June 12th

Barak: Labor To Vote For Dissolution Of Knesset ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Atilla Somfalvi - June 12, 2008 - 3:56pm "The way things look at present time, we will support the motion for the dissolution of the Knesset on the June 25th preliminary vote," said Labor party chairman, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, on Thursday morning at a Labor party meeting. "We would prefer to see stability, but if the reality necessitates it then there is nothing to fear by going to elections," he said. » Read more

U.s. Fulbright Winner Barred From Egypt ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Middle East Times by Joseph Mayton - June 12, 2008 - 3:54pm CAIRO -- A decision by the Egyptian government to decline an American Fulbright winner the opportunity to carry out his research in the Middle Eastern nation highlights the political nature of the award. In a similar case last month, Israel threatened to deny exit visas for Gaza residents, initially forcing the United States to cancel their scholarships. Four of the Gazans have since been issued travel permission and have left Gaza for Jerusalem en route to the United States to study, but three others remain in limbo as to their status. » Read more

Settlers Attack Palestinian Homes In Hawara ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Kuwait News Agency (kuna) June 12, 2008 - 3:52pm RAMALLAH, June 12 (KUNA) -- Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian home on Thursday, injuring two in Hawara town, South Nablus. Eyewitnesses said that settlers from Yetzahar settlement near Hawara attacked houses in the area clashing with Palestinians, which resulted in the injuries. They added, settlers stabbed one of the injured with a sharp tool, and hit the other with a metal bar on his head. Medical sources assured that those injured are now in stable condition. » Read more

Joint Israeli-palestinian Public Opinion Poll ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Palestinian Center For Policy And Survey Research June 12, 2008 - 3:50pm Israelis strongly oppose cease-fire with Hamas if agreement does not include release of Gilad Shalit; Palestinians strongly oppose such an agreement if it does not include the West Bank or does not stipulate an immediate opening of the Rafah crossing to Egypt  » Read more

Shelving The American Role ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Middle East Times by George Hishmeh - June 12, 2008 - 3:49pm Once Barack Obama shockingly unveiled his true and one-sided views regarding a Palestinian-Israeli peace settlement at last week's meeting in Washington of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, it became obviously clear that he has unwittingly disqualified himself as the much-promised instrument of "change" or that "we can" help bring about an honorable end to the decades-old conflict. » Read more

Barak Threatens To Join Vote To Dissolve Israeli Parliament ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) June 12, 2008 - 3:48pm JERUSALEM (AFP) Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak warned on Thursday that his Labour party would join the opposition in voting to dissolve parliament if the Kadima party does not name a new prime minister. "The way things are now, we will present a bill to dissolve parliament on June 25," Barak told journalists. "The decision is in the camp of (Prime Minister) Ehud Olmert and his party," said Barak, whose Labour party is Kadima's main coalition ally. » Read more

Israel Urged To Bare Findings In Journalist's Death ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Joanne Allen - June 12, 2008 - 3:47pm WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Committee to Protect Journalists on Wednesday called on Israel to release findings of an army investigation into the killing of a Reuters cameraman in the Gaza Strip in April.   Fadel Shana, a 24-year-old Palestinian, was hit by a spray of metal darts from a controversial type of missile on April 16 as he filmed an Israeli tank dug in about a kilometer (1,000 yards) away. » Read more

Blast At Hamas Leader's Home Kills Five ATFP World Press Roundup Article from United Press International (UPI) June 12, 2008 - 3:46pm JERUSALEM, June 12 (UPI) -- Five people died and 60 were hurt Thursday in Gaza when a explosion ripped through a senior Hamas commander's home, Palestinian security officials said. Palestinian security and medical sources said explosion occurred at a house belonging to Ahmed Hamudi, a senior Hamas commander, CNN reported. Witnesses called the blast a "work accident." Israeli denied involvement in the incident, calling it a Palestinian internal matter.. » Read more

Hard Questions, Tough Answers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Americans For Peace Now by Yossi Alpher - June 12, 2008 - 3:38pm Q. Last week, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas seemingly dropped his preconditions and invited Hamas to renew negotiations over a unity government. Why?   » Read more

Israel To Seek Gaza Peace Deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from International Herald Tribune by Isabel Kershner - June 12, 2008 - 3:36pm JERUSALEM: The Israeli security cabinet voted Wednesday to pursue an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire with Palestinian militant groups in Gaza, while leaving open the possibility of a military offensive should the truce talks fail. "The security cabinet decided this morning to support Egyptian efforts to achieve calm in the south and end the daily targeting of Israeli civilians by the terrorists in Gaza," said Mark Regev, a spokesman for the prime minister. » Read more