October 23rd

Examining Israel's efforts toward building a new government
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
by Ashraf Khalil - October 22, 2008 - 8:00pm

Reporting from Jerusalem -- Israeli Prime Minister-designate Tzipi Livni has asked for and received a two-week extension on her original four-week deadline to form a new governing coalition. With nearly a month of Jewish holidays ending Wednesday, the negotiations to bring other political parties on board should heat up fast. Here's a primer on the proceedings. So what's the real deadline?

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ATFP Joins Booz Allen Hamilton Panel on the Palestine Investment Conference
Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - October 22, 2008 - 12:00am

On October 15, Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) convened a panel to discuss the Palestine Investment Conference held in Bethlehem in May 2008. The purpose of the event was to discuss the process of organizing this unique conference including the roles played by BAH and the US-Palestinian Partnership.  


October 22nd

Egypt drafts a proposal for consensus government between Fatah and Hamas (1) (4). Palestinians are hopeful at the prospect of a revival of Saudi involvement in the peace process (2) (6). Israel closes Gaza crossings in response to the rocket fired yesterday (3). Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas appoints a new intelligence chief in continued reshuffling of high level positions within his government (7) (11). Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is scheduled to meet with Mahmoud Abbas next week in an attempt to keep the peace process moving (9).

Israeli rightist wounds soldier guarding Palestinian farmers
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Yuval Azoulay - October 21, 2008 - 8:00pm

A right-wing activist on Wednesday lightly wounded an Israel Defense Forces soldier protecting Palestinian olive harvesters near the West Bank settlement of Otniel. The incident occurred as twelve masked rightists, armed with clubs, scuffled with IDF soldiers deployed to guard the Palestinians. The rightists subsequently fled the scene, after which police embarked on a search for them.

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Abbas relents, appoints Tirawi as senior advisor
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Ali Waked - October 20, 2008 - 8:00pm

Tensions are mounting in the Palestinian Authority ahead of a reshuffling of its security brass as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is adamant to replace Tawfik Tirawi, head of the PA General Intelligence Service in the West Bank, and Diab al-Ali, commander of the Palestinian security forces in the West Bank. A senior Palestinian security official told Ynet on Tuesday that in one month's time Tirawi will step aside for his deputy.

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Israeli hardliner group "sabotages" Jerusalem
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)
October 21, 2008 - 8:00pm

Israeli extremists executed violent action early Wednesday in the city of Jerusalem, the Israeli radio reported."Tens of Israeli hardliners took part in aggression that concentrated in western Jerusalem," the radio added. Those saboteurs heavily stoned a passing car and tried to put afire another vehicle in the neighborhood, where they also set several dumpsters alight. Two Palestinians citizens sustained serious injures as a result of attacks by the extremists who stopped their cars and asked for their identification.

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Abbas and Olmert to meet October 27, say Palestinian officials
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
October 20, 2008 - 8:00pm

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will meet on October 27, possibly for the last time, to push forward with peace talks, Palestinian officials said on Monday. Olmert is serving as caretaker premier since he quit on Sept. 21 and his ruling Kadima party elected Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni as his successor. "President Abbas and Olmert plan to meet on October 27, maybe for the last time before Olmert leaves office," a senior Abbas aide told reporters. Israeli officials were not available for immediate reaction.


Building peace through health in the Middle East
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
by Cesar Chelala - October 21, 2008 - 8:00pm

For over two decades, international health organizations have offered their services to people in regional conflicts throughout the world. While health initiatives alone have not and cannot achieve peace, especially where political, cultural or religious tensions might abound, they often serve as the last point of contact between conflicting parties.

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Abbas replaces intelligence chief
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Jazeera English
October 21, 2008 - 8:00pm

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, has fired his intelligence chief, amid reports that Hamas, the Palestinian faction that runs the Gaza Strip, had demanded he be replaced. The move sparked tensions within Abbas's Fatah faction, an unnamed Palestinian official was reported as saying by The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.

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Faisal welcomes new interest in Saudi plan
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
October 20, 2008 - 8:00pm

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said on Tuesday he hoped that Israel's next government would follow the lead of President Shimon Peres, who last month called for a revival of Arab-Israeli peace initiatives. Peres, speaking at the United Nations, called on Saudi King Abdullah to "further" a dormant land-for-peace plan endorsed by the Arab League six years ago, and said Israel would attend any venue to end the conflict with its Arab neighbors. The Saudi minister told a news conference in Riyadh that the interest in the plan voiced by the president was "better late than never".

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