Middle East peace deal without any "shortcuts," Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said. The parties also regarded Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's announced resignation Wednesday as an internal matter that would not dampen negotiations for an Israeli-Palestinian agreement, officials said. » Read more

Autopsy Shows Boy Killed By Live Round - Official ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press July 31, 2008 - 3:54pm An autopsy by Palestinian forensic doctors indicates that a 10-year-old West Bank boy killed in a confrontation with Israeli forces was shot by live fire, Palestinian officials said on Wednesday. Ahmed Moussa was killed on Tuesday in the village of Nilin, during one of the frequent protests there against Israel's West Bank separation barrier. The Israeli military said it was investigating the boy's death. » Read more

Apn Analysis: "the Olmert Announcement And What It Means For The Peace Process" ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Americans For Peace Now July 31, 2008 - 3:53pm I.  The Olmert Announcement Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced two things on Wednesday:  First, he announced that he will not run for the leadership of his party, Kadima, in elections scheduled to be held in 6 weeks. Second, and more importantly, he announced that he will resign as prime minister once Kadima elects its new leader. What this means is actually far more complicated that it might sound. » Read more

Israeli Settlers In West Bank Defy Promise ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Joshua Mitnick - July 31, 2008 - 3:52pm For nearly three decades this outpost in the desert hills of the Jordan Valley functioned as a stillborn settlement, a temporary respite for soldiers and religious students, but never the residential community intended by Israel when it approved Maskiyot in the 1980s. » Read more

What Olmert's Exit Means For Peace Talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Chicago Tribune by Joel Greenberg - July 31, 2008 - 3:51pm Despite his vows to overcome corruption allegations and to work with the Bush administration to conclude a Middle East peace deal, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert bowed to the inevitable Wednesday. » Read more

Olmert To Quit After Elections In September ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - July 31, 2008 - 3:49pm Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, embroiled in a high-profile corruption investigation, announced on Wednesday that he would resign after his party chose a new leader in September elections. The televised announcement injected new uncertainty into Israeli politics and the Middle East peace effort, coming just as Mr. Olmert has been intensifying negotiations with the Palestinian Authority as well as Syria. » Read more

July 30th

U.s. Says Settlements Are 'problem' As Israel-pa Talks Shift To Washington ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz July 30, 2008 - 3:39pm The United States called Israeli settlement building "a problem" on Tuesday as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice began fresh talks in her uphill push for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal this year. The State Department voiced displeasure at Israel's latest plans to build new settlements after Rice met Barak for wide-ranging discussions that also covered Iran and its suspected pursuit of nuclear arms. » Read more

Olmert: I'll Quit As Pm When Kadima Picks New Leader ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - July 30, 2008 - 3:38pm Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Wednesday that he has decided not to contend in the Kadima primary election and would resign as soon as the new party leader was chosen, due to the criminal investigations that have embroiled him in recent months. "I have decided I won't run in the Kadima movement primaries, nor do I intend to intervene in the elections," Olmert said in an official statement to the public from his official residence in Jerusalem on Wednesday evening. » Read more

Naalin Photographer's Father Kept In Custody ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ali Waked - July 30, 2008 - 3:37pm The father of the girl who filmed an IDF soldier firing a rubber bullet at a bound Palestinian in Naalin will remain in custody until legal proceedings again him are completed, judges decided Tuesday.  Jamal Amira's detention was extended by the Military Court at the Ofer Prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah. » Read more

How Can A Boy Threaten Soldiers? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ali Waked - July 30, 2008 - 3:35pm A general strike has been called at the Palestinian village of Naalin Wednesday to protest the killing of 11-year-old boy Ahmed Mussa. IDF troops blocked the main entrance to the village, while businesses in Naalin closed their doors ahead of the funeral, scheduled for Wednesday. Meanwhile, weeping local residents gathered around the Mussa home and slammed the IDF and Israel's security forces. » Read more