September 30th

Palestinian Economy: From Bad to Wretched
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arabic Media Internet Network
by Ramzy Baroud - September 28, 2008 - 8:00pm

The numbers are grim, whether in the West Bank or the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian economy is in one of its most wretched states, and the disaster is mostly, if not entirely manmade, thus reversible.

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Oslo at 15 Years--A Vanishing Dream
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Prospectsforpeace.com
by Daniel Levy - September 28, 2008 - 8:00pm

This month marked 15 years since the signing of the Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on the South Lawn of the White House, launching the Oslo process and a new hope for the Middle East. The anniversary was largely ignored, overshadowed by the latest rounds of political uncertainty and upheaval in both Israel (where the ruling Kadima party elected Tzipi Livni its new leader) and in the Palestinian territories. Indeed there was little cause for fanfare or celebration.

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Hamas, Fatah leaders pledge Palestinian unity bid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
September 29, 2008 - 8:00pm

Leaders of the rival Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas marked the end of the holy month of Ramadan on Tuesday with pledges to seek unity at talks in Cairo in the coming weeks. Healing the deep rift between them is seen as a vital step towards an eventual peace deal with Israel. But there was no evident sign of a change of position on either part signaling that their feud, which climaxed with militant Islamist Hamas fighters forcing Fatah forces out of the Gaza Strip in June 2007, would soon be resolved.

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Shepherd 'not killed by settler'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
September 28, 2008 - 8:00pm

A Palestinian found dead in the West Bank was not killed by Jewish settlers, Israeli police said, contradicting earlier claims by the man's family. Shepherd Yahya Minya died from a shrapnel wound caused by a grenade, according to a police autopsy. A police spokesman ruled out any possibility the grenade, of a type used by the Israeli military, was fired by residents of a nearby settlement. Local people said Mr Minya was last seen being chased by settlers in a car.

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Israel will have to reinstate pre-1967 border for peace deal, Olmert admits
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent
by Donald MacIntyre - September 29, 2008 - 8:00pm

The outgoing Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Olmert, has publicly acknowledged for the first time that "almost all" of the territory seized during the Six-Day War in 1967 will have to be given back in return for peace with the Palestinians.

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September 29th

Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says that Israel must pull out of nearly all of the West Bank and East Jerusalem if peace is to be achieved with the Palestinians (1). Ethan Bronner reports on how both Muslims and Jews are sharing their respective Holy Seasons in Jerusalem (2). An 18-year old Palestinian shepherd is shot dead near the West Bank city of Nablus (3). The Telegraph of London examines the network of underground smuggling tunnels that service the Gaza strip (4).

Gaza militants fire Qassam at Israel, in fresh truce violation
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
September 28, 2008 - 8:00pm

Gaza militants fired a Qassam rocket at Israel on Monday in a fresh violation of the truce between Israel and Hamas in the coastal territory, according to Army Radio. The rocket did not reach Israeli territory, though, exploding within the bounds of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip a few hours before the start of Rosh Hashanah. The cease-fire reached June 19 between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas has been occasionally violated by Palestinian rocket and mortar fire, leading Israel to punitively shut Gaza's border crossings.


Discontented Fatah politicos consider launching third intifada
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amos Harel, Avi Issacharoff - September 28, 2008 - 8:00pm

In recent weeks, senior defense officials have been singing the praises of their Palestinian colleagues. After years of suspicion about the Palestinian Authority, Israeli officials are now convinced that the PA is resolved to deal with Hamas, which is threatening to take over the West Bank as it did the Gaza Strip. Palestinian officials admit to receiving assistance from Israel and the United States and have arrested hundreds of Hamas activists and closed down dozens of its charity organizations.

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Bibi: I'll resume settlement activity
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
September 28, 2008 - 8:00pm

Binyamin Netanyahu will resume building in existing West Bank settlements if he is elected prime minister, the opposition leader told Walla! News on Sunday. "I don't understand why there can be natural growth in Arab neighborhoods, but not in Jewish neighborhoods," he said. "There is a difference between the plans of a family that has more children and wants to close off its balcony and the building of additional neighborhoods. There is no reason why there shouldn't be development of existing [Jewish] neighborhoods."

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Two Palestinians wounded by Israeli bullets in Na''aleen Military
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)
September 28, 2008 - 8:00pm

Two Palestinians were wounded on Monday by Israeli bullets in the town of Na'aleen west of here. The incident occured when the Israeli troops stormed into the town and clashed with a number of Palestinians who defied the Israeli troops' storming of a mosque. Eyewitnesses said that one Palestinian was wounded in his neck while the other was hit in his hand and suffered a fractured bone. The Israeli troops have been carrying out storming operations of the town every other day and began attacking residents.



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