NEWS: Israelis debate their regional strategy. Israel now has to take Egyptian public opinion into consideration. Palestinians seek greater access to occupied East Jerusalem. Eight Israelis are wounded by a Palestinian man in Tel Aviv. Palestinian leaders condemned the attack. Palestinians believe they are making progress with the EU on a UN initiative. The end of Ramadan in Gaza is marked by economic woes. DM Barak says militants in Gaza are planning more attacks on Israel. The EU says Middle East unrest is producing new opportunities for peace. Egyptians debate how to restore security in Sinai. COMMENTARY: Francis Boyle says a UN initiative will not endanger Palestinian rights. Jeremy Bowen says Israel is facing an uncertain regional landscape. Gary Wexler says Israel can't improve its image without policy changes. Maik Baumgärtner and Lisa Bjurwald say it is ironic that Israeli hard-liners are aligning with European neo-Nazis. Nermeen Murad says the past should not haunt Jordanians and Palestinians citizens of Jordan. MK Tibi says Congressional visitors are not shown the realities in Israel and Palestine. Thalif Deen says Palestinians under occupation are being denied access to sufficient water.

EU's Ashton: Mideast changes give momentum to Israeli-Palestinian peace process
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by DPA - (Analysis) August 29, 2011 - 12:00am

Changes in the Middle East have given "even more momentum" to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Monday. Summing up a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, she said the recent changes which have overtaken the region have provided the impetus to "the need to try and find a solution that will enable the people of Israel and the people of Palestine to live in peace and security together." EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and President Shimon Peres, August 28, 2011. Photo by: GPO

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Amid renewed unrest, political players discuss Sinai development
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Masry Al-Youm
by Nadine Marroushi - August 29, 2011 - 12:00am

In the wake of renewed unrest in Sinai, talk about the dire need to develop the eastern peninsula is resurfacing. Political parties have been quick to make proposals.

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Barak: Gaza groups planning new major terror attack on Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Anshel Pfeffer - (Analysis) August 29, 2011 - 12:00am

Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned Monday that Palestinian organizations in Gaza are preparing to carry out an attack similar to the one in southern Israel on August 18, in which eight civilians were killed. Barak, who visited the plant of Israel Aerospace Industries subsidiary Elta in Ashdod on Monday morning, said that “even this morning we are on high alert in the south in the face of the possible attack, which is similar in set-up to the one that happened ten days ago.”

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Analysis: Protecting Palestinians after we join the UN
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
by Francis Boyle - August 29, 2011 - 12:00am

In the Nov. 15 1988 Palestinian Declaration of Independence that was approved by the Palestinian National Council, representing all Palestinians all over the world, the executive committee of the PLO was set up as the Provisional Government for the State of Palestine --pursuant to my advice.

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Gazans forced to cancel habits of Muslim feast
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
by Ahmed Fayoomi, Hamada Hattab - (Analysis) August 29, 2011 - 12:00am

GAZA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Various types of Turkish delights and chocolates piled up on stalls in a popular market in Gaza City, but only few people seemed to be interested. This was two days ahead of a Muslim's feast that marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Buying sweets to serve visiting relatives is a regular habit to mark this occasion. The scenes of frustration have been visible on the face of the 40-year-old Abu Rashid Abu Assi, as he kept promoting his sweets and almost begging people to buy from him.

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Arab Spring spells uncertainty for Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
by Jeremy Bowen - August 27, 2011 - 12:00am

The extraordinary developments in the Middle East and North Africa this year have not been entirely welcomed by the authorities in Israel, who now have a range of new problems to add to some more familiar ones. My passports say it all. Like most foreign correspondents in the Middle East I have two - one for Israel, the other for Arab countries. That's because some Arab states will not let you in if you have an Israeli visa.

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Palestinians see progress in EU stance on UN bid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
(Analysis) August 29, 2011 - 12:00am

RAMALLAH (AFP) -- The Palestinian leadership sees "progress" in the European Union's position on its plan to seek UN membership next month, a senior PLO official told AFP on Sunday. "There is progress in the European stance and a willingness to coordinate with the Palestinian leadership over the type of resolution we are looking for," said PLO secretary general Yasser Abed Rabbo a day after president Mahmoud Abbas met in Ramallah with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

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Palestinian leadership condemns Tel Aviv stabbings
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
by Xiong Tong - (Analysis) August 29, 2011 - 12:00am

RAMALLAH, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian leadership on Monday condemned a Palestinian attack in which seven Israelis were injured in the central city of Tel Aviv. "We condemn the attacks against civilians, including the incident that was committed in Tel Aviv at dawn," said a statement by President Mahmoud Abbas's office. A Palestinian resident of the West Bank stole an Israeli taxi, hit an Israeli police checkpoint and stabbed people who gathered around him with a knife, wounding seven, Israeli reports said.

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Israel's Image Won't Improve Without Policy Changes
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
by Gary Wexler - August 29, 2011 - 12:00am

The thousands of scantily clothed bikers, skateboarders, walkers, hawkers, gawkers and performers were simply taking advantage of another breezy, crystal clear Southern California day. They had fought their way valiantly through relentless freeway traffic to participate in the year-round weekend ritual of parading down Los Angeles’ bohemian thoroughfare, the Venice Beach boardwalk.

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