Ehud The Semi-believer ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The American Prospect by Gershom Gorenberg - (Analysis) December 5, 2007 - 4:49pm Ehud Olmert has begun to fascinate me. Don't misunderstand: I am completely innocent of ever voting for him. I have no intent of committing such an act in the future. Had fate not put me in a country of which Olmert is prime minister at a moment that might be seized by someone else, an actual leader, to make peace, my interest in him would be purely as a literary figure, a character. I don’t mean that he is a tragic hero; precisely the point is that he lacks grandeur. He is Willy Loman with a vision: a glad-handing hack politician who was ambushed one day by a truth. » Read more

Muslim Extremists Constantly Insult Faith ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Chicago Tribune by Hussein Ibish - (Commentary) December 5, 2007 - 4:47pm The recent jailing and deportation of a British teacher in Sudan highlights yet again the depths to which ultraconservative religious fanatics are damaging one of the great faiths of mankind. Gillian Gibbons' "offense" was to allow her 7-year-old students to name a class teddy bear Muhammad. She was initially threatened with a possible sentence of 40 lashes but was sentenced to 15 days in jail, before her deportation. » Read more

Israel Plans New Homes In East Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Mark Lavie - December 5, 2007 - 4:45pm Israel announced plans Tuesday to build more than 300 new homes in a disputed east Jerusalem neighborhood, drawing quick Palestinian condemnation that the move will undermine newly revived peace talks. The new housing would expand Har Homa, a Jewish neighborhood in an area Palestinians claim as capital of a future state. Palestinian officials appealed to the U.S. to block the project, but Israel says a pledge to halt settlement activity does not apply anywhere in the holy city. » Read more

Sick Gazans Stuck In Queue Of Death ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Nidal Al-mughrabi - December 5, 2007 - 4:44pm Born last week with a heart defect, Salem al-Masri needs life-saving surgery. But like hundreds in the Gaza Strip, he and his parents have no permit from Israel to exit the enclave to a suitably equipped hospital. Palestinians suffering serious illnesses have long traveled from Gaza to nearby Israeli hospitals for treatments unavailable at facilities in the territory, which is home to 1.5 million people and was occupied by Israel for 38 years until 2005. » Read more