July 3rd

Solana Calls On Israel To Halt Settlement Activities ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Kuwait News Agency (kuna) July 3, 2008 - 4:21pm European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana warned Wednesday that it will be extremely difficult to have negotiations on the final-status of Palestine if Israel does not stop its settlements in occupied Palestinian lands. "Realities on the ground have to change. I want to say it very clearly that settlements have to stop. We cannot enter in a process which is part of the way to determine by the end of the year 2008 if there is no clear commitment on the settlements," Solana told a conference on Palestine in the European Parliament. » Read more

Israeli Troops Detain 24 Palestinians In Nablus ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Kuwait News Agency (kuna) July 3, 2008 - 4:19pm Israeli Army Forces Thursday carried out a wide-scale detention operation in Duma village, in the south of Nablus City. Palestinian security sources said about 30 Israeli military vehicles stormed the city and the forces conducted the widest house-to-house search operation of its kind. The Israelis arrested more than 24 Palestinians, and most of the arrestee were said to be affiliated with Fatah movement. The Israeli troops also detained three more Palestinians in the city of Bethlehem during an incursion operation that targeted several areas of the city. » Read more

A Bereaved Family Transcends Boundaries ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Common Ground News Service July 3, 2008 - 4:19pm The family of an 18-year-old Palestinian civilian, who died after being shot by Israeli security guards a few weeks ago, have donated his organs to save the lives of six Israelis. Patient "A" was clinically dead when he was transferred to the intensive care unit in Sheba medical centre in Tel Hashomer, and doctors were unable to resuscitate him. The Hebrew daily newspaper Ma'ariv reported that his family decided to donate his organs to those who needed them, regardless of their race, religion or identity. » Read more

Israel In Jerusalem Dilemma After Bulldozer Attack ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Jeffrey Heller - July 3, 2008 - 4:17pm A deadly rampage in a bulldozer by a Palestinian resident of Jerusalem left Israel grappling on Thursday with the dilemma of how to maintain security in the city along with the premise it is undivided. Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it along with nearby villages in a move that is not recognized internationally, granting Palestinian residents Israeli identity cards that gave them wide freedom of movement. » Read more

Bush 'encouraged' After Olmert, Abbas Calls ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) July 3, 2008 - 4:16pm US President George W. Bush came away from talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders on Wednesday "encouraged" about prospects for Middle East peace, said White House spokseman Gordon Johndroe. Bush discussed efforts to reach a deal defining the outlines of a future Palestinian state by year's end in separate telephone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, said Johndroe. » Read more

Sarkozy Says France Hasn't Forgotten Shalit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) July 3, 2008 - 4:14pm French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday night that "France will never forget Gilad Shalit." Speaking in a press conference following the release of politician Ingrid Betancourt by Columbian rebels, the French president chose to turn to the kidnapped Israeli soldier's parents. "I would like to direct my last words to Gilad Shalit and his parents. We have not forgotten. France is always ready to be recruited for a person held unjustly," Sarkozy said. » Read more

A Short Walk In Palestine - Or Is It Eretz Yisrael? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from New Statesman by Rajah Shehadeh - July 3, 2008 - 4:11pm We stopped to eat our picnic breakfast of Nabulsi goat's cheese and tomatoes - which we had to eat whole because I could not risk being stopped on the road carrying a Swiss army knife » Read more

No Peace For Obama On Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Salon.com by Gregory Levey - (Opinion) July 3, 2008 - 4:09pm In early June, the morning after he became the presumptive Democratic nominee, Barack Obama gave a speech focused squarely on the Middle East and Israel. While the timing was coincidental -- his appearance at the annual gathering of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee had been scheduled long before the primary race played out -- the speech was fitting, headed into the general election. U.S. dealings in the volatile region promise to remain at the center of the race, and the next presidency. » Read more

Middle East Press Views Jerusalem Bulldozer Attack ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News July 3, 2008 - 4:08pm Wednesday's attack by a Palestinian who went on a bulldozing rampage in west Jerusalem, killing three people and wounding dozens, has provoked comment in the Israeli, Palestinian and regional press. The attack raised questions in right-wing Israeli media on the partition of Jerusalem and whether retaliatory measures should be taken, while other titles called for a continuation of the peace process. Further afield, regional press in the Middle East suggested the attack was a result of frustrations felt by many Palestinians over issues surrounding the West Bank and Gaza. » Read more

July 2nd

Poll: 71% Of Americans Want Us To Stay Neutral On Mideast Conflict ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yitzhak Benhorin - July 2, 2008 - 4:19pm A recent poll conducted by the University of Maryland in 18 countries revealed that 71% of Americans would prefer that the US stay neutral when it comes to the Mideast conflict. In 13 others countries covered in the poll, respondents also said they wanted their government to remain neutral on the issue. In no country did the majority back the Israeli stand, while those residing in Egypt, Iran and Turkey said they wanted their governments to support the Palestinian side. » Read more