February 27th

Mideast: Gaza Border In Political Limbo ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Inter Press Service (IPS) by Khaled Moussa Al-omrani, Adam Morrow - February 27, 2008 - 6:49pm One month after throngs of Palestinians flooded into Egypt's Sinai Peninsula from the Gaza Strip, the flashpoint Rafah border crossing remains tightly shut. But according to some opposition figures, the breach -- viewed by many as a victory for Palestinian resistance faction Hamas -- signalled the need for new border protocols consistent with shifting political realities. » Read more

Officials: Egypt Boosts Border Troops To Double Agreed Number ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters February 27, 2008 - 6:48pm Egypt has discreetly boosted the number of troops deployed along the border with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, beyond those set in a 30-year-old peace accord with Israel, Israeli officials said Tuesday. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said reinforcements started arriving after Hamas Islamists in Gaza blasted open the Egyptian border at Rafah on Jan. 23 in defiance of an Israeli-led blockade of the coastal territory. » Read more

Un Report Calls Palestinian Terrorism Result Of Occupation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Bradley S. Klapper - February 27, 2008 - 6:46pm A report commissioned by the United Nations says Palestinian terrorism is the inevitable result of Israeli occupation, an assertion that Israel rejected yesterday as inflammatory. more stories like this The report, posted on the UN Human Rights Council's website, says that while Palestinian terrorist acts are deplorable, "they must be understood as being a painful but inevitable consequence of colonialism, apartheid, or occupation." The report accuses the Jewish state of acts and policies consistent with all three. » Read more

Most Muslims 'desire Democracy' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News February 27, 2008 - 6:45pm The largest survey to date of Muslims worldwide suggests the vast majority want Western democracy and freedoms, but do not want them to be imposed. The poll by Gallup of more than 50,000 Muslims in 35 nations found most wanted the West to instead focus on changing its negative view of Muslims and Islam. The huge survey began following the 11 September 2001 attacks in the US. The overwhelming majority of those asked condemned them and subsequent attacks, citing religious reasons. » Read more

Towards True Dialogue ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Khaleej Times by Madeleine K. Albright - (Opinion) February 27, 2008 - 6:44pm Doha - To act wisely, we need to know as much as possible about others and also about ourselves; one path to such knowledge is dialogue. In that quest, we convene this year at a moment of great anticipation. Arab-Israeli peace talks have recommenced. In Iraq, signs of hope are visible amid ongoing strife. And in November, the United States will choose a new president. » Read more

Integrate Settlements And Security ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Yossi Alpher - (Opinion) February 27, 2008 - 6:43pm Under the circumstances, and by comparison to its predecessors, the current Palestinian Authority government in Ramallah led by President Mahmoud Abbas and PM Salam Fayyad is making reasonable progress toward fulfilling its roadmap phase I security obligations. Of course there is still a lot to be desired--but the PA deserves better than the degree of reciprocation it has received thus far from Israel. » Read more

Why Lebanon Hasn't Slipped Into Civil War ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Helena Cobban - (Opinion) February 27, 2008 - 6:42pm Lebanon's former prime minister, Rafik Hariri, was killed by a huge explosion near downtown Beirut in February 2005. Since then, the country has seen – in addition to the Israeli bombardments of summer 2006 – more than a dozen other mysterious assassinations. Nearly all those killed were, like Mr. Hariri, outspoken critics of the strong role that Syria plays inside Lebanon. Ever since 2005, analysts have speculated that Lebanon might be headed back into the civil war from which it extricated itself, with much difficulty in 1989. » Read more

Palestinians Mull A Majority ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Times by Joshua Mitnick - February 27, 2008 - 6:41pm New population data have some Palestinians contemplating an unorthodox formula for Middle East peace — a single democratic nation of Arabs and Jews, in which Palestinians would be the majority. "If Israel wants to call it Israel from Jordan to the Mediterranean, I accept it. So we'll be equal to them," said Saeb Erekat, a negotiator who has been at the center of negotiations to set up a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. » Read more

February 26th

Olmert: I'm Unsure Peace Deal With Pa Possible In 2008 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - February 26, 2008 - 7:06pm Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Tuesday that he is not certain Israel and the Palestinian Authority will be able to reach a peace agreement by the end of 2008, as they committed themselves to doing in the November U.S.-sponsored Annapolis conference. "We have a desire to reach an agreement within the year 2008," Olmert told a business conference in Tokyo, where he is making his first visit as prime minister. "I am not sure we will make it, but we are determined to make a giant step forward to end this dispute once and for all." » Read more

Abbas Urges For Early Settlement Of Control Over Border Crossings ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Kuwait News Agency (kuna) February 26, 2008 - 7:05pm Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stressed on Tuesday the importance of ending the dispute over controlling the border crossing points between Gaza Strip and Egypt as early as possible amidst the Israeli self-imposed blockade on the strip. The issue is being thoroughly discussed by the Palestinian, the Egyptian and the Israeli leaders, Abbas said in a press release after his meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. » Read more