Former Hamas Spokesman Decries Group's Extremism ATFP World Press Roundup Article from McClatchy News by Dion Nissenbaum - October 31, 2007 - 5:12pm For roughly two decades, Ghazi Hamad has been a reliable champion for Hamas and its hard-line Islamist ideology, first as a leader of Palestinian street protests, then as an editor of a pro-Hamas newspaper and most recently as the chief spokesman for deposed Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. Now, however, Hamad has emerged as one of Hamas' most caustic critics. In an open letter to Hamas leaders, he criticizes the group as an uncompromising movement that's lost its way. » Read more

Aid Request Emphasizes U.s. Support Of Palestinian Authority Leadership ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Glenn Kessler - October 31, 2007 - 5:09pm President Bush has proposed a sixfold increase in aid to the Palestinians, including $150 million in direct cash transfers to the Palestinian Authority, in an effort to bolster the government in advance of a Middle East peace conference planned for later this month in Annapolis. » Read more

Condoleezza Rice: From Bethlehem To Annapolis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Christianity Today by David Neff - (Blog) October 31, 2007 - 5:06pm Last Friday, I joined five other evangelical Protestant leaders for an intense and rewarding half-hour conversation with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Our goal was to assure her of our support as she navigates the treacherous waters of Middle East politics—particularly as she arm-wrestles the various parties toward the summit planned for the beginning of December in Annapolis. The Bush Administration is hoping that foundations can be laid for an enduring, peaceful two-state solution in Israel-Palestine conflict. » Read more

October 30th

Acting Out Of Frustration In Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) October 30, 2007 - 1:20pm One can appreciate the frustration behind the defense establishment's proposal to sporadically cut the electricity supply to the Gaza Strip: Powerful Israel stands by helplessly while Qassam rockets continue falling on Sderot and the Negev. And these are attacks that in the not-so-distant future may become increasingly more accurate and effective. » Read more

Mazuz Prohibits Punitive Power Cuts In Gaza Strip ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Shlomo Shamir, Yuval Yoaz - October 30, 2007 - 1:19pm Attorney General Menachem Mazuz yesterday prohibited the state from cutting off electricity to parts of the Gaza Strip, as the defense minister has threatened to do. After holding a debate in his office yesterday, Mazuz ordered the defense establishment to reexamine the issue. » Read more

Creating The "jerusalem Paradigm" ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Daniel Seidemann - (Opinion) October 30, 2007 - 1:15pm Sit any Friday afternoon on the corner of el-Wad St. and St. Stephen's Road in Jerusalem's Old City, just opposite the Austrian Hospice. Thousands of Muslim worshipers throng to the mosques on Haram al-Sharif. Additional thousands of Orthodox Jews flock to prayers at the Western Wall. And the brown-robed Franciscans bearing the cross turn the corner and proceed to the Third Station of the Cross. » Read more

Public Opinion And The Peace Process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Ziad Abu Zayyad - (Opinion) October 30, 2007 - 1:14pm The importance of public opinion stems from the fact that in democratic regimes it can play a determining role in the shift of power between the different political forces. Political leaders and parties must always bear in mind that, come election day, it is the voters who will be judging their performance and deciding whether they deserve to be reelected, or whether they should be voted out for having disappointed their electorate. Thus the agenda of political parties must always take into account the wider public agenda and concerns. » Read more

Giuliani Is Mideast's Worst Nightmare ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by Linda S. Heard - (Special Report) October 30, 2007 - 1:13pm President George W. Bush's approval ratings may be in the doldrums and he's only got just over another year to go, but before we order the celebratory fireworks here's a thought. The next American president could make this one look like a boy scout. As the months pass, the next election looks like a race between Democrat Hillary Clinton and the former mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani for the Republicans. I'm no fan of the coolly calculating Clinton but given the alternative, she's the one I'll be rooting for. » Read more

Israel's Decision To Cut Power In Gaza Is Illegal, Says Un ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Donald Macintyre - October 30, 2007 - 1:11pm The UN's top official in Gaza will tell British ministers today that Israel's cuts in fuel and power to the Palestinians violate international law, while the isolation of Hamas has strengthened extremism and started to drive non-affiliated moderates who can leave Gaza to do so. » Read more

Gaza Sanctions: The Legal Argument ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News by Paul Reynolds - October 30, 2007 - 1:10pm The intervention by Israeli Attorney General Menachem Mazuz to suspend a plan to restrict electricity supplies to Gaza raises the issue of Israel's rights and responsibilities under international humanitarian law. Earlier, there were protests from human rights groups, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon - who called the measure "unacceptable" - and the European Union External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who said: "There should not be collective punishment". » Read more