July 23rd, 2008

'to Hell With The Ceasefire' If Israel Doesn't Let Up, Hamas Says ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Middle East Times by Mel Frykberg - July 23, 2008 - 4:53pm In an unusual display of frustration, moderate Hamas official Ahmed Yousef, the adviser on foreign affairs to de-facto Gaza prime minister and Hamas leader Ismail Haniya, has told the Middle East Times that Hamas' patience with Israel is wearing thin. "I don't know what game the Israelis are playing but quite frankly if the siege isn't lifted and Gaza's borders remain closed, the ceasefire can go to hell, Yousef said by phone. » Read more

Barghouthi Spins Highlights Faults In Mideast Media ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Rachelle Kliger - July 23, 2008 - 4:51pm Contradictory reports in the Israeli and Palestinian media are placing question marks over the reliability of the Middle Eastern media.   Reports are abounding regarding the inclusion of two senior jailed Palestinians in a possible deal to release Israel soldier Gilad Shalit from captivity in Gaza.   One is Marwan Barghouthi, a senior Fatah member, who is serving five consecutive life terms in an Israeli jail for his involvement in terrorism.   The other is Ahmad Sa’dat, who heads the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and who is in jail in c » Read more

Abbas Serious About Withdrawing Forces From Nablus – Erekat ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Kuwait News Agency (kuna) July 23, 2008 - 4:50pm Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is serious about withdrawing Palestinian forces from Nablus if Israel does not stop executing incursions into the city, a Palestinian official said Wednesday. Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat told the Voice of Palestine radio station that the Palestinians would not allow the continuation of incursions into Palestinian cities, especially Nablus, adding that that was to the disdain of the Palestinian authority. » Read more

Palestinian Wounded In Northern Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Kuwait News Agency (kuna) July 23, 2008 - 4:49pm A Palestinian youth was wounded here on Wednesday after being shot by the Israeli forces, who were firing from the northern part of the Gaza Strip. Palestinian medical sources stated that the Israeli forces shot a group of Palestinians north of Beit Hanoun, resulting in wounding Mohammad Hamdan in the leg. He was taken to Beit Hanoun Hospital for treatment.

Obama Arrives In Israel, Vows To 'plunge' Into Mideast Peacemaking ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press July 23, 2008 - 4:47pm U.S. presidential contender Barack Obama arrived in Israel Tuesday night, facing a full schedule of meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders after pledging to work for peace as soon as he takes office. Obama flew to Israel late Tuesday from Jordan, where he condemned an attack a few hours earlier by a Palestinian man from East Jerusalem who rammed a bulldozer into passing cars in central Jerusalem, injuring at least 24 people before being shot dead by a civilian and a Border Police officer. » Read more

Abbas: I'll Pull Out West Bank Forces ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press July 23, 2008 - 4:44pm Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told supporters on Tuesday that he will withdraw his forces from West Bank cities unless Israel halts its army operations there. Parallel to negotiations with Israel, Abbas has been trying to exert more control in the West Bank and to rein in terrorists. At the same time, the international community is training Abbas's forces, with hopes they will one day take over from Israel. » Read more

Israel's Ehud Olmert Survives 3 No-confidence Votes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters July 23, 2008 - 4:42pm Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government survived three no-confidence motions in parliament Monday, even though one of them saw a majority voting against him for the first time. One motion was approved by 41 votes to 40 after Olmert's Shas coalition partner boycotted the vote. But under Israeli law, 61 votes are needed to pass a no-confidence motion, which would lead to the dissolution of the 120-member parliament and herald new elections. » Read more

Jerusalem Shooting Officer Dies ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News July 23, 2008 - 4:41pm An Israeli policeman has died 12 days after being shot in an apparent militant attack in Jerusalem. David Shriki was hit in the head when an unidentified gunman opened fire as he was on patrol in the Old City, in mainly Arab East Jerusalem. Israeli police said they were treating it as a "terrorist" attack. Another officer was wounded by the gunfire and is recovering. There have been a number of violent incidents in Jerusalem recently. » Read more

July 22nd

Shin Bet Chief Diskin: Idf Must Increase 'field Presence' In Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Shahar Ilan - July 22, 2008 - 5:09pm Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin warned lawmakers of copycat terrorist attacks in the works three hours before Tuesday afternoon's bulldozer rampage in Jerusalem, which left over a dozen people injured. In his appearance before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Diskin said the Shin Bet received indications that Palestinians were planning to stage attacks mimicing the deadly incidents in Jerusalem, including the first bulldozer attack and the shooting massacre of yeshiva students at Mercaz Harav earlier this year. » Read more

Israeli Official: U.s. Intervention In Minor Palestinian Issues Could Damage Ties ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - July 22, 2008 - 5:06pm Senior officials in the U.S. State Department, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, have repeatedly complained to Israel recently over relatively minor Palestinian issues that it would have ignored until a few months ago, Israeli officials say. Complaints about settlement construction or army operations that kill Palestinian civilians have always been the norm. But Israeli officials are worried by the State Department's new tendency to intervene in a much broader range of issues. » Read more