Middle East News: World Press Roundup

An ATFP translation from Al-ayyam daily looks at the tension between Fatah and the Fayyad government (1). The pressure continues to build on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (3). Desmond Tutu condemns Israel’s Gaza blockade (4). Salaam Fayyad addresses the graduation ceremony for the most recent class of the Palestinian National Security Forces (6). The Israel Policy Forum hails the recent Palestine Investment Conference (7).

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Israel's Defense Minister Says Olmert Must Step Down ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Richard Bourdreaux - May 29, 2008 - 9:36pm Israel's defense minister said Wednesday that he would use his political clout to bring down the coalition government if Prime Minister Ehud Olmert does not step aside to face possible bribery charges. The ultimatum by Ehud Barak, a former prime minister who heads the coalition's second-biggest party, raised pressure on the Israeli leader to resign or at least temporarily step aside before a criminal investigation runs its course. » Read more

Tutu: Gaza Blockade Abomination ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News May 29, 2008 - 9:37pm Nobel peace laureate Desmond Tutu has called Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip an "abomination". He strongly condemned what he called international "silence and complicity" on the blockade, which he compared to the actions of Burma's leaders. Speaking at the end of a two day mission to the area, the former archbishop said the humanitarian situation there could not be justified. Earlier, 60 Palestinians were detained in an Israeli raid on northern Gaza. » Read more

Palestinians Pin Hopes Of Economic Recovery On High-tech Companies ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press May 29, 2008 - 9:38pm Hunched over laptops in red cubicles, Palestinian software engineers are developing an award-winning new version of a program that makes desktop computer accessible from anywhere. But beyond such technological breakthroughs, the young graduates of West Bank universities are blazing a trail, in this case with Israeli colleagues, for the fledgling Palestinian high-tech industry which many hope will bypass the old obstacles of the Mideast conflict and one day drive the sluggish Palestinian economy. » Read more

Fayyad Addresses Graduation Ceremony Of 2nd Battalion In Jericho ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-hayaht Al-jadidah by Imad Abu-sumbul - May 29, 2008 - 9:40pm Fayyad, Other Officials Participate in Graduation Ceremony of Second Special Battalion of National Security Forces Following Training in Jordan; Jericho--Prime Minister Dr Salam Fayyad conveyed the greetings and blessings of President Mahmud Abbas, the commander in chief of the Palestinian security forces, to his sons the members of the National Security Forces and the graduates from the second special battalion of the Palestinian National Security Forces, who received training in fraternal Jordan at the graduation ceremony in Jericho. » Read more

The Palestine Investment Conference ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Israel Policy Forum by Sadie Goldman With Jason Proetorius And Ipf Staff - (Opinion) May 29, 2008 - 9:42pm Perhaps the greatest achievement of last week’s Palestine Investment Conference was not the announcement that $1.4 billion would be invested in the West Bank and Gaza or that 35,000 new jobs would be created, but the fact that the conference was held in the first place. » Read more

After Olmert ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) May 29, 2008 - 9:42pm Ehud Olmert's term as prime minister, which began with Ariel Sharon's coma, is about to end with Morris Talansky's testimony. It is possible that, as in the first chapter in which Olmert served as acting prime minister until the elections, the last chapter will be a twilight zone in which his seat is vacated in fact but not in theory - due to a vacation or temporary incapacitation. But the terminology is not important. The substance is that Olmert can no longer stand at the helm of Israel's government. » Read more

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