Obama And The Jewish Question ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) January 30, 2008 - 5:57pm Not a year has passed since Danny Ayalon completed his term as Israel's ambassador in Washington, but he has already seen fit to criticize Barack Obama, who may well be the next U.S. president or vice president. In an article published in The Jerusalem Post, Ayalon wrote that during his two meetings with Obama, he got the impression that the Democratic candidate was "not entirely forthright" regarding Israel. Similar and even worse smears can be found in abundance in American blogs and e-mail chain letters. » Read more

Finally, A Popular Uprising ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - (Opinion) January 30, 2008 - 5:56pm The fall of the Rafah wall was a fitting combination of planning and the precise reading of the social and political map by the Hamas government, mixed with a mass response to the dictates of the overlord, Israel. » Read more

Un Envoy: Women In Gaza Feel Coerced To Cover Heads ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - January 30, 2008 - 5:55pm The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief says women in the Gaza Strip have recently felt coerced into covering their heads, while Christians there have faced rising intolerance. The UN envoy, Asma Jahangir, visited Israel and the Palestinian Authority last week and published a report on her eight-day trip. "Women seem to be in a particularly vulnerable situation and bear the brunt of religious zeal. I was informed about cases of honor killings carried out with impunity in the name of religion," she added. » Read more

Punishing Gaza Only Harms Those Backing Peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Daoud Kuttab - (Opinion) January 30, 2008 - 5:54pm   When the Gaza Strip was plunged into darkness last week as a result of the Israeli fuel blockade, many people around the world were surprised. But the optimism produced by the Annapolis peace process, which included President George W. Bush's promise of an agreement in 2008 to create a Palestinian state, was clearly unrealistic. » Read more

Egypt And Iran Take The Right Step ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News (Editorial) January 30, 2008 - 5:53pm The steps taken by Egypt and Iran to restore ties between the two countries is by all means and on various levels significant. It not only paves the way for building on the relationship positively but also sets a precedent for using diplomatic measures as a facilitator to address and resolve outstanding issues. » Read more

Israelis Halt Gaza Project Backed By Tony Blair ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Telegraph by Tim Butcher - January 30, 2008 - 5:52pm Work on a Palestinian water treatment plant, championed by the former prime minister, has been halted after Israel refused to allow construction materials into Gaza to finish the job. Further delay risks what Mr Blair has called "a humanitarian catastrophe" as winter rains threaten to cause the existing facility to overflow, flooding the homes of more than 10,000 people who live nearby. » Read more

A Fight For Life In A Power Struggle ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Donald Macintyre - January 30, 2008 - 5:51pm It's 8pm on Monday evening and the Aseli family is in full emergency mode. The power has just gone down in their apartment – for the second time that day – blacking out the lights and the electric heater. » Read more

Report On Lebanon War Threatens Ehud Olmert Power Amid Call For Resignation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times by James Hider - January 30, 2008 - 5:50pm Ehud Olmert, the Israeli Prime Minister, will face one of his toughest challenges today when a damning report into his leadership during the 2006 Lebanon War is released, threatening his political career and the renewed peace process on which he has staked his reputation. » Read more

Israeli And Palestinian ATFP World Press Roundup Article from International Herald Tribune by Daniel Barenboim - January 30, 2008 - 5:49pm BERLIN: I have often made the statement that the destinies of the Israeli and Palestinian people are inextricably linked and that there is no military solution to the conflict. My recent acceptance of Palestinian nationality has given me the opportunity to demonstrate this more tangibly. When my family moved to Israel from Argentina in the 1950s, one of my parents' intentions was to spare me the experience of growing up as part of a minority - a Jewish minority. They wanted to me to grow up as part of a majority - a Jewish majority. » Read more

Ahead Of Super Tuesday, Obama Tackles E-mail Smears ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ron Kampeas - January 30, 2008 - 5:48pm A packed auditorium was waiting for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama to receive a pivotal endorsement and his aide was rushing him along, but he had something important to say first -- to American Jews. "Before we go, I'd like to add one last comment," the Democratic presidential hopeful told the aide in a conference call with the Jewish news media Monday morning, just minutes before being endorsed by U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) at American University here. "My strong and deep commitment and connection to the Jewish community should not be questioned." » Read more