Mofaz: I Will Keep Jerusalem United As Israel's Eternal Capital ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz August 6, 2008 - 2:27pm Speaking at a conference of Kadima party activists six weeks ahead of the scheduled party primary, frontrunner Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz emphasized that he pledges to "keep Jerusalem united as Israel's eternal capital." "We will keep alive the magnificent dynasty of the days of King David, who named the city as our capital 3,000 years ago," Mofaz continued. » Read more

Supreme Court: Palestinian Authority Can Be Sued ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Aviad Glickman - August 6, 2008 - 2:26pm The Supreme Court overturned a Jerusalem District Court decision on Wednesday and determined that the Palestinian Authority is not immune to lawsuits filed by Israeli bodies and it does not hold sovereign immunity. The Supreme Court’s ruling followed a petition filed by the Beit Midrash of the Elon Moreh settlement in the West Bank against the Jerusalem District Court, which rejected the Jewish organization’s 2006 lawsuit and determined that the PA is considered autonomous and thus, can’t be sued. » Read more

Israel To Release Prisoners As Gesture To Abbas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Roni Sofer - August 6, 2008 - 2:24pm Despite his upcoming resignation and sensitive political status, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met Wednesday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the PM's official residence in Jerusalem. During the meeting, Israel announced that it would release several Palestinian prisoners as a gesture to Abbas by the end of August. The Palestinian requested that the released prisoners include former Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat, one of the masterminds behind the killing of Minister Rehavam Ze'evi. » Read more

A Trojan Horse In The Jordan Valley ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Lara Friedman And Hagit Ofran - August 6, 2008 - 2:22pm Is Israel serious about wanting peace? Plans approved last week by Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak for a new settlement in the Jordan Valley provide ammunition for those who argue that the answer is no. » Read more

Abbas Mulls Gaza As ‘rebel-held Territory’; Halting Funding ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Abd Al-karim Shweiki - August 6, 2008 - 2:21pm Under pressure from Palestinian Authority officials, P.A. » Read more

Hamas Warns Of Uprising Against Fatah ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Mohammed Mar’i - August 6, 2008 - 2:19pm RAMALLAH/GAZA CITY: A senior Hamas official in Gaza City warned yesterday that his Islamic group could overrun the West Bank, just as it took over Gaza, if provoked by its rivals in Fatah. The official, Sami Abu Zuhri, spoke as tensions between the two groups remained high following a bombing that killed five Hamas members in Gaza and a Hamas sweep that ended with 11 dead and dozens wounded, most of them from Fatah. » Read more

Middle East Rhetoric Obstructing Us Interests ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Common Ground News Service by Richard Murphy And Ethan Chorin - August 6, 2008 - 2:18pm Washington, DC - It would be naive to assume that Undersecretary of State William Burns' presence at the recent EU-Iran nuclear talks has opened the door to a rapid improvement in US-Iranian relations, or that the US administration has abandoned its military option. But this recent tilt towards diplomacy offers a pause in which to take note of the unsung economic and political costs of hyped-up rhetoric. » Read more

Jordan Resumes Talks With Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press August 6, 2008 - 2:17pm A Jordanian Islamist says Jordan has renewed dialogue with the terrorist Hamas group after two years of icy relations.  Senior Hamas leader, Moussa Abu Marzouk, confirmed the contacts, saying only that they were in "very early stages" and that he hoped they will be a "good start." Jordanian officials did not comment. » Read more

Barak Vows Israeli Operations In Gaza Strip Will Resume ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) August 6, 2008 - 2:16pm OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Israel will go back to carrying out military strikes on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip despite a month-old truce, army radio reported Tuesday. "Those who miss the operations in the Gaza Strip, don't worry, they will come," Barak told a Labor party event in Occupied Jerusalem. » Read more

Israeli Authorities Arrest Policeman In Connection With Palestinian Death ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press August 6, 2008 - 2:15pm JERUSALEM: Israeli police said Tuesday that they have arrested a policeman in connection with the death of a Palestinian boy at a protest in the West Bank. The 10-year old boy was killed by gunfire last week during clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinians in the West Bank village of Naalin. Micky Rosenfeld, a police spokesman, said authorities detained a member of the paramilitary Border Police and put him under house arrest while the investigation continued. » Read more