Israel's population on eve of Rosh Hashanah: 7.3 million, 76% Jewish ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Moti Bassok - September 23, 2008 - 8:00pm On the eve of Rosh Hashanah 5769, Israel's population stands at 7,337,000 people, including 5,542,000 Jewish Israelis (75.5 percent) and 1,477,000 Israeli Arabs (20.1 percent). The figures, published Wednesday in the Central Bureau of Statistics annual report, also include another 318,000 Israelis listed under the category of "others," in which some 200,000 foreign workers were counted. The report stated that the population has grown by 1.8 percent since last year. » Read more

Peres: Israel isn't willing to give Syria land in exchange for rocket fire ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yoav Stern - September 23, 2008 - 8:00pm President Shimon Peres on Wednesday told his Turkish counterpart President Abdullah Gul that Israel "is not willing to take painful steps and return territories in exchange for rocket fire," referring to peace negotiations between Israel and Syria. The two heads of state met on the sidelines of the opening of the 63rdl United Nations General Assembly in New York. Turkey has been acting as a mediator in the recently relaunched indirect talks between Israel and Syria. » Read more

Playing Palestinians off against each other ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Ghassan Khatib - September 21, 2008 - 8:00pm In spite of their recent fierce confrontations and the continuing hostile rhetoric, there are apparently three levels of direct and indirect dealings between Israel and Hamas of Gaza. A ceasefire was reached and is still maintained, negotiations are taking place through third parties on a likely prisoners' exchange and the two sides are exchanging views over the possible opening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt. » Read more

Naalin commander admits wrongdoing, but disputes criminal charges ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Aviad Glickman - September 23, 2008 - 8:00pm Lt. Colonel Omri Burberg, a Naalin regiment commander who was indicted following an incident in which a bound Palestinian was shot in the foot during an anti-fence protest in the West Bank village, contested a petition submitted by human rights organizations asking to charge him with more serious offenses. Burberg was dismissed after the incident. His attorneys said Wednesday that "the inquiry into the regiment commander's behavior has led to the conclusion that this is not a case in which a mark of disgrace should be planted on his forehead, warning the public against him." » Read more

Palestinian, Jordanian, or both? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Common Ground News Service by Arwa Aburawa - September 22, 2008 - 8:00pm ?I love Jordan,? whispered a young refugee girl. ?I love Jordan even though I?m Palestinian.? Listening to Ibtisaam, a proud Palestinian who lives in the expansive refugee camps of Jordan, I could see that this was a hard confession to make. In light of her Palestinian pride it was hard to justify her love of Jordan since this was seen as a denial of her Palestinian self ? a direct challenge to her Palestinian roots. » Read more

Voluntary Evacuation and Compensation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Middle East Progress by Colette Avital - September 23, 2008 - 12:00am What challenges do settlements present and what is their impact on the peace negotiations? » Read more

Forget Palestine? Surely You Jest. ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Middle East Times by Claude Salhani - September 23, 2008 - 8:00pm Okay. The Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are getting nowhere fast. Some experts are starting to say that maybe it's time to look at the future of Palestine with a completely set of new lenses. The paradox in the comatose peace negotiations is that although the details calling for a two-state solution are generally accepted by all sides, a solution is not truly desired by either the Palestinians or the Israelis for various reasons. See the Sept. 15 issue of the Middle East Times » Read more

Jordan, Egypt say world must help ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times September 23, 2008 - 8:00pm Jordan and Egypt on Tuesday agreed to further coordinate their stands in the face of present challenges. During a summit meeting in Cairo, His Majesty King Abdullah and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak called for intensified international efforts to work out a just political settlement of the Palestinian issue that ends the Israeli occupation and leads to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. » Read more

Fatah OKs plan for new govt ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) September 23, 2008 - 8:00pm The ruling Palestinian faction Fatah has agreed to an Egyptian proposal to create a new government that would be acceptable to the international community, a senior Fatah official said yesterday. » Read more

Gaza: 5 Die in Smugglers' Tunnels ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters September 22, 2008 - 8:00pm At least five Palestinians were killed and four others were wounded on Tuesday when Egyptian forces blew up two smuggling tunnels beneath the Egyptian-Gaza border, medical workers and residents said. The tunnels, which are used to bring goods from Egypt into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, collapsed when Egyptian soldiers detonated explosives in an attempt to curb smuggling, residents said. Egyptian officials were not immediately available for comment. Israeli officials have said many of the tunnels are also used by militants to smuggle weapons into Gaza from Egypt.