Palestinians Urge For Early Presidential Ballot
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Angus Reid Global Monitor
February 4, 2008 - 7:45pm

The vast majority of people in the Gaza Strip and West Bank believe a change of government is necessary, according to a poll by An-Najah National University. 65.1 per cent of respondents support conducting an early presidential election, and 52.4 per cent would dissolve the Palestinian Legislative Council.

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Israeli Defense Minister To Stay In Olmert Coalition
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Isabel Kershner - February 4, 2008 - 7:44pm

Ehud Barak, Israel’s defense minister and the leader of the Labor Party, announced Sunday that he would remain in the government, stabilizing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s coalition despite last week’s harsh report on the political and military leaders’ handling of the Lebanon war in 2006.

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Shikaki: Hamas’ Popularity On Rise In Gaza After Tearing Down Wall With Egypt
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Council on Foreign Relations
by Bernard Gwertzman - (Interview) February 4, 2008 - 7:44pm

Khalil Shikaki, a leading Palestinian political scientist and polling expert based in the West Bank, says that Hamas, the radical Palestinian group opposed to Israel, has been losing popularity among Palestinians since it took over Gaza by force last June. But more recently, Israeli sanctions against Gaza in retaliation for the rocket attacks on Israel, and Hamas tearing down the wall separating Gaza from Egypt, have probably boosted Hamas’ popularity again, making it difficult for Hamas’ rival, Fatah, to contemplate defeating Hamas in another election.

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Isabel Kershner of the New York Times discusses the impact of Ehud Barak, Israeli Defense Minister, remaining in Ehud Olmert's coalition in the wake of the Winograd report.(2) In Mother Jones, Justin Elliott touches on Barack Obama's recent statements about the border crisis in Gaza. (5) Mousa Qous suggests that the continued Israeli settlement building in East Jerusalem could compromise future negotiations of a two state solution in BitterLemons. (Israel/Palestine) (8) An Arab News editorial petitions Mahmoud Abbas to make a deal with Hamas over the recent border crisis. (9) An Haaretz article ranks the U.S. presidential candidates positions on the Israel/Palestine debate. (11) Also in Haaretz, Amos Harel updates on the first suicide bombing in Israel in over a year. (13)

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