August 7th

Tunnels To Egypt Keep Hamas In Business ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Der Spiegel by Juliane Von Mittelstaedt - August 7, 2008 - 4:52pm One year after assuming total power over the Gaza Strip, Hamas is stronger then ever. Its weapons caches are overflowing and its control over daily life is secure. The Islamists can go about their business largely thanks to the supplies that get in via the tunnels connecting Gaza to Egypt. » Read more

British Diplomats Attacked By Hebron Settler ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times by James Hider - August 7, 2008 - 4:49pm A car full of senior British diplomats was attacked today by a Jewish settler in the volatile West Bank city of Hebron. The diplomats were visiting from London and Brussels to assess the situation in the ancient city, where around 700 Jewish settlers live under massive Israeli army and police protection amid some 180,000 Palestinians. The city has been a major friction point, with Palestinians and Israeli human rights groups accusing the hardline religious settlers of attacking the Palestinian population with impunity. » Read more

Israel Troops Face Shooting Trial ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News August 7, 2008 - 4:48pm An Israeli commander and sergeant face trial for "unworthy conduct" over the shooting of a bound Palestinian prisoner, Israeli officials say. Col Omri Borberg was filmed holding the prisoner as a soldier under his command fired a rubber bullet at his feet. Israel's military advocate general says the incident in the West Bank in July represents a "severe moral failure". Israeli human rights group B'Tselem had said the military would be shamed if it failed to punish anyone. » Read more

Interview: How To Deal With Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Middle East Progress (Interview) August 7, 2008 - 4:47pm Interview with Lt. Col. (Res.) Ron Shatzberg Project Director, Economic Cooperation Foundation. Can you explain the challenge Jerusalem poses to solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? » Read more

August 6th

Mofaz: I Will Keep Jerusalem United As Israel's Eternal Capital ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz August 6, 2008 - 2:27pm Speaking at a conference of Kadima party activists six weeks ahead of the scheduled party primary, frontrunner Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz emphasized that he pledges to "keep Jerusalem united as Israel's eternal capital." "We will keep alive the magnificent dynasty of the days of King David, who named the city as our capital 3,000 years ago," Mofaz continued. » Read more

Supreme Court: Palestinian Authority Can Be Sued ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Aviad Glickman - August 6, 2008 - 2:26pm The Supreme Court overturned a Jerusalem District Court decision on Wednesday and determined that the Palestinian Authority is not immune to lawsuits filed by Israeli bodies and it does not hold sovereign immunity. The Supreme Court’s ruling followed a petition filed by the Beit Midrash of the Elon Moreh settlement in the West Bank against the Jerusalem District Court, which rejected the Jewish organization’s 2006 lawsuit and determined that the PA is considered autonomous and thus, can’t be sued. » Read more

Israel To Release Prisoners As Gesture To Abbas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Roni Sofer - August 6, 2008 - 2:24pm Despite his upcoming resignation and sensitive political status, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met Wednesday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the PM's official residence in Jerusalem. During the meeting, Israel announced that it would release several Palestinian prisoners as a gesture to Abbas by the end of August. The Palestinian requested that the released prisoners include former Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat, one of the masterminds behind the killing of Minister Rehavam Ze'evi. » Read more

A Trojan Horse In The Jordan Valley ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Lara Friedman And Hagit Ofran - August 6, 2008 - 2:22pm Is Israel serious about wanting peace? Plans approved last week by Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak for a new settlement in the Jordan Valley provide ammunition for those who argue that the answer is no. » Read more

Abbas Mulls Gaza As ‘rebel-held Territory’; Halting Funding ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Abd Al-karim Shweiki - August 6, 2008 - 2:21pm Under pressure from Palestinian Authority officials, P.A. » Read more

Hamas Warns Of Uprising Against Fatah ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News by Mohammed Mar’i - August 6, 2008 - 2:19pm RAMALLAH/GAZA CITY: A senior Hamas official in Gaza City warned yesterday that his Islamic group could overrun the West Bank, just as it took over Gaza, if provoked by its rivals in Fatah. The official, Sami Abu Zuhri, spoke as tensions between the two groups remained high following a bombing that killed five Hamas members in Gaza and a Hamas sweep that ended with 11 dead and dozens wounded, most of them from Fatah. » Read more