World 'failed Gaza over Israeli blockade' - aid groups ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News by Tim Franks - December 22, 2009 - 1:00am Aid agencies have strongly criticised the international community for failing to help bring an end to Israel's blockade of Gaza. The charities made the accusation in a report published just ahead of the anniversary of Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip. The aid agencies condemn not just Israel, but the world community. In the words of Oxfam's director, Jeremy Hobbs, "world powers have failed and betrayed Gaza's ordinary citizens". The charities call for more pressure to be exerted on Israel to end what they describe as its illegal collective punishment of Gazans. » Read more

Fatah cracks down on Hamas officials ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh - December 22, 2009 - 1:00am Alarmed by the possibility that a prisoner exchange agreement with Israel will bolster Hamas's popularity among Palestinians, the Palestinian Authority has stepped up its measures against the movement's leading figures and members in the West Bank. Over the past 48 hours, PA security forces arrested 14 Palestinians in the West Bank on suspicion of being affiliated with Hamas, sources close to the movement said on Monday. The sources said the latest crackdown was clearly linked to reports that a prisoner exchange agreement will soon be reached between Hamas and Israel. » Read more

Talks in current climate a 'waste of time' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon - December 22, 2009 - 1:00am Former Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala) dismissed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's declaration of a 10-month moratorium in the settlements as a "brazen ploy to buy time," rejecting a return to talks as a "waste of time" during a speech to a conference here on Monday. » Read more

Encountering Peace: Change in Gaza is possible ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) December 22, 2009 - 1:00am Thirty-nine young people from Gaza applied to attend a peace education workshop sponsored by the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information that was held this past weekend in a school in Beit Jala. Thirty-five of them were denied entry by the IDF and did not have the opportunity to join the 70 other Israelis and Palestinians who spent the weekend in dialogue, debate, disagreement and agreement, rejoicing in the mutual recognition that we all want peace and that peace is possible. » Read more

Sheikh Salah banned from Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Hanan Greenberg - December 21, 2009 - 1:00am GOC Homefront Command Major General Yair Golan issued an order Monday banning the head of the Islamic Movement's northern branch, Sheikh Raed Salah, from entering Jerusalem for three weeks. The IDF Spokesperson's Office stated that the restraining order is aimed at keeping peace in the city, and that the army plans to have it extended to six months if Salah does not successfully appeal the order within seven days. » Read more

Israeli response: Deport 'heavy prisoners' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ron Ben- Yishai - December 22, 2009 - 1:00am After days of fervent meetings of senior ministers, Israel's response to a prisoner exchange deal which would secure the release of captive soldier Gilad Shalit is "Yes, but…". Israel gave a positive response to the general outline of the deal presented by the German mediator last week. The condition placed by Israel in its response refers to the names of "heavy prisoners" Israel demands are expelled to Gaza or abroad. According to Israel, these prisoners will not be allowed to return to the West Bank. » Read more

New study unit on pre-state fighters proves controversial ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Or Kashti - December 22, 2009 - 1:00am The Education Ministry is introducing a study unit on the 12 underground fighters who were hanged or committed suicide in prison during the British Mandate in Palestine. The 12, known as "Olei Hagardom" ("those hanged on the gallows"), belonged to the pre-state militias Etzel and Lehi. The program, intended for eighth and ninth grades, will include lessons plus a national competition for essays, poems and drawings on subjects such as "an imaginary conversation I had with one of Olei Hagardom in his last moments in prison" or "the last letter of a condemned man to his family." » Read more

Report: German mediator in Shalit deal to arrive in Gaza on Wednesday ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff, Jonathan Lis, Barak Ravid - December 22, 2009 - 1:00am A Hamas official said Tuesday that the German mediator brokering a deal for the release of Gilad Shalit - the Israeli soldier held by the Islamist group - will only arrive in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, as Israel is seeking to modify its response to the proposed prisoner swap. Hours earlier, the group confirmed that it had received Israel's position on the deal, but later said that Jerusalem wanted to make adjustments and asked the mediator, who has never been named, to postpone his visit. » Read more

PA to follow up on organ harvesting allegations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency December 22, 2009 - 1:00am Israeli organ harvesting, settlements, climate change and Christmas topped the agenda of the Palestinian Authority (PA) cabinet meeting on Monday, in which ministers joined together in calling the Bethlehem Christmas tree a symbol of Palestinian unity and peace. » Read more

Abbas Says Palestinians Won't Rise Up, for Now ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Wall Street Journal by Charles Levinson - December 22, 2009 - 1:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said there won't be a new Palestinian uprising as long as he's in office, but warned the current calm might end once he steps down, as early as June. In a 60-minute interview, Mr. Abbas rebutted charges by Israel that he was responsible for holding up peace talks, saying he twice presented privately a compromise on settlements to Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak. Mr. Abbas said Mr. Barak ignored the offer. Mr. Barak's office didn't respond to requests for comment. » Read more