Palestinians: Gaza war claim exposed by WikiLeaks is untrue ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - November 29, 2010 - 1:00am There were never any actual consultations between us and the Israelis before the Gaza war, a top aid to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday, refuting a WikiLeaks cable that claimed otherwise. One of the documents included in the over 250,000 diplomatic cables between the United States and its allies which were leaked on Sunday said that Israel tried to coordinate Operation Cast Lead with both Fatah and Egypt. » Read more

Israeli fire wounds four Gazans ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua November 28, 2010 - 1:00am GAZA, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army on Sunday shot and wounded four Palestinians who were digging for gravel in northern Gaza Strip, a medical official said. Adham Abu Selmia of the medical services said that the four workers were moderately injured. A spokesman of the Israeli army said that the four approached the security fence that separates Israel and Gaza. The shooting took place near Erez crossing point and the Israeli authorities shut the passengers' gate briefly. » Read more

First shipment of Gaza roses, berries leaves to Europe ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua November 28, 2010 - 1:00am GAZA, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Two trucks, carrying flowers and strawberries, left the Gaza Strip Sunday towards Netherlands as the first limited export from the besieged territory, an official said. The trucks, with their load of 20,000 roses and five tons of strawberries, left through Kerem Shalom crossing in southeast Gaza. Mahmoud Khalil, a representative of farmers, said the agricultural products would be sold in the European markets, mainly in Holland. Israel has barred export since 2007, but it is now allowing the seasonal export of Gaza's flora for the second time since then. » Read more

Livni: Wikileaks proves "common interest" in ending Israeli-Palestinian conflict ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua November 29, 2010 - 1:00am JERUSALEM, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Israeli opposition leader Tsipi Livni said Monday that it is "obvious now that there is a common interest in ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," in reference to dozens of U.S. State Department cables dealing with assessments of diplomatic maneuvers in the areas released by WikiLeaks overnight. The documents are part of what is being described as the largest leak of official documents in history. » Read more

Blair: Israel must do more to ease Gaza blockade ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman by Karin Laub - November 28, 2010 - 1:00am RAMALLAH, WEST BANK — Israel needs to do more to ease its blockade of Gaza and allow exports from the Hamas-ruled territory, international Mideast envoy Tony Blair said in an interview Sunday, after meeting with the Israeli prime minister. The former British prime minister told the Associated Press that he hopes to see progress soon, noting that exports are crucial for reviving Gaza's battered economy. "There has been significant change in Gaza, but not nearly as much as we need," he said. » Read more

In leaked cable, Egypt says factions unserious on unity ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 29, 2010 - 1:00am GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- The Egyptian official charged with reconciling rival Palestinian factions judged in 2009 that neither Fatah nor Hamas wanted a unity deal, a leaked document revealed Sunday. A US diplomatic cable, one of more than a quarter million obtained by the whistleblower group WikiLeaks recounts a meeting between CENTCOM commander Gen. David Patraeus and Egypt's intelligence chief Omar Suleiman in Cairo in June 2009. "Reconciliation remains elusive, he [Suleiman] noted, as neither Hamas nor Fatah really want an agreement," the document states. » Read more

Leaked cable: Israel consulted PA prior to Gaza war ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency by Jared Malsin - November 28, 2010 - 1:00am GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israel approached the PA and Egypt about potentially assuming control of the Gaza Strip following a theoretical "defeat" of Hamas before Israel's winter war on Gaza, a leaked US diplomatic cable revealed Sunday. Made public by The New York Times, the document is a report on a conversation between US Senator Bob Casey, Representative Gary Ackerman, and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak from June 2009. » Read more

UN Day of Solidarity marked ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency November 29, 2010 - 1:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- The Palestinian Authority called on the UN Monday to act to end Israel's occupation of Palestinian land Monday, in a statement marking the world Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The PA Ministry of Information in Ramallah declared in a statement that this day should be "translated into action by implementing resolutions adopted by the same General Assembly including the right of return of Palestinian refugees." » Read more

Israeli firms see a global market for their anti-terrorism know-how ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Edmund Sanders, Batsheva Sobelman - November 27, 2010 - 1:00am Reporting from Tel Aviv — As he inspected the Taj Mahal hotel after the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, and listened to a hotel manager bemoan the lack of adequate security preparations, Israeli export official Avi Hefetz saw a growth market in the making. "I thought to myself, if we have the state-of-the-art technology, the defense know-how and our considerable experience gained throughout the intifadas, why not organize a platform for displaying our technologies in this field?" he said. » Read more