August 14th

Israeli defense ministry asks for billions more in 2013 budget ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua August 14, 2012 - 12:00am The Israeli Defense Ministry is asking for several billion shekels more than the Israeli Finance Ministry is willing to allocate to it in 2013 budget, according to local media. In discussions set to begin Wednesday, an 11.5-billion-shekel ( 3.5 billion U.S. dollars) gap remains between what the military is requesting - 62 billion shekels (15.5 billion U.S. dollars) - and the Finance Ministry's 50.5-billion-shekel (12.5 billion U.S. dollars) offer. » Read more

Israel holding up settlement college upgrade ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press August 13, 2012 - 12:00am Israel's defense minister is holding up the politically charged upgrade of the only West Bank settlement college to a full-fledged university. A month after a settler council approved the upgrade, a spokesman said Defense Minister Ehud Barak has to study the security and diplomatic implications before signing off on the move. Without his go-ahead, the upgrade cannot be finalized. » Read more

Palestinian Statehood Could Be Escape Strategy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by J.J. Goldberg - (Opinion) August 14, 2012 - 12:00am As the Palestinians prepare for another attempt to win recognition as a state at the United Nations General Assembly, President Obama has a rare opportunity to show true friendship for Israel in a way that sets him apart from and ahead of his rival. He can welcome the Palestinian request and promise to support it. On certain conditions, that is. How in heaven’s name could supporting a U.N. Palestine resolution be an act of friendship toward Israel? Simple: It could restart negotiations, with Israel in a stronger position. » Read more

Israel plunged into unprecedented debate about war ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Amy Teibel - August 14, 2012 - 12:00am To attack or not to attack? With Israeli politicians warning repeatedly that Iran is secretly pursuing nuclear weapons, this question has spawned an unprecedented amount of agonizing even in a country accustomed to war and incessant debate. » Read more

Danger to Israel-Egypt ties ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Alex Fishman - (Analysis) August 13, 2012 - 12:00am Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi's termination of the Arab country's old military guard with one swipe and without resistance was one of the most surprising and dramatic developments of the revolution. » Read more

Gaza residents 'stranded abroad' as Egypt denies visas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 14, 2012 - 12:00am A number of Palestinians say they are stranded abroad because Egypt has denied them transit visas to return to Gaza. Palestinians in Lebanon, Turkey, Libya and Kenya have contacted Ma'an, saying they were refused Egyptian visas. Gaza residents can only enter or leave the enclave via the Rafah crossing on Egypt's border due to Israel's blockade of Gaza's other borders and sea port. Salim, who is in Istanbul, told Ma'an the Egyptian consulate said it had been instructed by the Egyptian government to stop issuing visas to Palestinians. » Read more

Gaza: Egypt opening border ahead of Muslim holiday ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Ibrahim Barzak - August 14, 2012 - 12:00am Egypt on Tuesday opened its border with Hamas-ruled Gaza for a three-day period ahead of a major Muslim holiday this weekend, but imposed tight restrictions on who can travel and did not say whether it would resume normal border operations. The government in Cairo closed the border Aug. 5, shutting down the Rafah passenger terminal and — according to Egyptian security officials — sealing more than 100 cross-border smuggling tunnels. The move came after Islamic militants in Egypt's Sinai desert near Gaza killed 16 Egyptian troops at a border post. » Read more

Gazans hope Egypt will ease clampdown on smuggling tunnels ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff - (Opinion) August 14, 2012 - 12:00am Last week's terror attack in Sinai, which claimed the lives of 16 Egyptian soldiers, prompted the authorities in Cairo to clamp down on the smuggling tunnels connecting Egyptian Rafah and the Gaza Strip. Dozens of bulldozers arrived at the Egyptian side of the Philadelphi Route and began demolishing tunnels. On the other side, Hamas closed the tunnel entrances, at least for the time being. For around 70,000 Palestinians whose livelihoods depend on the tunnels, it is a severe blow. » Read more

Israel and Iran ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times (Editorial) August 13, 2012 - 12:00am Israeli leaders are again talking about possible military action against Iran. This is, at best, mischievous and, at worst, irresponsible, especially when diplomacy has time to run. » Read more

Palestinian Seeks Diplomatic Allies ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Jodi Rudoren - (Opinion) August 13, 2012 - 12:00am Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s executive committee, asked diplomats from two dozen countries on Monday to support the Palestinian Authority’s renewed bid for observer-state status at the United Nations, calling it “a test of the whole rule of law.” Speaking in East Jerusalem to envoys from countries in Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East, Ms. » Read more