August 20th

Israeli vice PM condemns "outrageous" attacks by Jews on Palestinians
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
August 19, 2012 - 12:00am

Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Ya'alon on Sunday condemned as terrorism last week's Jewish gang attack on several Palestinians in downtown Jerusalem, and a suspected Jewish firebombing of a vehicle in the West Bank. "The hate crimes committed over the weekend against Arabs in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) and Jerusalem are intolerable, outrageous and must be firmly dealt with," he said in a statement Sunday.

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U.S., Israeli navies hold joint Med maneuvers in tense times
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
August 19, 2012 - 12:00am

Israeli and American naval counterparts spent the last week holding a joint search-and-rescue exercises in the Mediterranean Sea, which included live fire and seaborne helicopters landings. The "Reliant Mermaid" drill also tested the U.S. Navy's destroyer-mounted Aegis-missile defense system, which, theoretically, could defend Israel against Iranian missiles.

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Hamas calls on Egypt to exclude Israel of any security coordination in Sinai
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
August 19, 2012 - 12:00am

Ismail Haneya, premier of Islamic Hamas movement's rule in the Gaza Strip, on Sunday called on Egypt to exclude Israelis from any security coordination to control the security in the Peninsula of Sinai. During a speech on Sunday morning to mark Eid al-Fitr, the end of the 30 days of fasting in the holy month of Ramadan, Haneya said security in Sinai has to be controlled through coordination between Egypt and Hamas.

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Militants fire on Egyptian troops in Sinai, 4 hurt
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Ashraf Sweilam - August 18, 2012 - 12:00am

Militants attacked Egypt's security forces and wounded four policemen in the Sinai peninsula on Saturday, in the tenth day of clashes since 16 soldiers were killed in the volatile borderland near Israel and the Gaza strip earlier this month. The troops were returning from an early morning raid where they had arrested two suspects in their homes when militants fired a rocket-propelled grenade at their convoy as it was driving along a major road, a security official said.

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Palestinian government debt hurts private sector
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Mohammed Daraghmeh - August 18, 2012 - 12:00am

Palestinian drug importer Ghassan Mustaklem says he can't afford to work with the West Bank's Palestinian government anymore. He recently halted supplies to his biggest client, which now owes $12 million in unpaid bills, or more than half his annual turnover. The cutoff by Mustaklem and other suppliers has fueled a shortage of key drugs in Palestinian hospitals, making the health sector the latest victim of a deepening financial crisis for the Palestinian Authority.

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Mofaz demands clarifications from Netanyahu over his 'intention to lead Israel to war with Iran'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - August 20, 2012 - 12:00am

Israel's opposition head Shaul Mofaz sent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a letter on Monday demanding an urgent meeting on the Iranian issue. "I ask that this meeting be convened without delay, and address your intention to lead Israel to war," Mofaz wrote. According to law, the prime minister must brief the opposition head on a monthly basis.

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Iran’s President Calls Israel ‘an Insult to Humankind’
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Rick Gladstone - August 17, 2012 - 12:00am

Iran’s president fanned the flames of confrontation with Israel on Friday, calling the Israeli government “an insult to humankind” in a speech on the annual Iranian holiday that calls for the Palestinian reclamation of Jerusalem from Israel’s control. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran was surrounded by his bodyguards at the demonstration, where he spoke.

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A Gaza Border Slams Shut, and With It, Chances for a Pilgrimage to Mecca
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Fares Akram - August 17, 2012 - 12:00am

Every Ramadan for the past two decades, Mouin Mushtaha has made the pilgrimage to Mecca during the last 10 days of the Muslim holy month. This year, as Ramadan ticked away, he sat gloomily at the office of his tourism agency here, watching the festivities on television.

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August 17th

NEWS: Pres. Peres criticizes speculation in Israel about a unilateral attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. A former senior Israeli official says government leaders told him they could be dissuaded from any such attack. DM Barak says only the Israeli government will decide on whether or not to attack Iran, but the debate in Israel continues to rage. Six Palestinians are wounded by a firebomb attack in a suspected Israeli settler “price tag” terrorist action. Palestinian gays look for a safe space for social activism for their cause. Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons are pressing for prisoner of war status. The Israeli Foreign Ministry is continuing to press the issue of Jewish refugees and immigrants to Israel from Arab states to offset the Palestinian refugee issue. Hamas and Egypt are reportedly broadening their security coordination regarding extremists In Sinai. Peace Now complains about an Israeli military commander's assertion that Israel has sovereignty in occupied Hebron. The American peacekeeping force in Sinai is being threatened by growing levels of extremist violence. Asharq Al-Awsat cites unnamed sources as saying no Palestinians were involved in the attack on Egyptian forces in Sinai. COMMENTARY: Roger Cohen says Israel should resist the temptation to attack Iran. L. Michael Hager says the world cannot tolerate a preemptive Israeli attack against Iran. Yoel Marcus says Israel is damaging itself with its psychological warfare against Iran. Nir Hasson says he interviewed people who saw Jewish Israeli youths attempting to lynch Palestinians. Dennis Ross thinks Israel's threats against Iran are mainly intended to spur greater international determination on confronting Iran's nuclear program. Benny Morris thinks Israel is really preparing to attack Iran. Jonathan Ben-Artzi describes what it's like to be a Jewish Israeli pacifist. Colin Kahl says Pres. Obama has been a great friend to Israel. The Economist says Gaza may be ready for a major building boom.

No Palestinians involved in Sinai attack
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat
August 16, 2012 - 12:00am

Asharq Al-Awsat has learned that security agencies operating in the Gaza Strip are currently in the process of providing their Egyptian counterparts with information highlighting their past experiences in confronting Salafist jihadist groups. This is in order to help Cairo confront the militant groups operating on the Sinai Peninsula following the killing of 16 Egyptian soldiers close to the Rafah Border Crossing.

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