June 4th, 2008

Report: Hamas Using Bigger Rockets
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from United Press International (UPI)
June 4, 2008 - 5:35pm

A report published Wednesday says Hamas has upped the ante in its rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza by procuring more powerful Iranian-made weapons. Citing unnamed military sources, the Israeli Web site DEBKAfile.com reported that Hamas used the new weapon, a multiple-launch rocket with an eight-kilogram explosive payload, for the first time Tuesday in an attack aimed at Shaar Henegev in Israel. The Web site said it's the same vehicle-launched weapon used against Israel by Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon.

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Palestinians Negotiator: Peace Talks Need Miracle
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
June 4, 2008 - 5:35pm

The lead Palestinian peace negotiator says only a miracle will bring a peace deal with Israel by the year-end target. Ahmed Qureia says the two sides have been discussing all the issues at the heart of their 60-year conflict. But he says gaps still exist. Speaking in the West Bank on Wednesday, Qureia said he thinks progress can be made this year. But he says he doesn't think a deal can be reached this year "unless there is a miracle."

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Israel Closes Gaza Fuel Crossing
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
June 4, 2008 - 5:34pm

The Israeli army says it has closed the Gaza fuel crossing after an errant rocket fired by militants wounded a Palestinian worker at the terminal. Israel's army says the attack on the Gaza side of the crossing prompted it to cease transferring industrial fuel, cooking gas and diesel to the territory of 1.4 million Palestinians. Israeli spokesman David Baker says Wednesday's attack showed militant groups' "total disregard for the well-being of the Palestinian people." Palestinian militants frequently fire mortars toward the Israeli-controlled crossings.

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Israel-palestine Talks Will Go On With Or Without Ehud Olmert - London Ambassador
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times
by Richard Beeston - June 4, 2008 - 5:33pm

Israel is prepared to press ahead with Middle East peace negotiations with or without Ehud Olmert as Prime Minister, the country’s Ambassador to London said yesterday. Speaking as the embattled Israeli leader began a three-day visit to America, Ron Prosor said that other potential leaders in the ruling Kadima party would pursue talks with the Palestinians should Mr Olmert be forced from office.

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Israeli Shift To Private Security Draws Fire
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Financial Times
by Tobias Buck - June 4, 2008 - 5:31pm

A scuffle has broken out among the Palestinian workers waiting to pass the sprawling Israeli checkpoint between Bethlehem and Jerusalem. The men, who have waited patiently outside the terminal for much of the night, are tired, and afraid of arriving late at work on nearby Israeli building sites. Now, one of them is trying to push ahead of the queue, sparking an angry response from the men behind.

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Smells Of Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Nicki Bennett - June 4, 2008 - 5:30pm

Like most people who read and watch a lot of news, I’ve seen a fair share of photographs and television footage of the Gaza strip in my life. And unlike some of the places I’ve worked — like Goz Beida in eastern Chad or El Zapote in Guatemala — Gaza is actually a place that many people can locate on a world map, or describe to you on the basis of the images they’ve seen.

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June 3rd

In a special report for the New York Times Nicki Bennett assesses the environmental and health problems being caused in Gaza by the dumping of sewage into coastal waters (1). The Israeli Ambassador to London announces that peace talks will continue even if Ehud Olmert is forced to abandon his position as Prime Minister (3). The Israeli army closes the Gaza fuel crossing in response to rocket fire by Palestinian militants (4). Fuel rationing in Gaza forces black market prices to skyrocket (8). Hamas and Israel continue to pursue a cease-fire agreement brokered by Egypt (11).

Aipac Instructs Delegates To Stay ‘positive’
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
by Nathan Guttman - June 3, 2008 - 5:21pm

This past week, an unusual letter was sent out to the 7,000 delegates expected to attend the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s upcoming annual conference. Reflecting the heightened political tension surrounding the gathering in this campaign year, organizers from Aipac effectively told those planning to attend on June 2 to behave themselves better than they had last year.

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Palestinian Pharmaceuticals Company Exporting Painkillers To Eu
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
June 3, 2008 - 5:20pm

A Palestinian pharmaceuticals company is exporting drugs to Europe after passing the required EU quality tests. The first shipment by the Dar al-Shifa company consists of 1.4 million painkiller pills. Next on the list are antibiotics and ulcer medication. The head of the company, Bassem Khoury, said Tuesday that exports for 2008 are expected to reach $1.6 million and $47 million by 2010.


Olmert’s “crisis” And The “morality” Of Negotiations
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-ayyam
by Hassan Asfour - June 3, 2008 - 5:16pm

The crisis that Israel is experiencing due to Olmert’s corruption scandal and its effect on the governing coalition is the most important political event today. A sitting prime minister is under investigation for bribery and money laundering like any other citizen, which is something we are not used to in Arab countries. What is more, the defendant continue his governing job as if nothing is threatening his political career. People who are following the corruption allegations will notice that Olmert is acting as if he is untouchable.

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