November 3rd

Hamas uneasy over Egyptian plan for unity ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) November 2, 2008 - 8:00pm The Islamist Hamas movement expressed reservations Sunday over an Egyptian plan for reconciliation with the Fateh Party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. "The Egyptian plan is a document suggested for discussion and Hamas will not treat it as a final draft to be signed," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told reporters in Gaza City days before the factions were to meet in Egypt. » Read more

Israeli peace pioneer Abie Nathan dies at 81 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters August 27, 2008 - 8:00pm Abie Nathan, an Israeli peace activist who blazed trails to Egypt and the Palestinians that his country would eventually follow, died on Wednesday. He was 81. Nathan famously piloted a private plane, dubbed Shalom (Peace) 1, to then enemy Egypt in 1966 and was twice imprisoned by Israel for meeting Palestine Liberation Organization chief Yasser Arafat in the late 1980s and early 1990s when such contacts were illegal. "He was a great fighter against war, poverty and discrimination," Israeli President Shimon Peres said in a statement after Nathan's death in a Tel Aviv hospital. » Read more

Abbas sees no peace deal with Israel this year ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters November 2, 2008 - 8:00pm Israel and the Palestinians will not be able to reach a peace agreement before Washington's target date of the end of this year, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday. "I don't think it's possible to clear an accord by the end of this year as both the U.S. and the Israeli administrations are now busy with other matters and the very short time does not allow for striking such a deal," Abbas said at the start of a two-day visit to Romania. » Read more

Israel reopens Gaza crossings after two-day closure ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters August 27, 2008 - 8:00pm Israel on Thursday reopened its border crossings with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, two days after they were shut in response to rocket attacks. Palestinian officials said three of the main commercial crossings were opened but a fourth remained closed. Israel tightened its borders with the Gaza Strip after Hamas Islamists seized the enclave more than a year ago. A June ceasefire has largely ended border violence, but Gaza militants occasionally fire rockets into Israel. Israel usually responds by shutting the crossings the following day.

Livni widens lead in race to replace Olmert ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters August 27, 2008 - 8:00pm Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni will easily win leadership elections in the ruling Kadima party to replace embattled Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, poll results showed on Thursday. The survey in the daily Maariv showed Livni winning 49 percent of the votes among Kadima members, widening her lead over her closest party rival, Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz. The poll showed Mofaz receiving 28 percent. » Read more

UN envoy condemns Israeli resumption of Palestinian house demolitions in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press October 31, 2008 - 8:00pm The U.N.'s Mideast envoy said Saturday he was "alarmed" by Israel's decision to resume house demolitions in the West Bank. Earlier this week, Israel knocked down dozens of shacks in two West Bank villages, leaving dozens of Palestinians homeless. U.N. envoy Robert Serry said Israel agreed in April to halt the demolitions and he urged it to reinstate the moratorium. Israel's actions "send a discouraging signal" about Israeli support for efforts to improve living conditions in the West Bank and to build Palestinian backing for peacemaking, Serry added in a statement. » Read more

Abbas rejects permanent Palestinian resettlement in Lebanon ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press August 27, 2008 - 8:00pm Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he rejects the idea that Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon might be forced to stay there permanently. He emphasized that all Palestinians should have the right to return home. When it comes to armed Palestinian factions, however, Abbas says he supports any decisions the Lebanese government makes on how to deal with militants outside refugee camps. Abbas spoke to reporters Thursday in Lebanon's capital, Beirut. » Read more

13 years after Rabin killing, Israeli spy chief warns of political murder by Jewish extremists ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Matti Friedman - November 1, 2008 - 8:00pm The head of Israel's internal security service said Sunday he is "very concerned" that Jewish extremists could assassinate an Israeli leader in an attempt to foil peace moves with the Palestinians. There has been a recent increase in violence by hardline Jewish settlers in the West Bank, and this week, Israel marks the 13th anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin by an Israeli opponent of his negotiations. » Read more

Tzipi or Bibi? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Economist October 29, 2008 - 8:00pm IT SEEMS to happen every time. The moment Israel comes close to getting a prime minister serious about making peace with the Palestinians, fate steps in to block the way. Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated; Shimon Peres was rejected by the voters; no sooner had Ariel Sharon come round to ceding (far too little) land for peace than he was felled by a stroke. » Read more

Israeli Activist Abie Nathan Dies ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News August 27, 2008 - 8:00pm Abie Nathan, the maverick Israeli peace activist, has died aged 81. Israeli President Shimon Peres paid his tributes saying Nathan was "a great fighter against war, poverty and discrimination". Abie Nathan was born in Iran 1927, educated in India and served in the Royal Air Force during World War II. He volunteered as a pilot in Israel's war of independence in 1948; but he became disillusioned with the Israeli government. In 1966 he flew his private plane to Egypt, in a push for peace. » Read more