December 28th

Apology In Kafr Qasem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Tom Segev - December 28, 2007 - 2:43pm On October 29, 1956, a little after 5 P.M., several dozen Kafr Qasem residents were coming home from work, unaware that a curfew had been declared because of the start of the Sinai Campaign. Border police lined them up and shot them dead: 47 people, Arabs, citizens of Israel. » Read more

Clearing Out The Jails ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - (Opinion) December 28, 2007 - 2:41pm For many years, and especially as head of the Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria, Brigadier General Ilan Paz earned a living hunting down and jailing Palestinians. He has spent this last year, however, with two released prisoners: Fatah leaders Hisham Abd al-Razeq, Fatah's former minister of prisoner affairs, and Ibrahim Salameh, a former adviser to the Palestinian interior minister. » Read more

Israel Must Stop Its Latest Illegal Plan ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News (Editorial) December 28, 2007 - 2:40pm During this festive season, Israel has given the Palestinians one less reason to celebrate through its announcement that it will expand two of its existing illegal colonies. This comes at a time when the "serious negotiations" following the Annapolis conference were set to resume between Israelis and Palestinians. In fact, Palestinian and Israeli negotiators were scheduled to meet on Monday for the second time since last month's US-sponsored conference, but that meeting is now put on hold. » Read more

Close Down Dimona - The Risks Are Just Not Worth It ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Bennett Ramberg - (Opinion) December 28, 2007 - 2:39pm Nuclear facilities as military targets? The drumbeat appears to be growing louder. Western leaders repeatedly declare that no option is off the table to stem Iran's nuclear ambitions. And, in mid-November, London's Sunday Times reported that Israel put defenses around its Dimona nuclear reactor on "red alert" 30 times, as worries grew that Syria would avenge Israel's September attack on a suspected nuclear site in Syria. » Read more

Jewish 'return' Hits 20-year Low ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News December 28, 2007 - 2:37pm The Israeli government says Jewish immigration to Israel has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years, with fewer than 20,000 Jews arriving in 2007. The agency to promote Jewish migration to Israel said the Diaspora had less reason to leave countries of origin, while Israel was losing its appeal. Israel's Law of Return allows anyone who is Jewish or has a Jewish spouse, parent or grandparent to be a citizen. Immigration is an important factor in Israel's survival as a Jewish state. » Read more

All Beds Booked In Bethlehem For First Time In Seven Years ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Eric Silver - December 28, 2007 - 2:36pm After seven lean, intifada years, Joseph Canavati, owner of the modern Alexander Hotel on Manger Street, the snaking main road leading to the Church of the Nativity, is dusting off his "No vacancies" sign. The pilgrims are coming back. » Read more

They Do Not Exist, And That Is Official ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Inter Press Service (IPS) by Mona Alami - December 28, 2007 - 2:34pm In the maze of dirty streets that spreads from Beirut's revamped Sport City to the shabby Halabi quarters, 20,000 refugees are clustered in what is known as the Bourj al-Barajneh Palestinian camp. In a town plagued by poverty, many families live in complete destitution. » Read more

With Shalit On Table, Israel Weighs Ceasefire With Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Leslie Susser - December 28, 2007 - 2:32pm Although they are not talking to each other directly, Israel and Hamas may be about to strike a deal that would include a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the abducted Israeli soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit. » Read more

Rice\'s History Lessons ATFP World Press Roundup Article from International Herald Tribune by Daniel Levy - (Opinion) December 28, 2007 - 2:29pm With the Annapolis conference and the Paris fund-raising effort to aid the Palestinians behind us, the Middle East peace process is now in need of constant vigilance. President George W. Bush will visit the region in January, but it is Condoleezza Rice who will be looked upon to provide a guiding hand. The new peace effort is very much her baby. A look at the war in Lebanon last summer, and Rice's management of it, provides some clues to the challenges ahead. » Read more

Mideast Peace Talks Go Nowhere ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Ken Ellingwood - December 28, 2007 - 2:27pm Meeting for the second time this month as part of a new U.S.-launched peace effort, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators Monday bogged down again over familiar issues: proposed Israeli construction in areas the Palestinians claim for a future state and Israel's demand that the Palestinians crack down on armed groups. » Read more