May 13th

Israel Sets Terms For Gaza Truce ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News May 13, 2008 - 6:08pm Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert asked Egypt’s intelligence chief yesterday to tell Gaza fighters a truce would be conditional upon progress being made toward freeing a captive Israeli soldier. Olmert also asked Omar Suleiman to tell the Palestinian armed factions they would have to stop smuggling arms into Gaza if they want Israel to accept the Egyptian-brokered proposals to halt the violence in the besieged territory. » Read more

The Other Nakba ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-ayyam May 13, 2008 - 6:08pm (ATFP Transation by Mike Husseini) » Read more

Tony Blair Unveils Deal To Boost Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times by David Byers - May 13, 2008 - 6:06pm ony Blair today unveiled the first fruits of his labours as Middle East peace envoy, outlining an economic deal between Israel and the Palestinians which he claimed would boost the West Bank. The former Prime Minister said that Israel had agreed to remove trade and travel barriers for Palestinians in order to allow the territory to grow economically ahead of a final peace deal between the sides. » Read more

Hamas Rejects Israeli Truce Terms ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News May 13, 2008 - 6:04pm Hamas has said that the release of Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier captured in 2006, will not form part of any truce agreement with Israel. Israel has said a ceasefire deal must include the release of the soldier. Cpl Shalit was seized in a cross-border raid two years ago by Palestinian militants, including members of Hamas. Egyptian intelligence chief was in Jerusalem on Monday talking to Israeli officials about a ceasefire offer by the Gaza Strip's militant groups. » Read more

Israel To Relax West Bank Restrictions, Says Blair ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by James. Orr - May 13, 2008 - 6:03pm Israel has agreed to ease severe travel and trade restrictions on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, the Middle East envoy Tony Blair said today. In an announcement aimed at bolstering forthcoming peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, Blair described the breakthrough as a "significant first step". The news came on the eve of a visit by the US president, George Bush, to Israel to celebrate its 60th anniversary. » Read more

Econ Progress In The West Bank Lays Basis For Peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Wall Street Journal by John D. Mckinnon - May 13, 2008 - 5:58pm President Bush departs Tuesday for a Mideast peace mission that on the surface appears unpromising. But administration officials say there is quiet movement on the outlines of a future Palestinian state and that momentum is building on the economic-development front, particularly in the Palestinian West Bank. Even if Mr. Bush's 11th-hour push for a peace deal ultimately fails, growing investment in the area is pointing the way toward possible longer-term progress, officials say. » Read more

Rice: Mideast Peace 'not Impossible' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from United Press International (UPI) May 13, 2008 - 5:57pm U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday peace in the Middle East may be "improbable" but "not impossible." In a taped interview in Washington on CBS's "The Early Show," Rice said she remains convinced her upcoming trip to the Middle East with U.S. President George Bush will push the process forward. The trip begins Tuesday. "Well, if the parties want to do this and will put the energy and the will into it, I think they can do it (reach a peace agreement)," Rice said. » Read more

Bush: Israeli Peace Independent Of Olmert ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press May 13, 2008 - 5:56pm U.S. President George W. Bush said in interviews published Tuesday ahead of a visit to Israel that the country's peace process with the Palestinians does not depend on embattled Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Police suspect Olmert illictly took hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash from an American fundraiser. The Israeli leader has said he would resign if indicted. » Read more

Bush's Legacy On Israel Debated On Eve Of Visit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Michael Abramowitz - May 13, 2008 - 5:52pm Appearing at an Israeli Embassy reception last Thursday to mark the 60th anniversary of the Jewish state, Vice President Cheney voiced a sentiment that is common among many American Jews, evangelicals and others. "Israel has never had a better friend in the White House than the 43rd president of the United States," he said. » Read more

May 12th

Bush Should Stay Home ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - (Opinion) May 12, 2008 - 5:44pm If George Bush were a true friend of Israel, he would seize the investigation against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as an excuse to stay home tomorrow. Unless he has a rabbit in his hat, this will be the third time in the past half year that the U.S. president shows the Palestinians and the entire Arab world that they are wasting their time by trying to end the occupation by peaceful means. » Read more