Obama Defers to Bush, for Now, on Gaza Crisis
Media Mention of Ghaith al-Omari In The New York Times - December 28, 2008 - 1:00am

WASHINGTON — When President-elect Barack Obama went to Israel in July — to the very town, in fact, whose repeated shelling culminated in this weekend’s new fighting in


Hamas, Israel trying to rewrite truce
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Karin Laub - November 19, 2008 - 8:00pm


A June truce between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers comes up for renewal next month, and it looks as if both sides are trying to dictate more favorable terms. That would explain why Israel and Hamas have been trading rocket fire and air strikes for two weeks, even as they keep saying they're interested in a continued cease-fire. The attempt to establish new ground rules could easily spin out of control, especially if there are civilian casualties. Domestic concerns further complicate the situation.


Analysis: Hamas, Israel trying to rewrite truce
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Karin Laub - November 16, 2008 - 8:00pm


A June truce between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers comes up for renewal next month and it looks like both sides are trying to dictate more favorable terms. That would explain why Israel and Hamas have been trading rocket fire and air strikes for two weeks, even as they keep saying they're interested in a continued cease-fire. But the attempt to establish new ground rules could easily spin out of control, especially if there are civilian casualties. Domestic concerns further complicate the situation.


In A Typical Week In Gaza, No News Is Good News
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Quds
by Sami Abdel-shafi - (Opinion) July 25, 2008 - 8:00pm


?TAKE A PHOTO of me now, for tomorrow I may be dead,? young Gazans shout as they attend their friends? funerals. Death found the man buried today, for example, while he was at yesterday?s funeral for his friend. Such uncertainty about life, with everyone aware that for them tomorrow may not come, spawns a darkly tragic humor. If an Israeli sniper doesn?t hit his mark, perhaps a tank, F-16 or Hellfire missile will. And God help those who survive. Israel?s ongoing siege of Gaza leaves the hospitals nearly bare of life-saving medicines and bandages.


New Israeli Gaza Incursion Overshadows Rice Peace Push
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
March 4, 2008 - 6:29pm


Israel launched a brief incursion into Gaza on Tuesday, overshadowing a new peace push by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who held talks at the time in Jerusalem with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Palestinian medics said the Israelis shot dead a 20-day-old baby girl during exchanges of fire with gunmen, and that 10 people had been wounded, including at least three gunmen.


Israel Defiantly Continues Gaza Attacks Amid International Outcry
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Middle East Times
by Sakher Abu El Oun - March 3, 2008 - 6:58pm


GAZA CITY (AFP) Israel continued to hammer Gaza on Monday after vowing to press its campaign against militants despite an international outcry over the deadly onslaught that prompted even the moderate Palestinian leadership to cut off all peace talks. Five Palestinian activists were killed early Monday in raids by Israeli aircraft and shelling of the Gaza Strip by the Israeli navy, Palestinian security officials said.


Humbling Hamas
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Middle East Times
by Alon Ben-meir - (Opinion) February 20, 2008 - 6:49pm


The most acute problem facing Israeli officials today is how to end the daily Qassam rocket attacks intended to demoralize Israelis and to undermine the peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Israel insists – rightfully – that Hamas, as the self-proclaimed authority in Gaza, is to blame and must suffer the consequences. The question is what to do so that Hamas is weakened rather than strengthened by the Israeli punitive countermeasures while progress continues in the peace negotiations.


Israel Torn Over Relationship With Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News
by Martin Patience - January 25, 2008 - 6:17pm


Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert delivered a keynote speech on Wednesday night presenting himself as an experienced leader in difficult times. But notably absent was any mention of the tens of thousands of Palestinians crossing from Gaza into Egypt after the militant group Hamas blew up sections of the border fence. Israel is closely monitoring the situation but is reluctant to use force to end the crisis, which would be likely to spark international condemnation.


Israel Vows To Keep Pressure On Gaza To Stop Rocket Salvoes
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
by Leslie Susser - (Analysis) January 23, 2008 - 8:39pm


Despite international and Arab protests, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has indicated Israel will keep up its pressure on the Gaza Strip in an effort to force Hamas and other Palestinian militias to stop their cross-border rocket attacks on Israeli civilians. But Israel relaxed its blockade somewhat on Tuesday after masses of Palestinians tried to cross the Gaza-Egypt border. On Wednesday, the crowds succeeded in knocking down the border fence, and thousands of Palestinians streamed into Egypt to stock up on supplies before returning to Gaza.


Israeli Neighborhood Haunts Peace Talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Sarah El Deeb - December 18, 2007 - 12:23pm


The Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa, with its white stone buildings and billboards hawking new real estate projects, now has managed to disrupt Israeli-Palestinian peace talks for the second time in a decade. Israel's announcement this month that it plans to build 307 new homes in this east Jerusalem neighborhood, on land Palestinians want for the capital of their future state, drew international condemnation. The plan was the first wrench thrown into peace negotiations relaunched last week after a violent seven-year hiatus.



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