September 30th

Judge Goldstone presents his report into the Gaza war to the UN Human Rights Council. Two Palestinian smugglers are killed by Israeli attacks on tunnels under the Egypt-Gaza border, and Prime Minister Fayyad demands an end to Israeli military and settler attacks. Some Palestinians warn of a "third intifada," but Israeli military leaders dismiss the threat. Israel agrees to the rebuilding of a Gaza hospital sponsored by France and Qatar. Hamas agrees to Egyptian proposals for national reconciliation, but has issued undisclosed amendments, and Fatah leaders express skepticism. The Globe and Mail examines the rise of the religious ultra-right in Israel. Israeli and Arab commentators remain sharply divided on the fallout from last week's diplomatic activity in New York, and ATFP President Ziad Asali argues in The National that Palestinians should seize the opportunity presented by President Obama's determination to pursue a peace agreement.

Hamas agrees to reconcile with Fatah
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Nadia Abou el-Magd - September 29, 2009 - 12:00am

Hamas has announced that it will accept an Egyptian proposal for ending its bitter power struggle with Fatah, renewing hopes for an end to political deadlock and intra-Palestinian violence and pave the way for presidential and parliamentary elections next year. Khaled Meshaal, Hamas’s political leader, sounded optimistic as he announced that Hamas would sign the Egyptian reconciliation accord with Fatah and other Palestinian factions in October.

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New brochure touts hot Jerusalem real estate - in the capital's Arab neighborhoods
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Abe Selig - September 29, 2009 - 12:00am

A brochure recently released by the Ateret Cohanim organization and obtained this week by The Jerusalem Post features a number of high-value properties the group has apparently put up for sale inside the Christian and Muslim quarters of Jerusalem's Old City, along with the east Jerusalem neighborhoods of Silwan, Ras el-Amud and Sheikh Jarrah. East Jerusalem properties are being marketed to Jews for upward of $1 million in an Ateret Cohanim brochure.

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Egypt plans Fatah-Hamas 'reconciliation' parley
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Khaled Abu Toameh - September 29, 2009 - 12:00am

Egypt has decided to invite representatives of all Palestinian factions to a "national unity dialogue" conference that would take place in Cairo next month and would lead to the signing of a reconciliation accord between Hamas and Fatah, Palestinian officials in Ramallah said on Tuesday. They said the decision to convene the conference in Cairo follows the breakthrough achieved in the past few weeks in efforts to end the rift between Hamas and Fatah.

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Netanyahu finally agrees to Sarkozy request to rebuild Gaza hospital
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - September 30, 2009 - 12:00am

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finally agreed Tuesday to a request by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to rebuild a Gaza hospital damaged during Operation Cast Lead. Netanyahu told Sarkozy by phone Tuesday that he had decided to approve the project as a humanitarian gesture. The premier also said he wished to accommodate Paris due to the "strident stance that France has taken on Iran's nuclear program." Sarkozy made the request during Netanyahu's visit to Paris earlier this year. The hospital in question is Al-Quds Hospital, which is managed by the Red Crescent Society in Gaza.

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How we didn't defeat Obama
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Yehuda Ben Meir - (Opinion) September 30, 2009 - 12:00am

There is great rejoicing in the settler camp and among its supporters on the right. As they see it, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defeated U.S. President Barack Obama in an arm wrestling match when, at the tripartite summit, the latter had to retreat from his demand for a total settlement freeze. The settlement freeze, say the settlers, is off the agenda and the danger of American pressure from the school of Barack Hussein Obama has vanished from the earth.

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US urges Israel to probe Gaza crimes to boost peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Stephanie Nebehay - September 29, 2009 - 12:00am

The United States called on its close ally Israel on Tuesday to conduct credible investigations into allegations of war crimes committed by its forces in Gaza, saying it would help the Middle East peace process. Michael Posner, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, said that Hamas leaders also had a responsibility to investigate crimes and to end what he called its targeting of civilians and use of Palestinian civilians as human shields in the strip.

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Defying, again
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
September 30, 2009 - 12:00am

It is vexing to see Israel repeatedly refusing to understand that Al Aqsa Mosque, the entire Haram Al Sharif compound, is a red line that should not be crossed unless it seeks to trigger another militant Palestinian Intifada. And so it is that a few days ago, Jewish zealots and Israeli security forces clashed with Palestinian worshippers defending the sanctity of their holy sites from intruders in and around the area.

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Fayyad demands end to Israeli attacks, settler violence
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
September 29, 2009 - 12:00am

“What is going on in Jerusalem, the Israeli attacks, is against the International law,” Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad told reporters in Ramallah Tuesday. “Both Arab and foreign countries must take clear positions to compel Israel to stop its arbitrary practices" he said specifically referring to the clashes that broke out in the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem when extremist Israelis entered the area with armed soldiers on Sunday.

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No radical change in American policy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by Sobhi Ghandour - (Opinion) September 30, 2009 - 12:00am

US President Barack Obama has been in office for eight months, but there have been no major changes in American foreign policy, apart from the decision to cancel the missile shield planned for Eastern Europe. The absence of any other significant changes in US policy has been a great disappointment, especially in this region, which was pinning much hope on the new administration with regard to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

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