February 28th

Reuters reports on the comments made by the Israeli Deputy Defense minister about a “bigger Holocaust” being visited upon Gaza by Israel due to the increased rocket attacks (1.) Steven Erlanger reports on the threats, protest and rhetoric in Israel's conflict with Hamas (3.) The spate of attacks and counterattacks that have been carried out by both Palestine and Israel in recent days is detailed in the Independent (4.) The Arab News details the events of the past decade in the peace process, and calls on the International community to intervene in order to ensure that peace becomes a reality (8.) A Haaretz editorial urges Prime Minister Olmert to immerse himself completely in the peace process (9.)

Abbas: I Oppose Armed Struggle, But Won't Rule Out Option For Future
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Yoav Stern - February 28, 2008 - 4:50pm

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that while he opposes taking up armed struggle against Israel at the present time, he would not rule out the option for the future. "I do not support a return to armed struggle at this point in time. But, at a later date, this could be an option for the Palestinian people," Abbas said on Thursday during an interview with the Jordanian newspaper Al-Duster.

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On The Edge In The South
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
(Editorial) February 28, 2008 - 4:49pm

Yesterday, when he eulogized Dan Shomron, the 13th chief of staff who was his immediate predecessor and his friend, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that Shomron was "one of the Israel Defense Forces more daring architects, and at the same time one of its more level-headed ones." Israel is now in need of such a combination of daring action and good judgment, in light of the escalation in the attacks on its communities from Sderot to Ashkelon.

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The Israeli Intransigence
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al Hayat
by Randa Takieddine - (Opinion) February 28, 2008 - 4:48pm

Every time the Israeli army or its leadership loses a certain battle, it treats its investigation into the causes behind this fiasco as some form of repentance. Many reports and investigations followed the war on Lebanon in 2006 as well as the horrible massacres in Qana and before that Sabra and Shatilla. But nothing really changed in the perspective of an Israeli leadership that fails to see that its policies will backfire and haunt its fate in the future.

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Hope Still Alive
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
(Editorial) February 28, 2008 - 4:46pm

Today His Majesty King Abdullah starts a working visit to the US, with a schedule of talks and meetings intended to enhance bilateral relations and tackle a host of other issues. It is not strange that the Palestinian question will be one of the top issues to be discussed during His Majesty’s talks with US President George W. Bush and other key US administration officials, as well as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

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Israel Must Learn From Mistakes Of Others
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) February 28, 2008 - 4:45pm

Why doesn't Israel learn from the mistakes of other nations, including its arch-supporter, the United States, in conducting its policies, which have been directly responsible for the state of malaise in the Middle East. For a start, all Israel has to do is to closely examine US foreign policy especially the blunders committed during the administration of George W. Bush.

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Share Trading On Palestine Securities Exchange Up 34%
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ame Info
by Global Investment House - February 28, 2008 - 4:44pm

The PSE saw Al Quds Index shedding 12.8% in 2007, compared to losses of 46.4% in 2006. Losses continued to accumulate during the first eight months of the year, with the index reaching a low of 408.10 points in late August, as many investors divested their portfolios amid uncertainties of future market trend. However, the index recuperated toward the end of the year to close at 527.26 points. Market breadth was negative, as decliners outnumbered advancers with a ratio of 5.8:1, indicating a widely-spread downward trend.

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Whose Jerusalem Is It, Anyway?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Slate
by Shmuel Rosner - (Opinion) February 28, 2008 - 4:41pm

"Arafat balked at not having sovereignty over all of East Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount." That's former President Bill Clinton's version of the defining moment of the failed Camp David summit of 2000. "He turned the offer down." Clinton "called Arab leaders for support," but "most wouldn't say much." Not one of them was brave enough—or stupid enough—to take the credit and the blame for helping Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat give up, even if only symbolically, on Muslim control of the Temple Mount.

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Rice Concerned About Gaza Civilians
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
February 28, 2008 - 4:40pm

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice voiced concern on Thursday about Palestinian civilians killed by Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, but stopped short of an explicit call for Israel to exercise restraint. A surge in Israeli-Palestinian violence along the border of Gaza has raised fears of a full-scale conflict amid public pressure on Israeli President Ehud Olmert for tougher military action to deal with rocket attacks by Islamic group Hamas.

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Hamas Rocket Attacks Must Stop: Rice
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
February 28, 2008 - 4:40pm

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday that Hamas rocket attacks against Israel “need to stop,” demanding an end to the escalating violence that has rocked the Gaza Strip and set back US efforts to promote a Mideast peace deal. Her comments came after she met for an hour with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert during a visit to Japan.

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