June 3rd, 2008

Palestinians Get New Police Stations In W Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters June 3, 2008 - 5:07pm Israel gave the Palestinian Authority permission on Tuesday to open three police stations in the northern West Bank as part of a U.S.-backed security campaign meant to ready the Palestinians for statehood. Washington sees the campaign as a chance for Palestinian forces to show they can exert control and rein in militants. » Read more

On Middle East, Mccain Vows To Stay The Course ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Inter Press Service (IPS) by Jim Lobe - June 3, 2008 - 5:04pm In a major address on Middle East policy Monday, Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican candidate for president, pledged to maintain the Bush administration's hard line against Iran and expressed strong scepticism about the ability of the current Palestinian leadership to reach a peace accord with Israel. » Read more

Hizb Ut-tahrir And The Fantasy Of The Caliphate ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Le Monde Diplomatique by Jean-pierre Filiu - June 3, 2008 - 5:02pm The Islamist movement Hizb ut-Tahrir has revived by tapping energy among Europe’s immigrant communities and appealing to Muslims on the edge of Asia, and to Palestinians. But it is a marginal international grouping; could it retain its appeal if it engaged directly in politics or if its demands were actually met? Ten thousand Palestinians demonstrated in the streets of Ramallah last August, calling for "a return to the caliphate". » Read more

Can Barack Obama Be A Friend Of Israel If He Talks To Iran? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times by Tom Baldwin - June 3, 2008 - 4:58pm Barack Obama will seek to assuage fears tomorrow about his foreign policy by addressing America’s powerful Jewish lobby — where John McCain yesterday hammered home a warning that his likely Democratic opponent threatened Israel’s security. » Read more

Israel Court Condemns Student Ban ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News June 3, 2008 - 4:54pm The Israeli Supreme Court has called on the government to reconsider its almost total ban on Palestinian students leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad. The court said the policy was harming prospects for future coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians. This follows the reinstatement by the US state department of Fulbright grants to seven Palestinians in Gaza. The scholarships had been withdrawn because Israel would not provided exit permits to the students. » Read more

June 2nd

Olmert, Abbas Make Progress On Permanent Borders ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Roni Sofer - June 2, 2008 - 4:21pm  Just hours before leaving for Washington Israeli PM meets Palestinian leader meet in Jerusalem, reiterate commitment to reaching peace deal by end of 2008. Sources say Palestinians complained against continued settlement construction » Read more

Abbas Says To Discuss Settlement, Prisoners Issues With Olmert ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Kuwait News Agency (kuna) June 2, 2008 - 4:17pm President Mahmoud Abbas announced on Monday that he would present during a meeting Friday with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert issues of settlements in the West Bank and specifically in the city of Jerusalem and the issue of prisoners. The President added during a press conference held with German Foreign Minister Frank Steinmeier in the presidential headquarters in Ramallah that the Palestinian National Authority can not accept such actions by the Israeli government which will be an obstacle to peace. » Read more

Hizbollah Releases Israeli Soldiers' Remains In Return For Prisoner ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Reuters - June 2, 2008 - 4:13pm Hizbollah said on Sunday it had released the remains of Israeli soldiers killed in a 2006 war with Israel, which handed over a Lebanese man who had completed a jail term on charges of spying for the group. The exchange increased speculation of progress in indirect talks over a broader prisoner swap. Lebanese political sources said last Monday that the talks had made major progress. » Read more

Olmert Stalls Talks With Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Mohammed Mar’i - June 2, 2008 - 4:10pm Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday delayed a key Cabinet decision on an Egyptian-mediated truce with the Hamas in and around the Gaza Strip. “This is an issue that has to go through the security Cabinet,” Olmert was quoted as saying by a senior official. “This is a serious and weighty issue with far-reaching consequences.” The premier delayed the planned yesterday departure to Cairo of senior Defense Ministry official Amos Gilad, who represents Israel in the indirect talks. » Read more

Ehud Olmert Under Fire As Israeli Police Travel To Us To Gather More Evidence In Bribery Case ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Telegraph June 2, 2008 - 4:06pm   » Read more