November 5th

'Few changes likely during transition' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon - November 4, 2008 - 8:00pm Change in US Middle East policy as a result of Tuesday's elections is expected to be "evolutionary, not revolutionary," according to diplomatic assessments in Jerusalem. According to these assessments, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Israeli-Syrian talks are not expected to be on the top of the new president's agenda during the transition period, defined roughly as the period starting Wednesday and lasting until the new president's national security team is up and running. » Read more

Israel preparing for Hamas attacks after Gaza operation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Hanan Greenberg - November 4, 2008 - 8:00pm Tuesday night's successful Israel Defense Forces operation in Gaza thwarted a concrete and significant terror threat, but military officials admitted Wednesday that the tunnel attacked was only one of many threats which still exist in the Strip. Defense Minister Ehud Barak held a special meeting with security officials Wednesday morning, and one of the issues discussed was the possibility of a complete collapse of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. » Read more

Gaza truce in jeopardy after Hamas-Israeli clashes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press November 4, 2008 - 8:00pm Hamas militants pounded southern Israel with a barrage of rockets Wednesday, hours after Israeli soldiers killed six gunmen in new violence that threatened a five-month-old truce that has brought relief to both Gaza and southern Israel. The clashes began late Tuesday after Israeli forces burst into Gaza to destroy what the army said was a tunnel being dug near the border to kidnap Israeli troops. Despite the outbreak of violence, both the Israeli authorities and officials with Gaza's Hamas government said they wanted to restore the calm that has largely prevailed for five months. » Read more

Six die in Israeli attack over Hamas 'tunnel under border to kidnap soldier' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times by James Hider - November 4, 2008 - 8:00pm A five-month truce between Israel and the Islamist rulers of the Gaza Strip was foundering today after Israeli special forces entered the besieged territory and battled with Hamas militants, leaving six Palestinian fighters dead and four Israeli soldiers wounded. The Israeli military described the operation as a “pinpoint” raid to destroy a 250-metre tunnel it said the hardline Palestinian movement was digging under the border to try to kidnap an Israeli soldier, as it did in summer 2006. » Read more

Rice off to Mideast as peace deadline looms ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Matthew Lee - November 4, 2008 - 8:00pm Fighting irrelevance and a ticking clock, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice embarks Wednesday on yet another Middle East peacemaking trip, hoping to secure fragile Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and leave a viable process for the incoming Obama administration. With just 77 days left in office, Rice will be making her eighth trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories since the parties set a year-end goal of reaching a peace deal at last November's Annapolis peace conference. She will also visit Egypt and Jordan to shore up Arab support for the talks. » Read more

Arab League urges Obama to act quickly in Mideast ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press November 4, 2008 - 8:00pm Arab League head Amr Moussa has urged President-elect Barack Obama to act swiftly to try to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Moussa welcomed the result of the U.S. election and said it marked a watershed for the United States and for efforts to bring peace to the Middle East. Moussa says Obama's call for change is needed in the Middle East to ease tensions between Arabs and Israelis and to resolve the nuclear standoff with Iran. » Read more

November 4th

In the business of peace - U.S. billionaire pursues his dream of Mideast peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - December 31, 1969 - 8:00pm Between meeting in the Knesset with Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon and visiting his friend, President Shimon Peres, S. Daniel Abraham felt like pouring his heart out. The 84-year-old billionaire, who visited Israel earlier this month, says that for the last seven years, since meeting Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Saud - who has since been crowned king - he has not known peace. Abraham's eyes become dewy as he talks about the meeting in Riyadh. » Read more

Mofaz: As PM I'll work to return Shalit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Amnon Meranda - August 20, 2008 - 8:00pm Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz slammed on Thursday the cabinet's recent decision to release 199 Palestinian prisoners as a gesture to President Mahmoud Abbas while IDF soldier Gilad Shalit remains in captivity. "Noam and Aviva Shalit (Gilad's parents) are still awaiting their son's release," said Mofaz, a leading candidate for the Kadima party chairmanship along with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. "As prime minister I'll work tirelessly to bring him back to his family." » Read more

No more separate bathing in Jaffa pool ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Omer Ori - August 21, 2008 - 8:00pm The Jewish residents' committees in the city of Jaffa has decided to stop renting out the local Neveh Golan swimming poll to Jews only for one day every fortnight, following a Yedioth Tel Aviv report last week. "It was supposed to take place once again next week, but since the report, the organization of the event has been halted," said a neighborhood activist. "The exposure of this issue has simply caused everyone to back down from the idea." » Read more

Israel re-opens Gaza''s commercial crossings ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) August 21, 2008 - 8:00pm Israel announced Friday the re-opening of its three commercial crossings with the Gaza Strip, which it closed down two days ago. A spokesman for the Israeli Army, speaking to local radio, said the decision came after deliberations between Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barrak and top ministry officials at a meeting yesterday to evaluate the situation in the Gaza Strip. The army had closed the crossings after Palestinians launched a missile on Wednesday from northern Gaza at southern Israel, causing no casualties or damages. » Read more