Defense Sources: Talk Of Major Idf Operation In Gaza Premature ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amoss Harel - June 9, 2008 - 4:36pm Despite stern warning from Israeli officials about an impending massive operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the big invasion is less certain and imminent than how it is painted in the media, according to defense and military sources. The sources told Haaretz on Saturday that negotiations on a cease-fire will continue for the next two weeks with Hamas, barring Israeli casualties from Qassam rockets. Only after that period, the sources said, will the government formulate and decide on its next moves vis-a-vis the Islamist organization. » Read more

Gaza Op Likely Before J'lem Signs Truce ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Yaakov Katz, Herb Keinon - June 9, 2008 - 4:34pm In response to the recent string of fatal Hamas rocket attacks, Israel is likely to conduct a medium-size military operation against the Islamist group before agreeing to a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, senior defense officials told The Jerusalem Post on Saturday. A final decision on Israel's course will be made on Tuesday during a meeting between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. Barak, officials said, favored first striking at Hamas and only then agreeing to a truce. » Read more

Palestinian Public Opinion Poll No. 28 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Palestinian Center For Policy And Survey Research June 9, 2008 - 4:30pm These are the results of the latest poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip between 5 and 7 June 2008. This period witnessed the declaration by the President of the Palestinian Authority (PA) Mahmud Abbas of his desire to renew dialogue with Hamas. It also witnessed continued closure of the Rafah border crossing despite Hamas’s attempt to open it. » Read more

Drafting To Start On Mideast Peace Deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) by Hossam Ezzedine - June 9, 2008 - 4:28pm RAMALLAH, West Bank (AFP) Top Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qorei said Palestinian and Israeli negotiators are to start drafting a document, in remarks published Saturday on progress in US-backed peace talks. In an interview with two Palestinian newspapers, Qorei said the two sides were discussing all the core issues of the decades-old conflict, including borders, Jerusalem, and Palestinian refugees. » Read more

Hamas Takes Responsibility For Attacks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press June 9, 2008 - 4:24pm Hamas has claimed belated responsibility for a string of terror attacks in Israel carried out several years ago. A Hamas web site lists nine attacks that killed 26 Israelis from 2002 until 2005. Other Palestinian groups claimed responsibility for some of those attacks at the time. The group says it kept quiet about its role until now for security reasons. The web site says all the attackers came from the West Bank. » Read more

Poll: Abbas More Popular Than Haniyeh After Call For Hamas Dialogue ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters June 9, 2008 - 4:20pm Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's popularity rebounded in a survey released on Monday after he renewed his call for dialogue with the Hamas Islamists who control the Gaza Strip. The poll, conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research, suggested that Abbas would win 52 percent of the vote against 40 percent for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh if a presidential election were held in the Palestinian territories now. A survey by the same group in March showed Haniyeh leading Abbas by 47 percent to 46. » Read more

Talks Seek To Bridge Hamas-fatah Rift ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters June 9, 2008 - 4:16pm DAKAR, Senegal (Reuters) — The Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas met in Senegal over the weekend for talks aimed at bridging the violent rift between the groups. The two sides released a joint statement on Sunday saying that the meetings had restored “an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect,” though there were no details about progress on specific issues. » Read more

Israel Seals Gaza, West Bank Borders ATFP World Press Roundup Article from United Press International (UPI) June 9, 2008 - 4:14pm RAMALLAH, West Bank, June 8 (UPI) -- Israel Sunday closed the country to entry from the occupied Palestinian territories for the Shavuot holiday, sealing off the West Bank and Gaza. The closure was announced on Israeli radio and was planned to last until Monday, reported KUNA, the Kuwaiti news agency. It said the decision bans entry into the country from the occupied territories except for emergencies, and tightened security at checkpoints and demarcation lines to guard against terrorist attacks. The decision was made by the Israeli Army, KUNA said.

Commentary: Aipac And Liege Fealty ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Times by Arnaud De Borchgrave - (Commentary) June 9, 2008 - 4:12pm Once a year, the Israel lobby in Washington known as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee holds its annual convention where anyone who is anyone in the political world comes to render fealty, rather than homage. It has become a political rite of passage, like a medieval contract for exchanging goods and services, which was often military service in exchange for protection. Anyone who doesn't pass the litmus test can forget about becoming president of the United States, or senator or even congressman. » Read more

Jerusalem Solution Called Unlikely By Year’s End ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - June 9, 2008 - 4:10pm JERUSALEM — An Israeli government official acknowledged Saturday that the crucial issue of the future status of Jerusalem was unlikely to be resolved in negotiations with Palestinians this year, reflecting the abiding gaps between the sides. » Read more