October 22nd

Israeli, Egyptian leaders to meet on Mideast peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Aron Heller - October 21, 2008 - 8:00pm

Israeli President Shimon Peres will discuss an Arab proposal for comprehensive Mideast peace when he meets with Egypt's leader this week, Peres' office said Wednesday. Peres has been promoting the Saudi initiative recently because Israel's separate peace talks with Syria and the Palestinians appear to be making little progress. Peres spokeswoman Ayelet Frisch confirmed the Arab peace plan would "come up" when he meets President Hosni Mubarak in Egypt on Thursday.

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Hamas backs Egypt's plan for thaw with Fatah
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
October 21, 2008 - 8:00pm

Hamas gave its tentative support Tuesday to an Egyptian plan to reconcile the Islamist movement and the rival Fatah faction of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas amid a looming constitutional crisis. "We will agree to the draft of the agreement and will not reject it," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum told AFP, but he added that the plan would require some "modification" before it could be implemented. "The draft contains positive elements, but also has some points that need modification and some points that need clarification from the Egyptian leadership," he said.

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Israel shuts Gaza crossings after rocket attack
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
October 21, 2008 - 8:00pm

Israel temporarily closed its border crossings with the Gaza Strip Wednesday after militants from the Hamas-controlled territory fired a rocket into southern Israel. "After a rocket was fired into Israel from the Gaza Strip yesterday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak instructed the Gaza crossings to be closed starting Wednesday morning," a defense ministry official said. The official did not say how long the crossings would remain shut. Gaza militants fired the rocket Tuesday, the first in more than six weeks, causing no damage or injuries, Israeli police said.

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Palestinians welcome Israeli interest in Saudi plan
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
October 21, 2008 - 8:00pm

Palestinians hope Israeli calls for the revival of a Saudi peace initiative could lead to progress on a diplomatic track that has been dormant for years, their chief negotiator with Israel said Wednesday. Israeli President Shimon Peres last month called on Saudi King Abdullah to "further" a land-for-peace proposal endorsed six years ago by the Arab League, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak said last week Israelis were reconsidering the plan.

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Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, near unity deal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Telegraph
by Carolynne Wheeler - October 21, 2008 - 8:00pm

This new proposal, drafted by Egypt, has raised hopes of a settlement of the internal Palestinian conflict which began with Hamas's victory in the elections of 2006. A four-page plan proposes that Mahmoud Abbas, the Fatah leader, joins Hamas in a "consensus government".

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October 21st

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights asserts that 68 children have been killed in the Gaza strip in the past year as a result of actions by the Israeli military (1). Egypt invites Hamas and Fatah to meet in Cairo on Nov. 9 for reconciliation talks (2), and Hamas lends tentative support to the plan (3). Swedish lockmaker Assa Abloy, in response to criticism from human rights groups, announces that it will move its production plant out of an Israeli settlement in the West Bank (5). Israel clears three recently erected wildcat settlements from the West Bank (6).

NYU poll: Two-thirds of US Jews back Obama over McCain
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
October 20, 2008 - 8:00pm

A new poll commissioned by researchers at New York University reveals that American Jews favor Democratic presidential frontrunner Barack Obama over his Republic rival, John McCain, by a 67 - 33 percent margin. The survey, which sampled the opinions of over 3,000 respondents - half of them being Jewish - also found that Jews as an ethnic group will support Obama by almost 30 percent more than other white, non-Hispanic voters.

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Tension in Ramallah as Abbas dismisses Tirawi
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Ali Waked - October 19, 2008 - 8:00pm

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued an decree on Monday evening ordering the dismissal of Col. Tawfik Tirawi, head of the PA General Intelligence Service in the West Bank, and Diab al-Ali, the top commander of the Palestinian security forces in the West Bank. Al-Ali is also known as Abu al-Fatah. The unforeseen move has stirred considerable tensions amongst the ranks of Ramallah's security forces.

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Protestors for Shalit cage themselves outside Barak’s home
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Anat Shalev - October 19, 2008 - 8:00pm

Dozens assembled outside the home of Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday afternoon to stage a unique demonstration for kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. The protestors placed a large cage at the forefront of the rally and packed themselves inside in an effort to illustrate the conditions of Shalit's captivity. The event marked 848 says since he was kidnapped into the Gaza Strip.

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Underground cattle trade thrives in Gaza tunnels
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Nidal Al-Mughrabi - October 20, 2008 - 8:00pm

When the calves were hauled out of the tunnel from Egypt on Tuesday, they could hardly stand up. After a terrifying, 1000 meter (yard) underground trip into the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip, what the young cattle wanted most was a long drink of cool water. Underground livestock smuggling has increased dramatically ahead of Eid Al-Adha, the day of sacrifice due December 10, when Muslims the world over slaughter animals and feed the poor to seek God's forgiveness.

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