August 8th

'Palestinian homes in IDF fire zones face demolition' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Tovah Lazaroff - August 8, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinians living in IDF firing zones, particularly in the Jordan Valley and the South Hebron Hills, are especially vulnerable to home demolitions by Israeli security forces, according to a UN report issued this week by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. “Some 45 percent of demolitions of Palestinian-owned structures in Area C since 2010 have occurred in firing zones, displacing over 820 Palestinian civilians,” the OCHA report said. » Read more

For Sheldon Adelson, political and Jewish giving are all of a piece ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ron Kampeas - August 7, 2012 - 12:00am Call it the Adelson conundrum: What happens when the guy who acts as if he owns the room really does? In March at TribeFest, the annual gathering of young adults organized by the Jewish Federations of North America at the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas, Sheldon Adelson walked in on a surrogate debate between Matt Brooks, who directs the Republican Jewish Coalition, and his counterpart at the National Jewish Democratic Council, David A. Harris. » Read more

Israel evacuates illegal buildings in West Bank outpost ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua August 8, 2012 - 12:00am Israeli security forces evacuated residents and demolished several structures in an illegal West Bank outpost early Wednesday, with no clashes reported. The Maoz Esther outpost, located in the Benjamin regional council, was founded in 2007 on a private Palestinian land. It was dedicated to the memory of Esther Galia, resident of a neighboring settlement who was killed by Palestinian militants. » Read more

Abbas says going to UN even if it conflicts with others' interests ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 8, 2012 - 12:00am President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated Tuesday that the Palestinian Authority would insist on the UN bid seeking to obtain international recognition that Palestine is a state under occupation rather than a disputed territory. “Even if this step conflicts with other parties' interests, we will not step back,” Abbas said in remarks at Al-Najah National University as he joined a ceremony to honor top high school graduates in Nablus district. » Read more

Abbas urges donors to support Palestinian budget ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua August 8, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday urged donor countries to support the Palestinian National Authority (PNA)'s crippling budget deficit. "The PNA suffers a difficult financial situation," Abbas said at a meeting with Toni Blair, the former British prime minister who is now the envoy of the International Middle East peacemakers, known as the Quartet. » Read more

Israeli FM's anti-Abbas remarks anger Palestinian leadership ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua August 8, 2012 - 12:00am Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's comments against Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas angered the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on Wednesday. Nabil Abu Rdineh, a PNA spokesman, said the Israeli foreign minister's statements "reveal the mentality of killing peace and fueling conflict." » Read more

Israel: Hezbollah smuggled explosives into Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press August 8, 2012 - 12:00am Israeli security forces say Hezbollah militants have smuggled explosives into northern Israel using a network of drug dealers on either side of the Lebanese-Israeli border. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Wednesday the explosives were to be used in attacks on Israelis. He says 14 Israeli Arabs were arrested over the past few weeks in connection with the case. The arrests followed a months-long undercover operation. » Read more

Official: Rafah crossing to reopen ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 8, 2012 - 12:00am Egyptian authorities are expected to reopen the Rafah land crossing to Palestinian travelers in the coming days, says Mahir Abu Sabha, director of crossings in the ministry of interior in Gaza. Abu Sabha told Ma’an that he expected the Rafah crossing to be opened Thursday-Saturday. He asserted that talks with the Egyptian side over reopening the crossing were ongoing. Abu Sabha reiterated that the Gaza Strip had nothing to do with the "terrorist" attack on Egyptian soldiers Sunday which left 16 dead. » Read more

Gaza closure sends prices soaring, smugglers say ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Ibrahim Barzak - August 8, 2012 - 12:00am Gazans say the sealing of their territory following a weekend attack by Islamic militants on the Egypt-Israel border has sent prices soaring and is leaving hundreds of medical patients stranded. Egypt says the attackers who killed 16 Egyptian soldiers had help from Gaza. In response, Egypt closed its border crossing and shut down hundreds of smuggling tunnels. » Read more

Egypt Military: 'Elements from Gaza' involved in Rafah border attack ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ahram Online August 6, 2012 - 12:00am In a military audio statement aired on state television Monday afternoon, the armed forces presented their account of the deadly attack on the Egyptian-Israel border Sunday. "A terrorist group of 35 people attacked a border guard south of Rafah Sunday evening at 7pm, right around Ramadan Iftar time, where 16 of our soldiers were martyred and 7 injured; three of them severely injured. The terrorist group then took over an army Armed Personnel Carrier and used it to penetrate the Egypt-Israel border where Israeli forces destroyed it." » Read more