June 9th, 2008

Commentary: Aipac And Liege Fealty
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Times
by Arnaud De Borchgrave - (Commentary) June 9, 2008 - 4:12pm

Once a year, the Israel lobby in Washington known as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee holds its annual convention where anyone who is anyone in the political world comes to render fealty, rather than homage. It has become a political rite of passage, like a medieval contract for exchanging goods and services, which was often military service in exchange for protection. Anyone who doesn't pass the litmus test can forget about becoming president of the United States, or senator or even congressman.

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Jerusalem Solution Called Unlikely By Year’s End
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Isabel Kershner - June 9, 2008 - 4:10pm

JERUSALEM — An Israeli government official acknowledged Saturday that the crucial issue of the future status of Jerusalem was unlikely to be resolved in negotiations with Palestinians this year, reflecting the abiding gaps between the sides.

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June 8th

Isabel Kershner of the New York Times reports on the fading likelihood of a peace agreement by year’s end (1). Israel seals West Bank and Gaza borders for Jewish holiday (3). Hamas and Fatah met in Senegal over the weekend for talks (4). A recent poll shows support for President Abbas rising (5) (8). Sources within Israel’s Military and Defense establishments downplay the certainty of a Gaza operation (10).

June 6th

Olmert Hints Major Gaza Operation Is Imminent
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - June 6, 2008 - 3:10pm

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told reporters on his plane bound for Israel on Thursday just prior to departure that "it would appear we are very close to a decisive crossroads in Gaza," intimating that a major military operation is in the offing. "The people of Israel have reason to be pleased with the results of the visit to the U.S. in relation to all sensitive security matters concerning the future of the state," Olmert said.

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Idf Soldier Wounded, Militant Killed In Gaza Border Fire
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Mijal Grinberg - June 6, 2008 - 3:06pm

A barrage of four Qassam rockets and five mortar shells fired by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip slammed into the western Negev on Friday. No injuries were reported, but several people were treated for shock and cars in the area sustained damage. Another Qassam rocket struck an open area in the Eshkol region in the western Negev. No injuries or damage were reported. Earlier Friday, an Israel Defense Forces soldier was wounded and a Palestinian gunman was killed in clashes near the Gaza Strip border fence.

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Israel, Pa Look At Gaza Crossing Options
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Herb Keinon And David Horovitz - June 6, 2008 - 2:59pm

  Amid increasing international impatience with the policy of isolating Gaza, both Israeli and Palestinian officials are floating ideas to enable the opening of one or more of the four crossings from Israel into the Strip. "There has been an evolution in the international community on how to handle the Gaza Strip," a Western diplomatic official said Thursday. "There is a consensus that the current strategy that is being pursued is not achieving that much that is positive, whether for Israel, the Palestinian Authority or Egypt."

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Hamas Hails Fateh Call For Talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
June 6, 2008 - 2:55pm

The rival Fateh and Hamas factions were set to start reconciliation talks after the Islamists in the Gaza Strip on Thursday welcomed a call from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for national dialogue. A year after the Islamists seized power in Gaza causing a political and territorial split, their political head in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, said he welcomed the chance to talk as soon as possible.

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Israeli Settlement Policies Threaten Palestinian Rights
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
June 6, 2008 - 2:53pm

His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday warned that continued Israeli settlement policies threaten Palestinian rights to an independent state. During talks with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street, King Abdullah said achieving peace and living in security and stability in the region will not be realised through settlement construction or by ignoring historic rights of the Palestinian people.

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Obama Defends Jerusalem Remarks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Middle East Times
June 6, 2008 - 2:51pm

Democratic White House candidate Barack Obama on Thursday defended his remarks that Jerusalem should not be divided under any Israeli-Palestinian peace pact, saying a divided city would be "very difficult to execute." A day after sparking outrage among Palestinians when he told a Jewish group that Jerusalem must remain the "undivided" capital of Israel, Obama told CNN that the issue is still up to the two sides.

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Hamas Member Killed, 10 Palestinians Hurt In Israeli Gaza Raids
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Middle East Times
June 6, 2008 - 2:48pm

A Palestinian militant was killed and an Israeli soldier was wounded in clashes Friday just inside Gaza following a deadly mortar attack on the Jewish state, medical and military officials said. The member of the armed wing of Hamas died in an exchange of fire between militants and an Israeli military unit near the border, Gaza emergency medical services said. Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules the impoverished territory, said in a statement its fighters had fired anti-tank rockets at the troops.

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