July 7th

Testing Religious Authority before Negotiation! ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Tariq Alhomayed - July 6, 2009 - 12:00am The dispute between the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement and Hamas in Gaza reveals many hidden aspects about the two movements and their alliances. It has illustrated the extent to which they exploit the Palestinian Cause and religion, and the pressure of political finance on their decisions. The Islamic Jihad movement, which is facing financial deficit, resorted to using the weapon of religion against Hamas, which in return responded with the very same weapon. All of this is happening to consolidate the internal positions in Gaza in front of the supporters of these movements. » Read more

Poll: Majority of Israelis in favor of 'natural growth' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews (Analysis) July 7, 2009 - 12:00am Some 61% of the Israeli public support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands on settlement expansion, unless for the purpose of "natural growth," the War and Peace Index for June said Tuesday. Thirty-one percent are against the PM's position, but both sides agree that the government cannot do anything that may harm Israel's relations with the United States. » Read more

Barak: Israel will dismantle outposts within months ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Roni Sofer - July 7, 2009 - 12:00am Defense Minister Ehud Barak met with US Middle East envoy Senator George Mitchell in London on Monday, for their second meeting in the space of a week. The defense minister told Mitchell that "Israel is committed to evacuating the 23 illegal outposts within weeks or months." » Read more

Egypt says captured Israeli soldier well ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters July 7, 2009 - 12:00am Cairo, July 7 - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said on Tuesday he believed an Israeli soldier captured by Palestinian militants three years ago was well and that he hoped the issue would not take a long time to resolve. Militants of the Hamas Islamist group and other gunmen launched a raid into Israel in June 2006 from the Gaza Strip, killing two soldiers and capturing Gilad Shalit. Egypt has sought to mediate a deal for his freedom between Hamas and Israel. » Read more

Israel's Barak sees progress in U.S. envoy talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters July 6, 2009 - 12:00am LONDON (Reuters) - Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Monday he and U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell had made progress in their second session of talks within a week on encouraging regional peace. "I think there is progress. There's still a way to go," Barak told Reuters after the talks in London. U.S. President Barack Obama has pressed Israel to halt settlement activity as part of a bid to revive peace talks under which the Palestinians would gain statehood. » Read more

Israel fumes at EU settlement statement ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon - July 7, 2009 - 12:00am Furious at a European Union statement blaming the settlements for aid the EU gives the Palestinians, the Foreign Ministry on Monday summoned the EU ambassador to Israel, Ramiro Cibrián-Uzal, to register a protest. In a rare move, the senior deputy director-general of the Foreign Ministry, Rafi Barak, called Cibrian-Uzal to the ministry in Jerusalem for an explanation. An AP story quoted the European Commission as saying that Israel's settlement policy helped strangle the Palestinian economy and made the Palestinian government more dependent on foreign aid. » Read more

Israel releases former U.S. congresswoman: group ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters July 6, 2009 - 12:00am WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Israel has allowed a former U.S. congresswoman, Cynthia McKinney, to return home days after detaining her and other activists on board a ship carrying relief supplies for Gaza, a pro-Palestinian group said on Monday. Israeli authorities intercepted the vessel, which had 21 activists on board, on June 30 and said it would not be permitted to enter Gaza's coastal waters because of security risks in the area and an existing naval blockade. McKinney has been released, a statement by the American Muslims for Palestine said. » Read more

Encountering Peace: It's the occupation, stupid! ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) July 6, 2009 - 12:00am Many voices here are already pondering the question how are we going to deal with at least three more years of an anti-Israel administration in Washington. These are the people who think that pressuring Jerusalem to meet its road map obligations is empowering the Arabs and weakening the country. One such person, and he defined himself as pro-peace, told me that until the Arabs recognize Israel as the Jewish state, freezing settlements sends the wrong message; it tells the Arabs they don't have to do anything and that all of the pressure will only be on Israel. » Read more

Israeli foreign minister: I'm not being sidelined ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Amy Teibel - July 6, 2009 - 12:00am JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's ultranationalist foreign minister said Monday that he voluntarily removed himself from crucial talks with the United States because he lives in a West Bank settlement, denying speculation that he's being sidelined by an image-conscious government troubled by growing friction with the Obama administration. The talks are meant to bridge the gap between Washington, which demands a total West Bank settlement freeze, and Israel, which wants some construction to continue. » Read more

Gaza conflict: Views on Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News July 6, 2009 - 12:00am Israel said its 22-day military operation in Gaza in January was aimed at ending rocket fire from Hamas, and weakening the Islamic movement that controls the coastal Strip. Six months after the conflict, three Gazans affected by it give their views on Hamas's standing in Gaza. YOUSSEF ABU EIDA, FATHER OF EIGHT Youssef Abu Eida's four-floor house, home to his eight children and other extended family members, was destroyed during the conflict. Construction materials are blocked from entering Gaza under Israel's blockade, so he has not been able to begin rebuilding. » Read more