November 5th

Six die in Israeli attack over Hamas 'tunnel under border to kidnap soldier' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times by James Hider - November 4, 2008 - 8:00pm A five-month truce between Israel and the Islamist rulers of the Gaza Strip was foundering today after Israeli special forces entered the besieged territory and battled with Hamas militants, leaving six Palestinian fighters dead and four Israeli soldiers wounded. The Israeli military described the operation as a “pinpoint” raid to destroy a 250-metre tunnel it said the hardline Palestinian movement was digging under the border to try to kidnap an Israeli soldier, as it did in summer 2006. » Read more

Rice off to Mideast as peace deadline looms ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Matthew Lee - November 4, 2008 - 8:00pm Fighting irrelevance and a ticking clock, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice embarks Wednesday on yet another Middle East peacemaking trip, hoping to secure fragile Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and leave a viable process for the incoming Obama administration. With just 77 days left in office, Rice will be making her eighth trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories since the parties set a year-end goal of reaching a peace deal at last November's Annapolis peace conference. She will also visit Egypt and Jordan to shore up Arab support for the talks. » Read more

Arab League urges Obama to act quickly in Mideast ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press November 4, 2008 - 8:00pm Arab League head Amr Moussa has urged President-elect Barack Obama to act swiftly to try to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Moussa welcomed the result of the U.S. election and said it marked a watershed for the United States and for efforts to bring peace to the Middle East. Moussa says Obama's call for change is needed in the Middle East to ease tensions between Arabs and Israelis and to resolve the nuclear standoff with Iran. » Read more

November 4th

In the business of peace - U.S. billionaire pursues his dream of Mideast peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - December 31, 1969 - 8:00pm Between meeting in the Knesset with Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon and visiting his friend, President Shimon Peres, S. Daniel Abraham felt like pouring his heart out. The 84-year-old billionaire, who visited Israel earlier this month, says that for the last seven years, since meeting Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Saud - who has since been crowned king - he has not known peace. Abraham's eyes become dewy as he talks about the meeting in Riyadh. » Read more

Mofaz: As PM I'll work to return Shalit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Amnon Meranda - August 20, 2008 - 8:00pm Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz slammed on Thursday the cabinet's recent decision to release 199 Palestinian prisoners as a gesture to President Mahmoud Abbas while IDF soldier Gilad Shalit remains in captivity. "Noam and Aviva Shalit (Gilad's parents) are still awaiting their son's release," said Mofaz, a leading candidate for the Kadima party chairmanship along with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. "As prime minister I'll work tirelessly to bring him back to his family." » Read more

No more separate bathing in Jaffa pool ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Omer Ori - August 21, 2008 - 8:00pm The Jewish residents' committees in the city of Jaffa has decided to stop renting out the local Neveh Golan swimming poll to Jews only for one day every fortnight, following a Yedioth Tel Aviv report last week. "It was supposed to take place once again next week, but since the report, the organization of the event has been halted," said a neighborhood activist. "The exposure of this issue has simply caused everyone to back down from the idea." » Read more

Israel re-opens Gaza''s commercial crossings ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) August 21, 2008 - 8:00pm Israel announced Friday the re-opening of its three commercial crossings with the Gaza Strip, which it closed down two days ago. A spokesman for the Israeli Army, speaking to local radio, said the decision came after deliberations between Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barrak and top ministry officials at a meeting yesterday to evaluate the situation in the Gaza Strip. The army had closed the crossings after Palestinians launched a missile on Wednesday from northern Gaza at southern Israel, causing no casualties or damages. » Read more

Israel declares navy drills to deny activists passage to Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Michael Jansen - August 21, 2008 - 8:00pm The Free Gaza movement announced yesterday that the admiral of the Israeli navy has warned the 47 passengers and crew aboard the SS Free Gaza and Liberty that they should not sail to the Gaza Strip because Israel is conducting naval exercises off Gaza and in nearby international waters. Speaking to the media at quayside on behalf of the campaign, Paul Larudee, said that the boat people had been told that "all traffic has to stop" in the sea. But Larudee declared that this would not deter the activists' mission of breaking the siege and blockade of Gaza and its 1.5 million citizens. » Read more

Palestinians relaunch soccer league in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Mohammed Assadi, Ori Lewis - August 20, 2008 - 8:00pm Palestinian soccer saw the start of a revival in the West Bank on Thursday with the relaunch of a league suspended after an uprising against Israeli occupation erupted in 2000. Twenty-two teams across the territory will compete in a seven-month-long tournament, but teams from the Hamas-run Gaza Strip will not take part. Israel sharply restricts travel and trade to and from the coastal enclave. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's authority has been restricted to the Israeli-occupied West Bank since Hamas Islamists took over the Gaza Strip by force a year ago. » Read more

Jordan protests against Israel's Jerusalem dig plans ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) August 21, 2008 - 8:00pm Jordan said on Thursday it summoned the Israeli ambassador to protest against plans for excavation and construction work near the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, Jerusalem's most volatile holy site. "Foreign Minister Salah Bashir summoned the Israeli ambassador this week to officially inform him that Jordan rejects such illegal measures," said MP Mohammed Abu Hdeib, head of the lower house of parliament's committee on international affairs, after meeting Bashir on Thursday. » Read more