June 20th

Reviving U.s. Leadership In The Middle East
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Middle East Progress
by Brian Katulis & Mara Rudman - (Commentary) June 20, 2008 - 3:10pm

The tenuous cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, negotiated by Egypt, that began this morning in Gaza represents a tentative step forward in managing and ultimately resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. If the period of calm is used to make progress on negotiations, implement obligations and improve the lives of both Israelis and Palestinians, then the ceasefire can help lay the foundation for final resolution.

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The Cease Fire In Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Boston Globe
(Editorial) June 20, 2008 - 3:08pm

IF IT HOLDS, the cease-fire that took effect yesterday between Israel and Hamas in Gaza will be a welcome boon for Israelis exposed to rockets fired from Gaza and for Palestinians liable to be caught in retaliatory attacks. But for the Egyptian-brokered cease-fire to become something more than a temporary pause in a chronic conflict, both sides will have to enforce its terms rigorously. And Israel, Hamas, the Palestinian Authority of President Mahmoud Abbas, Egypt, and the United States will have to make the cease-fire a stepping-stone to a durable two-state peace agreement. 

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June 19th

The debate continues on all sides regarding the Hamas-Israel truce that began yesterday (1) (2) (3) (8) (9) (12). Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issues a plan for a US-backed overhaul of Palestinian security forces (5). Tensions between Israel and Iran continue to cause concern (4) (7). A letter to the Editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer from ATFP Senior Fellow Hussein Ibish challenges assertions by former Senator Rick Santorum (13).

Politics Is The Art Of The Possible
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al- Quds
by Atta Allah Mansour - June 19, 2008 - 2:56pm

The next election for the Knesset is on the horizon, and the condition of the Arab parties is dismaying. The Arab share of Israel’s electorate ranges between sixteen to twenty percent of the total eligible to decide the election and set government policy – however, the conventional wisdom is that Arab influence in the Israeli election will be one tenth that of Jewish influence in the American presidential election, even though Jews only compose three to four percent of those who are eligible to vote in the United States.

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Humanitarian Organizations Keen To Jump-start Gaza Initiatives
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Tal Rabinovsky - June 19, 2008 - 2:54pm

Israel and Hamas may remain doubtful as for their ceasefire's chances of being a a long-lasting one, but the humanitarian organizations are optimistic, eager to take advantage of the clam to ship essential equipment into Gaza.

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Negotiations To Release Gilad Shalit To Resume Next Week
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Roni Sofer - June 19, 2008 - 2:50pm

  Defense Minister Ehud Barak has announced that he will meet with the families of the three kidnapped soldiers Eldad Regev, Ehud Goldwasser, and Gilad Shalit on Friday, due to the recent developments in negotiations with Hizbullah and Hamas.  Ofer Dekel, the Prime Minister\\\'s Office emissary in charge of Israel\\\'s efforts on behalf of its missing and captive soldiers is scheduled to leave for Cairo next Tuesday in order to renew the negotiations for the release of Gilad Shalit.

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Amount Of Goods Transferred To Gaza To Rise By 30% On Sunday
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Hanan Greenberg - June 19, 2008 - 2:47pm

The amount of commodities transferred into the Gaza Strip is set to increase by 30% on Sunday, due to the ceasefire that took hold on Thursday. The commodities will be made up mostly of clothing, shoes, and food. In one week Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai is scheduled to hold a discussion on transferring cement and gravel to the Strip. Vilnai has also directed forces to investigate other ways to transfer goods into Gaza, apart from Sufa crossing.


The Hump On The Back Of The (u.s.) Camel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Middle East Times
by George Hishmeh - June 19, 2008 - 2:45pm

One could hardly believe upon reading or hearing the statement by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice after her talks with Israeli leaders last Sunday when she "pressed" them to halt settlement expansion in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, two Israeli-occupied areas where the Palestinians hope to establish their independent state along with the Gaza Strip.

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Gaza Truce Could Create Conditions For Un Force
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
June 19, 2008 - 2:44pm

JERUSALEM - An Egyptian-brokered truce and reconciliation talks between rival Palestinian factions could create conditions for the deployment of UN peacekeepers in the Gaza Strip, the United Nation\'s envoy said on Thursday. Robert Serry, the world body\'s special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said the idea of sending peacekeepers was ‘premature’ at this stage but that it could become ‘very practical’ later if security and political conditions improve.

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Israel And Hamas Remain On War Footing Despite Ceasefire
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times
by Sheera Frenkel And David Byers - June 19, 2008 - 2:43pm

Israel and the Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers remained firmly on a war footing today, despite a truce between the sides coming into effect. Ehud Olmert, the Israeli Prime Minister, confirmed that his country's military was on high alert despite the ceasefire, and predicted that the halt in violence would be fragile and may be "short-lived".

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