November 6th

White House says Israeli-Palestinian deal unlikely ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Arshad Mohammed - November 5, 2008 - 8:00pm The White House acknowledged for the first time on Thursday that Israel and the Palestinians were unlikely to reach a peace deal before President George W. Bush leaves office in January. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, beginning a four-day visit to the Middle East, said Israel's decision to call a parliamentary election, scheduled for February 10, had created a "different situation" that made it "very difficult" to come to an agreement. » Read more

Mideast peace: one more push ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Howard Lafranchi - November 5, 2008 - 8:00pm Less than a year after President Bush launched an effort to reach a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by the end of his term, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sets out Wednesday on what could be a final push to put Mr. Bush's stamp on the sputtering peace process. » Read more

Concern over Israel settlement exports ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News November 5, 2008 - 8:00pm British customs officials are "strongly concerned" that Israeli-produced goods made in settlements on the occupied West Bank may be circumventing import taxes en-route to British high streets, the BBC's Tim Franks learns. The British Government believes that Israeli settlements on occupied territory are illegal. So does every other government in the world, except for Israel. For that reason goods produced on settlements in the West Bank are not supposed to benefit from a free trade agreement between the EU and Israel. They are supposed to be subject to import duty. » Read more

Clashes as Israel flattens homes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News November 5, 2008 - 8:00pm Israel demolished four unauthorised Palestinian-owned buildings in occupied East Jerusalem in one day, triggering clashes in one Arab neighbourhood. Palestinian youths threw stones at police and a demolition unit in Silwan, where two homes were razed. A house in Shuafat and a wedding hall in Beit Hanina also were demolished. Human rights groups have criticised homes demolitions, saying it is often impossible for Palestinians to obtain permits in Israeli-occupied areas. The Israeli authorities said they were applying the law by removing structures built illegally without permits. » Read more

November 5th

Israel's dilemma: Obama vs. Qassams ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Aluf Benn - November 4, 2008 - 8:00pm No declaration of support and no promising statements can diminish the fear many Israelis' have of U.S president - elect Barak Obama. An elderly woman of Iraqi descent tells her daughter: "I saw them dancing. They're like the Arabs." The daughter replies: "I know - he'll support the Palestinians." "This is the end of us. He will take away our military foreign aid grants," another man states. These recent responses to Barak Obama's election are typical of many Israelis. » Read more

Livni slams 'flagrant violation' of truce as Qassams hit western Negev ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff - November 4, 2008 - 8:00pm Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said on Wednesday that Israel could not put up with "flagrant violations" of the cease-fire agreement with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, after dozens of Qassam rockets hit Israel on Wednesday. The rocket barrage came a day after an Israel Air Force strike in the southern Strip killed at least five militants and wounded several others. Hamas claimed responsibility for the rockets, but vowed interest in maintaining the five-month old truce. » Read more

Police trying to disperse East Jerusalem rioters in house demolition row ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz November 4, 2008 - 8:00pm Police said Wednesday they were trying to disperse a violent protest in East Jerusalem, where Palestinian protesters sought to block demolition of a house. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says authorities went to the area early Wednesday to take down a home that was built illegally. The crowd gathered and began pelting police with stones. He says police are trying to break up the crowd with stun grenades. » Read more

'Few changes likely during transition' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon - November 4, 2008 - 8:00pm Change in US Middle East policy as a result of Tuesday's elections is expected to be "evolutionary, not revolutionary," according to diplomatic assessments in Jerusalem. According to these assessments, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Israeli-Syrian talks are not expected to be on the top of the new president's agenda during the transition period, defined roughly as the period starting Wednesday and lasting until the new president's national security team is up and running. » Read more

Israel preparing for Hamas attacks after Gaza operation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Hanan Greenberg - November 4, 2008 - 8:00pm Tuesday night's successful Israel Defense Forces operation in Gaza thwarted a concrete and significant terror threat, but military officials admitted Wednesday that the tunnel attacked was only one of many threats which still exist in the Strip. Defense Minister Ehud Barak held a special meeting with security officials Wednesday morning, and one of the issues discussed was the possibility of a complete collapse of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. » Read more

Gaza truce in jeopardy after Hamas-Israeli clashes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press November 4, 2008 - 8:00pm Hamas militants pounded southern Israel with a barrage of rockets Wednesday, hours after Israeli soldiers killed six gunmen in new violence that threatened a five-month-old truce that has brought relief to both Gaza and southern Israel. The clashes began late Tuesday after Israeli forces burst into Gaza to destroy what the army said was a tunnel being dug near the border to kidnap Israeli troops. Despite the outbreak of violence, both the Israeli authorities and officials with Gaza's Hamas government said they wanted to restore the calm that has largely prevailed for five months. » Read more