February 25th

Simultaneous Implementation Is The Only Hope
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons
by Ghassan Khatib - (Opinion) February 25, 2008 - 7:27pm

One of the main responsibilities of the Palestinian side under the roadmap is its security obligation. Under it Palestinians are required to end military attacks on Israelis and the Palestinian Authority to dismantle "terrorist infrastructure". The security obligation is perceived to be the counterpart to the Israeli responsibility to end settlement expansions and dismantle settlement outposts.

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Europe: Heading For A New Security Deal With Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Inter Press Service (IPS)
by David Cronin - February 25, 2008 - 7:25pm

The European Union is considering new steps to deepen its cooperation on scientific research with Israel, despite admitting that previous funds earmarked for that purpose have gone to firms operating illegally in the Palestinian territories. Between now and 2013, the Israeli government is to contribute 440 million euros (652 million dollars) per year so that it can participate in the EU's so-called framework programme for research.

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Israel’s Hamas Predicament: Shoot Or Talk
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Financial Times
by Tobias Buck - (Opinion) February 25, 2008 - 7:23pm

The Gaza Strip nestles on a flat, sandy piece of land along the Mediterranean coast, but viewed from Jerusalem the territory resembles a quivering volcano. Ever since Hamas, the Islamist group, took control of the strip last June, the government of Israel has struggled to come up with a Gaza strategy that matches its policy goals. With violence on the rise and the humanitarian situation in Gaza worsening by the day, Israel’s leaders are under pressure to formulate a new approach.

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Abbas: Peace In 2008 Or Never
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
February 25, 2008 - 7:22pm

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas urged the US on Monday to make good on its promise to work for a Middle East peace settlement by the end of the year, warning that there would not be any future chances. Abbas spoke following a closed door meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah in the Jordanian capital of Amman and warned that if the Bush administration didn't make good on its pledge to "make 2008 the year to broker peace, then there will never be any future chances to achieve this goal."

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In Israel, Some See No Option But War
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Griff Witte - February 25, 2008 - 7:21pm

Aharon Peretz has spent most of his 51 years in this cactus-fringed, working-class town, and he would like to stay. But his wife and six children feel differently: Daily retreats to the basement during rocket strikes from the nearby Gaza Strip have frayed their nerves, and an attack that cost an uncle both his legs has convinced them it's time to go. Peace will return for his family, Peretz has decided, only if Israel chooses to go to war with his neighbors.

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Israel Rejects Arab League Criticism On Palestinian Peace Talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Steven Erlanger - February 25, 2008 - 7:17pm

Israeli officials on Friday rejected Arab complaints that they were not committed to a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians and said Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had responded positively to the Arab League initiative as a basis for negotiations. Mark Regev, the spokesman for Mr. Olmert, was responding to recent Arab statements, published in The New York Times, warning Israel that unless it accepted the 2002 proposal — for full recognition of Israel in return for complete withdrawal to the 1967 boundaries — the deal would be withdrawn.

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February 24th

A New York Times article reports on Israel’s deflection of criticism from the Arab League (1.) The Associated Press quotes Mahmoud Abbas saying 2008 may be the last chance for peace (3.) A Financial Times article examines Israel’s strategy options in Gaza (4.) In Bitterlemons, Ghassan Khatib says that without the cessation of settlement activity, the negotiation process will be compromised (7.) According to a Jerusalem Post editorial, there can be no dialogue with Hamas until they recognize Israel and disavow terrorism (8.)

February 22nd

U.s. To Announce New Aid Plan For West Bank, Gaza Strip
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - February 22, 2008 - 5:48pm

The United States plans to announce tens of millions of dollars in new aid for the West Bank and Gaza next week to ease the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territories, U.S. officials said on Friday. The funds will be channeled through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees, which handles U.S. and other assistance for food, health, education and other areas, said U.S. officials, who declined to provide the exact figure as the official announcement will be made during a trip to the region next week.

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Hamas: We Won't Rule Out Any Bid For Cease-fire With Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
February 22, 2008 - 5:36pm

A Hamas spokesman praised on Friday a decision by European Union lawmakers in Strasbourg, France on Thursday calling on Israel to end the blockade and open Gaza's border crossings. "We in Hamas are highly appreciative of the initiative and the call made by the EU parliament to end the siege imposed on Gaza," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. "We consider this an important development in the European attitude."

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Who Is Pressuring Gaza?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
(Editorial) February 22, 2008 - 5:35pm

Two news reports, that complemented one another, on the deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip were published yesterday. Haaretz reported there is growing international criticism - in Europe, Russia, the United Nations and even in the American administration - of Israel's policy toward the Gaza Strip. Al-Hayat reported that during a recent visit to Turkey, Defense Minister Ehud Barak considered the possibility of establishing a multinational force to oversee the situation in the Gaza Strip.

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