October 7th

PLO official admits "mistake" in delaying Goldstone report ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 7, 2009 - 12:00am A senior Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) official admitted for the first time on Wednesday that the Palestinian leadership made a mistake by delaying action on a United Nations report on war crimes in Gaza. "We have the courage to admit there was a mistake," said Yasser Abed Rabbo, a member of the PLO executive committee and an advisor to President Mahmoud Abbas, according to AP. Abbas’ government buckled to US pressure last week and withdrew a motion from the UN Human Rights Council to take action on a report by South African Judge Richard Goldstone. » Read more

Israel tightens Jerusalem 'siege' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 7, 2009 - 12:00am Palestinians in Jerusalem’s Old City are describing it as a community “under siege” as Israeli forces continue to operate in large numbers fearing renewed demonstrations. Restrictions in the city were so severe Wednesday that children were prevented from reaching schools in the Old City. Israeli forces also prevented Islamic Endowment (Waqf) personnel from reaching the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which has been the site of rolling demonstrations and clashes with Israeli forces over the past four days. » Read more

What was Abbas promised in return for burying Goldstone? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 7, 2009 - 12:00am The public is both bewildered and outraged about President Mahmoud Abbas’ reported capitulation to US pressure in delaying action on Richard Goldstone’s report on war crimes in Gaza. One of many unanswered questions about the Geneva affair is: What was he promised? What did the US offer Abbas that convinced him to burry Goldstone’s meticulously-researched indictment of Israel? An Israeli journalist attempts to answer this question in an article that appeared on Tuesday. » Read more

The future of Israel? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Nathan Gardels - October 6, 2009 - 12:00am Nathan Gardels: For those of us who have not had the opportunity to read your book "Right of Return," which imagines Israel in 2024, what is the picture you paint? » Read more

What to Do With Hamas? Question Snarls Peace Bid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Howard Schneider - October 7, 2009 - 12:00am In the two years since it seized power here, the militant Hamas movement has undercut the influence of the Gaza Strip's major clans, brought competing paramilitary groups under its control, put down an uprising by a rival Islamist group, weathered a three-week war with Israel, worked around a strict economic embargo -- and through it all refused a set of international demands that could begin Gaza's rehabilitation. » Read more

October 6th

Abbas blames aides for motion's removal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh - October 6, 2009 - 12:00am Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is considering firing a number of his top aides who advised him to withdraw a motion to the UN Human Rights Council regarding the findings of the commission of inquiry led by Justice Richard Goldstone into Operation Cast Lead. Abbas's decision to withdraw the motion has triggered a wave of unprecedented criticism and condemnations among Palestinians and throughout the Arab world. » Read more

Abbas: Jews spending billions on Jerusalem lands ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ali Waked - October 6, 2009 - 12:00am On the backdrop of recent riots in the Old City of Jerusalem, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has warned against a Jewish takeover of all parts of the capital. According to Abbas, the holy city requires much more effort, attention and dedication from the Arabs in order to deal with the Israeli attempt to change the reality in the city. » Read more

Report: Hamas arrests militants planning to fire rockets at Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz October 6, 2009 - 12:00am The Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip have arrested over the last two days a number of Palestinian militants planning to fire rockets at western Israel, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat reported Tuesday. The report quoted group sources as saying Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has organized a crackdown against Palestinian factions to curb the attacks against Israel. Hamas has warned the factions not to fire rockets under any circumstances, according to the report, even in response to Israeli measures at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. » Read more

Border Control / Obama is no sucker ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - October 6, 2009 - 12:00am One minute they were getting ready at the City of David complex and the next, the prime minister was not coming. Maybe the American rescue over the Goldstone report had a price Last Wednesday passersby noticed considerable bustle on the outskirts of Silwan at the foot of the Old City walls in Jerusalem. Security guards were prowling hither and yon and workers were there was lot of business with tables. A sign announced the City of David would be closing. » Read more

Why Goldstone matters ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Ahram by Richard Falk - (Opinion) October 6, 2009 - 12:00am So why did the Israeli government boycott the commission? The real answer is quite simple: they knew full well that the commission, any commission, would have to reach the conclusions it did reach. -- Uri Avnery, Israeli peace activist and former Knesset member » Read more