March 3rd

International Community Rips Israel Over Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
March 3, 2008 - 6:57pm

Leaders around the world condemned Israel's attacks on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip over the weekend, calling on both sides to end the recent escalation in violence. EU president Slovenia said on Sunday that Israel's attacks were disproportionate and violated international law.

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Thousands Rally Across Mideast To Protest Idf Attacks On Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
March 3, 2008 - 6:56pm

Tens of thousands of Syrians filled the central square of Damascus Monday to protest ongoing Israel Defense Forces operations in the Gaza Strip that have killed more than 100 Palestinians, while elsewhere in the region thousands others also demonstrated. The Syrians chanted slogans against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and called on Arab leaders to take a tough stand on U.S. support for Israel as it continues its air and ground offensive against Palestinians in Gaza. "With soul and blood we sacrifice ourselves for you Palestine," the crowd

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Israelis Show Declining Zest For Military Service
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from McClatchy News
by Dion Nissenbaum - March 3, 2008 - 6:53pm

Throughout Israel's short, turbulent history, the nation has grown cynical about almost every sector of society but one: its military. Though the Israeli military has been buffeted by political scandal, castigated for enforcing a 40-year occupation of the Palestinians, and humbled during its 34-day war in 2006 against Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon, most Israelis never seemed to lose faith in their citizen soldiers. But, under the surface, something has been slowly shifting in Israel as the nation prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary May 14.

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Another Mideast Peace Plan Slipping Away
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from International Herald Tribune
(Opinion) March 3, 2008 - 6:50pm

For the first time, an Israeli leader and a Palestinian leader seem genuinely committed to peace. They set a deadline for a deal by year's end. Yet the likelihood of achieving the two-state solution they have embraced diminishes with every rocket lobbed into Israel from Hamas-controlled Gaza and with every Israeli military strike or squeeze on civilian life in Gaza. The political and security situation is growing more desperate.

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Abbas Halts Mideast Talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Baltimore Sun
by Richard Boudreaux - March 3, 2008 - 6:49pm

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas suspended peace talks with Israel yesterday amid growing international criticism of the Jewish state's incursion into the Gaza Strip. Mounting casualties in Gaza drew protests from European and Arab capitals and sent thousands of Palestinians into the streets across the West Bank, where Israeli troops killed a teenager during a demonstration.

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Give Palestinians A Chance To Implement The 'road Map'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons
by Yossi Alpher - (Opinion) March 3, 2008 - 6:46pm

Under the circumstances, and by comparison to its predecessors, the current Palestinian Authority (PA) government in Ramallah led by President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is making reasonable progress toward fulfilling its "road map" phase I security obligations. Of course there is still a lot to be desired - but the PA deserves better than the degree of reciprocation it has received thus far from Israel.

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March 2nd

An opinion by Yossi Alpher in BitterLemons requests Palestinians be given the opportunity to implement their ‘road map’ obligations (1). In the Baltimore Sun, Richard Boudreaux reports that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has suspended mideast talks with Israel (2). The International Herald Tribune warns that another mideast peace plan is slipping away (3) while the international community rips Israel over Gaza in the Daily Star (7). The Jordan Times asserts that more forceful action is needed by the UN in regards to the situation in Gaza (8).

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