July 2nd, 2008

Mideast Leaders Meet In Japan For Talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) July 2, 2008 - 4:07pm Senior officials from Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority held talks Wednesday in Japan in a bid to lay the groundwork for peace by improving the Palestinian economy. Japan, which is seeking a greater role in the Middle East, hopes the talks will lead to a deal on its signature project in the region -- starting an agro-industrial park in the West Bank. » Read more

Israel Bars Un Rights Panel From Palestinian Areas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) July 2, 2008 - 4:05pm Israel's government has barred a UN human rights delegation from visiting the Palestinian areas on a fact-finding mission, the leader of the group said on Tuesday. "Israeli authorities did not allow us to visit the Palestinian territories," said Prasad Kariyawasam, head of the UN panel, adding that "no reasons were given by Israel because they do not recognize our mandate."  » Read more

Egyptian Police Injured In Gaza Border Clash ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters July 2, 2008 - 4:04pm Palestinians clashed with Egyptian police at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on Wednesday when some of the Palestinians tried to force their way across, witnesses said. Dozens of Palestinians from the territory, controlled by the Islamic militant group Hamas, pelted Egyptian border police with stones, injuring at least six of them, Egyptian security and medical sources said. » Read more

Jerusalem 'bulldozer Terrorist' Was Palestinian Father-of-two Hossam Dawiath ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times by Sheera Frenkel - July 2, 2008 - 4:01pm A Palestinian construction worker at the wheel of a digger went on a rampage in central Jerusalem today, killing at least three people and injuring 45 in an act that brought terror back to the streets of Israel. Hossam Dwayyat, a 31-year-old Arab resident of East Jerusalem, wrought havoc on one of Jerusalem’s main thoroughfares, driving into oncoming traffic and leaving a trail of mangled vehicles in his wake. » Read more

July 1st

Bill Calling For Israeli Withdrawals Only By Referendum Approved In First Reading ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Amnon Meranda - July 1, 2008 - 4:02pm A bill stating that a referendum will be held before the ceding of any land belonging to the State of Israel has been approved in its preliminary reading by the Knesset on Monday. The motion was approved with a majority of 65 MKs, and was opposed by 18. According to the bill, if the government approves the ceding of Israeli land the decision will be brought before the Knesset, and if it is approved by the Knesset, a referendum will be held within 180 days. However, should a withdrawal be supported by at least 80 MKs, the matter will not be brought to a referendum. » Read more

Bill Banning Those Who Visit Enemy States From Knesset Duty Approved ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Amnon Meranda - July 1, 2008 - 3:57pm The Knesset passed a bill on Monday determining that any Israeli citizen who visits enemy territory without a proper permit will not be able to serve in the Knesset for seven years. » Read more

Assad: Peace Talks Need New Push ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Roni Sofer - July 1, 2008 - 3:54pm Following the approval of the prisoner swap deal with Hizbullah, negotiations with Syria have undergone developments. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's envoys to Turkey, Yoram Turbowicz and Shalom Turgeman, are set to leave for the third round of indirect talks with Syria. On Monday Syrian President Bashar Assad dubbed the political climate in the Middle East "positive", and called on the EU to increase its involvement in the peace talks with Israel. » Read more

The Truce Between Resistance And Treason ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al Hayat by Elias Harfoush - (Opinion) July 1, 2008 - 3:52pm The truce deal overseen by Hamas along with the Israeli side threatens to turn into divisive issue inside the Gaza Strip between Hamas and the other Palestinian factions there. The breaches committed by Al-Aqsa Brigades and the Islamic Jihad are likely to be repeated and indicate the suspicions of these factions in Hamas's intentions behind the truce. » Read more

Denied The Right To Go Home ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Zeina Emily Saman Ashrawi - (Opinion) July 1, 2008 - 3:51pm I am Palestinian - born and raised - and my Palestinian roots go back centuries. No one can change that even if they tell me that Jerusalem, my birth place, is not Palestine, even if they tell me that Palestine doesn't exist, even if they take away all my papers and deny me entry to my own home, even if they humiliate me and take away my rights. I AM PALESTINIAN. » Read more

John Holmes: Continued Pressure On Israel To Allow Humanitarian Good ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Kuwait News Agency (kuna) July 1, 2008 - 3:48pm UN Under-Secretary-General for Humaniitarian Affairs and UN Coordinator for the food crisis John Holmes said Tuesday that the policy adopted is of continued pressure on the government of Israel to allow a much freer flow of humanitarian and commercial goods in order to allow the Palestinian people to breath and bring an end to a policy that "we" have described as that of collective punishment. » Read more