May 27th

Us Professor Shares Israeli Prize With Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Barbar Ferguson - May 27, 2008 - 6:18pm Here’s a story of a man with guts... and a big heart. The recipient of one of Israel’s most prestigious prizes donated his $33,333 portion of the shared award yesterday to a Palestinian university and an Israeli human rights group that tries to ease Israeli travel restrictions on Palestinian students. » Read more

Israeli Demolition Threatens 3,000 Palestinian Homes: Un ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) May 27, 2008 - 6:17pm Thousands of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank risk being displaced as the Israeli authorities threaten to tear down their homes and in some cases entire communities, a UN agency said on Wednesday. "To date, more than 3,000 Palestinian-owned structures in the West Bank have pending demolition orders, which can be immediately executed without prior warning," the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a report. » Read more

How The Arabs Failed In Bethlehem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed - (Opinion) May 27, 2008 - 6:16pm The Palestinian Authority failed last week to attract the interest of Arab governments and major economic establishments to help it develop its economy. No one appears to be willing to consider Palestine more than just an issue of political conflict with Israel. The conference's failure proved that the Palestinians would not get Arab support unless an Israeli shell fell on the Intercontinental Hotel, the conference venue, and Palestinian television showed scenes of bodies, wounded, blood, and shouts. No aid without disasters. This is the only emotional engine. » Read more

Hamas And The Predicament Of Return ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Tariq Alhomayed - (Opinion) May 27, 2008 - 6:15pm The Hamas leadership has welcomed the Doha agreement which has led to the reactivation of the political process between the feuding Lebanese factions. In numerous statements, the movement has expressed its desire of an Arab endeavor similar to an Arab League committee to help end the estrangement between itself and Fatah. So has the Hamas movement returned to its senses after wronging the Palestinian cause and its people or have recent political events baffled the Hamas leadership into scratching its head out of fear of what's next? » Read more

A Quick Guide To Some Stumbling Blocks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Inter Press Service (IPS) by Peter Hirschberg - (Opinion) May 27, 2008 - 6:14pm Syria has always demanded the full return of the Golan Heights, which were captured by Israel in the 1967 war, as a pre-condition for any peace agreement with Israel. The Golan is a strategic plateau of about 1,200 square kilometres, which overlooks much of north-eastern Israel. » Read more

Turkish Fm: Israel, Syria Forming 'common Ground' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters May 27, 2008 - 6:13pm Turkey said on Tuesday the indirect peace talks it is mediating between Israel and Syria could be upgraded to face-to-face encounters if progress is made. Israel and Syria announced last week they had begun a dialogue with the aim of a comprehensive peace, the first confirmation of negotiations between the long-time enemies in eight years. "A common ground is now being formed and that common ground is considered to be satisfactory by both sides," Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan told a news conference in Brussels. » Read more

Ehud Olmert Received Money In Envelopes, Says Key Witness ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times by James Hider - May 27, 2008 - 6:12pm An American entrepreneur described to an Israeli court yesterday how he gave wads of cash in envelopes to Ehud Olmert, the Prime Minister, who is now at the centre of a bribery investigation. Morris Talansky, 75, a businessman and rabbi who was giving his deposition for the prosecution, also spoke of the Prime Minister’s taste for exclusive hotels, expensive watches and first-class air travel. » Read more

Palestinian Business Projects More Optimistic Reality ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Financial Times by Tobias Buck - May 27, 2008 - 6:10pm Anywhere else in the region, such a conference would barely have raised an eyebrow. There were men in suits discussing deals and swapping business cards, company stands showing off little models of construction projects, investors hurrying to the next lecture about the future of the local financial services industry. Yet here, in the occupied Palestinian territories, the smooth normality of a humdrum business event struck many as nothing short of spectacular. » Read more

A Firmer Hand ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Newsweek by Dan Ephron - (Interview) May 27, 2008 - 6:02pm Thanks in part to the influence of the pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC, the U.S. government rarely gets tough with Israel, even on issues like Jewish settlement expansion in the West Bank, which Washington views as harmful to the peace process. A new lobby group formed last month, J Street, wants to change that. Founded by a number of liberal Jews, J Street wants to see the administration press Israel not only for an end to settlement construction, but also a real peace effort between Israel and Syria and possibly talks between Israel and Hamas. » Read more

Misreading The Arab Media ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Lawrence Pintak, Jeremy Ginges And Nicholas Felton - (Opinion) May 27, 2008 - 6:00pm “ARABIC TV does not do our country justice,” President Bush complained in early 2006, calling it a purveyor of “propaganda” that “just isn’t right, it isn’t fair, and it doesn’t give people the impression of what we’re about.” » Read more