UN to review Israel's human rights track ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Tovah Lazaroff - September 8, 2008 - 8:00pm A three-country panel was chosen Monday to examine Israel's human rights record as part of a Universal Periodic Review this year of 64 countries by the United Nations Human Rights council in Geneva. All 192 UN states are subject to review. According to Israel's ambassador to Geneva Roni Leshno Yaar, the review will be conducted by Nigeria, South Korean and Azerbaijan at the council's December session. The council, which opened its September session on Wednesday, offers countries a limited right to replace the panel with alternative countries. » Read more

'Iran is a friend of the Israeli people' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post September 8, 2008 - 8:00pm Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came under pressure from his government about pro-Israel comments made by one of his aides, The Financial Times reported Tuesday. According to the report, parliamentarians demanded that Ahmadinejad explain why Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei, vice-president for tourism affairs, said that Iran was "a friend of the Israeli people." In an apparent attempt to explain himself and reverse the effect of his words, Mashaei was quoted by The Financial Times as telling the politicians "I say 'death to Israel' a thousand times." » Read more

Eldad to PM: Quit and get ready for jail ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post September 8, 2008 - 8:00pm MK Arye Eldad (NU-NRP) on Tuesday called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to step down and prepare himself for life behind bars. "A man who is suspected of taking bribes shouldn't lead Israel, because we can't be sure of his motives. A leader must have clean hands; someone whose judgment is in doubt can't make decisions on behalf of the citizens of Israel," Eldad said. He spoke to a special recess Knesset session called at the request of opposition parties to discuss the legitimacy of Olmert and his government continuing in power. » Read more

Israel may abduct Ahmadinejad, Eichmann kidnapper hints ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz September 8, 2008 - 8:00pm Former Mossad agent Rafi Eitan hinted in an interview with Germany's Der Spiegel magazine that Israel may abduct Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in order to bring him before the International Criminal Court in The Hague. "It could very well be that a leader such as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad suddenly finds himself before the International Criminal Court in The Hague," the Minister for Pensioners' Affairs told the German publication in an interview published Monday. » Read more

Police source: Olmert likely to face jail time ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Jonathan Lis - September 8, 2008 - 8:00pm There is a good chance that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert could be convicted of money laundering, a crime which carries a maximum 10-year jail sentence, a police source said Monday. While a bribery charge is regarded as much harder to prove, Olmert would not be able to easily evade the money-laundering charges, the source added. "I don't see how Olmert could get out of this rap, it is unlikely that he'd be able to use these felonies to get a plea bargain," one source said. » Read more

Palestinian Public Opinion Poll No (29) ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Palestinian Center For Policy And Survey Research September 8, 2008 - 8:00pm These are the results of the latest poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip between 28 and 30 August 2008. This period witnessed a relative consolidation of the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip and the release by Israel of about 200 Palestinian prisoners as a gesture to President Mahmud Abbas. » Read more

The 2008 Democratic Party Platform and the Middle East ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy In Focus by Stephen Zunes - September 4, 2008 - 8:00pm The excitement over the nomination of Barack Obama as the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party has been tempered by some key foreign policy planks in the 2008 platform, particularly those relating to the greater Middle East region. These positions appear to run counter to Obama's pledge early in the primary race to end the mindset that led to the Iraq War. » Read more

Jenin?s Theatrical Oasis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Jazeera English September 8, 2008 - 8:00pm Artsworld's Mona Ibellini travelled to Jenin and finds that one of the key figures of the Palestinian intifada has swapped weapons for the stage. Zakaria Zubeidi has featured near the top of Israel's most wanted list for many years. But the head of the Jenin branch of the al Aqsa Martyr's Brigade now believes that children's theatre is as important a method for achieving Palestinian statehood as armed conflict. "One of my first poignant memories in life was waking up in a hospital with a bullet wound when I was thirteen and a half," Zubeidi says. "At 14 I was imprisoned." » Read more

Saudi Arabia Urges Arab ?Help? to End Palestinian Rift ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times September 8, 2008 - 8:00pm Saudi Arabia's foreign minister on Monday urged for an Arab push to help end inter-Palestinian rifts and re-establish moderate Palestinian rule in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. Prince Saud Al Faisal's remarks came during a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo. The top Saudi diplomat appeared to back an Egyptian proposal to send Arab troops to the coastal Strip ruled by Hamas. "It's about time that the Arab countries take a solid and decisive stance against those who shed Palestinian blood and deepen the Palestinian division," Saud said. » Read more

Arab League Chief Says Angry with Palestinian Groups ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters September 8, 2008 - 8:00pm The head of the Arab League said on Tuesday that he was angry with fractious Palestinian political groups and that sanctions against them were being discussed by Arab governments. Egypt, the main mediator between often rival Palestinian groups, has been holding bilateral talks with minor groups in preparation for similar talks with the two main groups -- Fatah and Hamas. "I am extremely angry with the Palestinian organizations," Amr Moussa, secretary-general of the league, told a news conference in an unusually harsh criticism of the Palestinians. » Read more