October 30th

Guilt by Insinuation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The American Prospect by Tim Fernholz - October 29, 2008 - 8:00pm "He's an Arab," the woman at a town hall meeting in Minnesota told John McCain, who gently took the microphone from her hand. "No, Ma'am," he said. "He's a decent family man, [a] citizen, that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues. And that's what this campaign is all about." » Read more

Gaza Rocket Strikes Israel; Cargo Crossings Closed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press October 29, 2008 - 8:00pm Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip have fired a rocket into southern Israel in violation of a 4-month-old truce, but the strike did not cause any injuries or damage. The Israeli Defense Ministry has responded Thursday by snapping shut cargo crossings into Gaza until further notice. Hezbollah Palestine, a little-known group, has claimed responsibility. It first emerged last week when it claimed responsibility for an Oct. 21 rocket attack. Rocket barrages from Gaza have largely ceased since Israel reached a truce with militants in the territory in June. » Read more

Quartet to meet in Egypt on Nov. 6 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Karin Laub - October 29, 2008 - 8:00pm A senior Palestinian official said Wednesday the Quartet of Middle East peacemakers will meet Nov. 6 at Sharm el-Sheik to assess progress in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting's date has not been announced, said the gathering in Egypt would include U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The aim is to hear the progress Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have made in their talks. The so-called Quartet is made up of the U.N., the U.S., the European Union and Russia. » Read more

Beilin to quit Israeli politics ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News October 29, 2008 - 8:00pm The veteran left-wing Israeli politician, Yossi Beilin, has said he will retire from political life after the general election due in February. Mr Beilin initiated ground-breaking talks between Israel and the Palestinians during the early 1990s which led to the Oslo Peace Accords. He also helped develop the Geneva Initiative, an unofficial peace deal negotiated by figures from both sides. A spokeswoman said the former Meretz party head remained committed to peace. » Read more

Israelis and Palestinians Launch Web Start-Up ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Dina Kraft - October 29, 2008 - 8:00pm Nibbling doughnuts and wrestling with computer code, the workers at G.ho.st, an Internet start-up here, are holding their weekly staff meeting — with colleagues on the other side of the Israeli-Palestinian divide. They trade ideas through a video hookup that connects the West Bank office with one in Israel in the first joint technology venture of its kind between Israelis and Palestinians. » Read more

October 29th

IDF troops kill Palestinian farmer, 68, near Jenin ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz October 28, 2008 - 8:00pm Israel Defense Forces troops shot and killed an elderly Palestinian farmer on Wednesday while operating near the West Bank town of Jenin on Wednesday. Palestinian security sources and the IDF both confirmed the incident. An army spokesman said troops on patrol in the area shot the man after he opened fire at them. Advertisement A Palestinian security source identified the Palestinian as a 68-year-old farmer, Mohammed Abahreh, and said he was carrying a shotgun as he herded cattle in the village of Al-Yamoun. » Read more

Hamas tunnel uncovered by PA near Hebron was arms training site ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amos Harel - October 28, 2008 - 8:00pm The tunnel near Hebron uncovered about two weeks ago by the Palestinian Authority was used by Hamas as a firing range and for other weapons training, according to PA security officials. The discovery of the tunnel is indicative of the kind of pressure the PA security forces are putting on the military wing of Hamas. The revelation of the tunnel caught by surprise Israeli security officials, who reportedly agree with the PA's evaluation of its purpose. In contrast to tunnels excavated through the Gaza Strip sand, a tunnel in the West Bank is rare. » Read more

Israel's Current Strategic Environment ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs by Amos Gilad - October 27, 2008 - 8:00pm - Hamas could have pretended it wanted a political solution and the whole world would have recognized this. The Quartet posed to Hamas only three conditions: recognize your neighbor, recognize the peace agreements, and avoid terror. But Hamas said, no, Israel has no right to exist. They have a dream - to join the other Islamic forces, to revolutionize the whole Middle East. - The Palestinian Authority is doing better at maintaining law and order in its territory in the West Bank. However, it has far from demonstrated any level of performance in dealing with terror. » Read more

'Up injunctions for settler violence' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post October 28, 2008 - 8:00pm Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Wednesday ordered an increase in the use of injunctions against violent offenders in Judea and Samaria. In a meeting at his Tel Aviv office with senior defense officials, Barak said the recent spate of settler violence was unacceptable and ordered the establishment of a monitoring team to examine events. » Read more

Jerusalem youth use music to break down walls ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Common Ground News Service (Opinion) October 28, 2008 - 8:00pm We need a cultural revolution. We have waited far too long for governments and armies to bring us peace and security. Fear and mistrust of the other side define our reality. Good, peace-loving Israelis and Palestinians are convinced they have no partner for peace. Most are unaware of the fact that every Israeli and every Palestinian holds so much power to shape his or her future. Artists, as well as those involved in media, have tremendous power to help build trust and create human connections despite the political and social barriers that currently divide us. » Read more