November 4th

Officials: Cairo talks unlikely to reconcile Hamas and Fatah ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters August 24, 2008 - 8:00pm A new round of Egyptian mediation starting on Monday and aimed at reconciling the rival Hamas and Fatah factions is unlikely to produce a breakthrough, officials familiar with the talks told Reuters. Sharp differences between Egypt and Hamas on two key issues will make it even harder for Cairo to broker a deal between the Islamic militant group that now rules the Gaza Strip and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement, they said. » Read more

Rice to make new push for Mideast peace agreement ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) August 24, 2008 - 8:00pm US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice left for Israel and the Palestinian territories on Sunday in another bid to push the stalled Arab-Israeli peace process forward. Rice "will travel to Israel and the Palestinian Territories on August 24," said spokesman Sean McCormack.

Rights Advocates Defy Israeli Blockade of Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Taghreed El-Khodary, Isabel Kershner - August 22, 2008 - 8:00pm Two boats carrying more than 40 international human rights advocates landed in Gaza on Saturday, challenging an Israeli blockade of the Hamas-run territory. About 2,000 residents came out to greet them at the small seaport near Gaza City. Many were singing, while others swam or set out in fishing vessels to meet the boats. Israel had told the activists to keep their boats away but ultimately decided to allow them to land, apparently to prevent a potentially more damaging public relations drama. » Read more

Israel frees Palestinian prisoners ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Myra Noveck, Tom Rachman - August 24, 2008 - 8:00pm Israel released almost 200 Palestinian prisoners Monday in a good-will gesture aimed at reinvigorating the faltering peace process. Hours later, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in the country to make her own push for a deal between the two sides. With President Bush leaving office in January, his administration has been seeking a peace agreement before the end of the year, but the efforts have brought little progress so far. Ms. Rice arrived Monday for two days of talks with top Israeli and Palestinian officials, her seventh trip to the region since November. » Read more

Hamas' Deif: We'll continue to attack Zionist enemies of God ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff - November 3, 2008 - 8:00pm Mohammed Deif, the former head of Hamas' military wing, on Tuesday declared that the Palestinian military group will continue to launch terror attacks against Israel. Speaking at a memorial ceremony for Hamas leader Fawzi Abu Al-Kara, Deif said his men will continue Jihad "until victory and martyrdom." "We will pursue the Zionist enemies of God," the former Iz al-Din al-Qassam commander vowed. » Read more

Maintenance mode ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Yossi Alpher - November 2, 2008 - 8:00pm Israel finds itself in a unique position in terms of both its political history and the annals of the Israel-Arab peace process. PM Ehud Olmert has resigned and elections have been set for February 10, 2009. The elections have caught Israel in the throes of two peace processes, with the PLO and Syria. Olmert, who is not running for reelection, has indicated that he intends to pursue negotiations on both fronts. » Read more

Advance the dialogue regardless of transition ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Gilead Sher - November 2, 2008 - 8:00pm Global challenges of economy and security become an ever-growing concern in transition periods such as the present one. In that context, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other geopolitical developments in the Middle East represent a myriad of problems of leadership, legitimacy, continuity and practicability. The concurrent transition among the terms in office of the relevant actors in the arena--the United States, Israel and the Palestinian Authority--should be meticulously prepared for. » Read more

A direct and immediate impact ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Ghassan Khatib - November 2, 2008 - 8:00pm The domestic Israeli political scene and balance of powers have a very strong effect on the peace process and the domestic Palestinian scene. The Israeli balance of power is in turn deeply influenced by Israeli public opinion. The latter sets the limits for how far negotiators can go as well as for how far Israeli bulldozers may reach. » Read more

Hamas colleagues barred from crossing Gaza border ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News November 2, 2008 - 8:00pm A senior Palestinian parliamentarian said that he and five colleagues from the Hamas movement had been barred by Egypt from crossing its border with Gaza on their way to visit other Arab countries. Acting parliament speaker Ahmad Bahar said in a statement on Sunday that "the Egyptians have rejected a request" for the six lawmakers to travel through Egypt. The statement did not give the lawmakers' destination or the purpose of their trip. » Read more

Meshaal’s mission was an exercise in public relations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star (Editorial) November 3, 2008 - 8:00pm Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal made a full set of rounds in Beirut on Monday, pressing the proverbial flesh and telling this country's leadership much of what it wanted to hear. Unfortunately, he also engaged in a little wishful thinking and/or expected his interlocutors to do the same. Given Meshaal's reputation for diplomatic and political savvy, it was disappointing to hear him engage in a brand of public relations with which the Arab world is all too familiar. » Read more