Egypt's holy war against Sinai jihadists leaves many questions unanswered
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Avi Issacharoff - (Opinion) September 4, 2012 - 12:00am


In contrast to the sloppy-looking Egyptian soldiers we saw here three weeks ago, the troops we encountered on Monday of last week at a fortified position close to the Kerem Shalom crossing seemed to be from a different unit. They wore helmets and protective vests and held their Kalashnikov rifles at the ready. They bore no resemblance to the Egyptian border police who were here until a few days after the August 5 attack on an Egyptian outpost which left 17 of their troops dead.


Israel closes key Jerusalem checkpoint, limiting Palestinian residents' access
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Oz Rosenberg - August 27, 2012 - 12:00am


The Defense Ministry is planning to seal up the Ras Khamis checkpoint, one of the only two exits into Israel for the 65,000 Palestinian residents of the Shoafat refugee camp in northeast Jerusalem. The Palestinian, who are considered residents of Jerusalem, can now enter Israel only through the Shoafat central checkpoint, severely limiting their access to the city.


Israel stops activists from entering West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Dale Gavlak - August 26, 2012 - 12:00am


Israeli authorities refused entry on Sunday to about 100 pro-Palestinian activists, including three Americans, attempting to cross overland to the West Bank from Jordan, according to their leader. French organizer Olivia Zemor of the "Welcome to Palestine" campaign said Israeli authorities asked no questions and stamped "entry denied" into the passports without an explanation. Israel's Defense Ministry denounced the protesters as "provocateurs and known troublemakers."


Egypt reopens Gaza border crossing for passengers
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Ashraf Sweilam - August 26, 2012 - 12:00am


An Egyptian security official says Egypt has reopened its passenger terminal with the Gaza Strip and resumed normal operations there after nearly three weeks of disruption following a deadly attack on Egyptian soldiers by Islamic militants. The official said from inside the Rafah crossing that it will be open six days a week, with normal security measures. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief reporters.


'Egypt affirms commitment to Israel peace treaty'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
August 24, 2012 - 12:00am


Defense Minister Ehud Barak spoke by telephone to his Egyptian counterpart Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Friday morning, according to Arabic-language news agency Al-Hayat. According to the report, al-Sisi affirmed Egypt's commitment to maintaining the 1979 Camp David peace treaty with Israel in the phone call, ahead of a meeting with Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy.


Palestinians: Egypt destroyed quarter of Rafah tunnels
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Elior Levy - August 24, 2012 - 12:00am


Palestinian sources have said that Egypt's attempts to cleanse Sinai of terrorists, have brought about the destruction of a quarter of the tunnels connecting the Egyptian and Palestinian Rafah. However, sources have estimated that when the operation is completed, the tunnels will be restored. According to unofficial estimates, there are over 1,000 smuggling tunnels in the area.


Hamas urges Egypt to treat Gazans as Israelis in Sinai
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
August 23, 2012 - 12:00am


A Hamas official on Thursday called on Egypt to treat people in the Gaza Strip in the same way as it treats Israeli tourists who the Sinai Peninsula. Mahmoud Zahar, a leader of the Islamic movement that governs Gaza, said Egypt kept its border with Israel at Taba open during the Muslim feast this week and more than 10,000 Israelis have entered Sinai to spend their holiday. Zahar, writing on his Facebook page, added that the new Egyptian decision to open Rafah crossing point with Gaza for humanitarian cases only was "painful."


Hamas calls on Egypt to exclude Israel of any security coordination in Sinai
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
August 19, 2012 - 12:00am


Ismail Haneya, premier of Islamic Hamas movement's rule in the Gaza Strip, on Sunday called on Egypt to exclude Israelis from any security coordination to control the security in the Peninsula of Sinai. During a speech on Sunday morning to mark Eid al-Fitr, the end of the 30 days of fasting in the holy month of Ramadan, Haneya said security in Sinai has to be controlled through coordination between Egypt and Hamas.


A Gaza Border Slams Shut, and With It, Chances for a Pilgrimage to Mecca
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Fares Akram - August 17, 2012 - 12:00am


Every Ramadan for the past two decades, Mouin Mushtaha has made the pilgrimage to Mecca during the last 10 days of the Muslim holy month. This year, as Ramadan ticked away, he sat gloomily at the office of his tourism agency here, watching the festivities on television.


Palestinians flock to Jerusalem as restrictions eased for Ramadan
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
August 16, 2012 - 12:00am


Israel has unexpectedly eased restrictions on Palestinians looking to visit Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, saying improved security meant it could let in thousands more from the occupied West Bank. Israeli officials said Wednesday they had lowered the age limit for men wanting to visit al-Aqsa mosque in the Old City to 40 from 50 and had also handed out seven times more permits to Palestinians between the ages of 35 and 40.



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