June 4th, 2008

Israel Closes Gaza Fuel Crossing ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press June 4, 2008 - 5:34pm The Israeli army says it has closed the Gaza fuel crossing after an errant rocket fired by militants wounded a Palestinian worker at the terminal. Israel's army says the attack on the Gaza side of the crossing prompted it to cease transferring industrial fuel, cooking gas and diesel to the territory of 1.4 million Palestinians. Israeli spokesman David Baker says Wednesday's attack showed militant groups' "total disregard for the well-being of the Palestinian people." Palestinian militants frequently fire mortars toward the Israeli-controlled crossings. » Read more

Israel-palestine Talks Will Go On With Or Without Ehud Olmert - London Ambassador ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times by Richard Beeston - June 4, 2008 - 5:33pm Israel is prepared to press ahead with Middle East peace negotiations with or without Ehud Olmert as Prime Minister, the country’s Ambassador to London said yesterday. Speaking as the embattled Israeli leader began a three-day visit to America, Ron Prosor said that other potential leaders in the ruling Kadima party would pursue talks with the Palestinians should Mr Olmert be forced from office. » Read more

Israeli Shift To Private Security Draws Fire ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Financial Times by Tobias Buck - June 4, 2008 - 5:31pm A scuffle has broken out among the Palestinian workers waiting to pass the sprawling Israeli checkpoint between Bethlehem and Jerusalem. The men, who have waited patiently outside the terminal for much of the night, are tired, and afraid of arriving late at work on nearby Israeli building sites. Now, one of them is trying to push ahead of the queue, sparking an angry response from the men behind. » Read more

Smells Of Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Nicki Bennett - June 4, 2008 - 5:30pm Like most people who read and watch a lot of news, I’ve seen a fair share of photographs and television footage of the Gaza strip in my life. And unlike some of the places I’ve worked — like Goz Beida in eastern Chad or El Zapote in Guatemala — Gaza is actually a place that many people can locate on a world map, or describe to you on the basis of the images they’ve seen. » Read more

June 3rd

Aipac Instructs Delegates To Stay ‘positive’ ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Nathan Guttman - June 3, 2008 - 5:21pm This past week, an unusual letter was sent out to the 7,000 delegates expected to attend the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s upcoming annual conference. Reflecting the heightened political tension surrounding the gathering in this campaign year, organizers from Aipac effectively told those planning to attend on June 2 to behave themselves better than they had last year. » Read more

Palestinian Pharmaceuticals Company Exporting Painkillers To Eu ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews June 3, 2008 - 5:20pm A Palestinian pharmaceuticals company is exporting drugs to Europe after passing the required EU quality tests. The first shipment by the Dar al-Shifa company consists of 1.4 million painkiller pills. Next on the list are antibiotics and ulcer medication. The head of the company, Bassem Khoury, said Tuesday that exports for 2008 are expected to reach $1.6 million and $47 million by 2010.

Olmert’s “crisis” And The “morality” Of Negotiations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-ayyam by Hassan Asfour - June 3, 2008 - 5:16pm The crisis that Israel is experiencing due to Olmert’s corruption scandal and its effect on the governing coalition is the most important political event today. A sitting prime minister is under investigation for bribery and money laundering like any other citizen, which is something we are not used to in Arab countries. What is more, the defendant continue his governing job as if nothing is threatening his political career. People who are following the corruption allegations will notice that Olmert is acting as if he is untouchable. » Read more

Assad Wants Us To Sponsor Israel Peace Talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times June 3, 2008 - 5:14pm Syrian President Bashar Assad said on Monday that indirect peace talks with Israel would eventually need “international sponsorship” from the United States. “The success of these negotiations is dependent on Israeli intentions and political changes in the world,” he was quoted as saying by the United Arab Emirates’ official WAM news agency while on a visit to Abu Dhabi. » Read more

Olmert Seeks To Reassure Abbas On Talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Reuters - June 3, 2008 - 5:12pm Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas protested Jewish settlement growth near Jerusalem in talks on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who sought to show it was business-as-usual despite a corruption probe. “Differences were deep and strong in this area,” Abbas aide Saeb Erekat said of the settlement issue, which has dogged US-sponsored peace talks since they were launched in November. » Read more

Not In Our Name, Say Checkpoint Watchers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Middle East Times by Mel Frykberg - June 3, 2008 - 5:09pm "Get back, get away, move, move," shouted the Israeli soldier as he and two female soldiers aimed their weapons at us threateningly.  "What is the problem?" I asked as the young, blonde, blue-eyed and red-faced Israeli soldier looked on the crowd in a state of panic.  "There is a bomb and you must move away for your own protection," he answered.  Last Sunday this Middle East Times reporter spent the afternoon at the notorious Huwara checkpoint, just south of Nablus in the northern Palestinian West Bank.  » Read more