March 19th

IDF in Gaza: Killing civilians, vandalism, and lax rules of engagement ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amos Harel - March 19, 2009 - 12:00am During Operation Cast Lead, Israeli forces killed Palestinian civilians under permissive rules of engagement and intentionally destroyed their property, say soldiers who fought in the offensive. The soldiers are graduates of the Yitzhak Rabin pre-military preparatory course at Oranim Academic College in Tivon. Some of their statements made on Feb. 13 will appear Thursday and Friday in Haaretz. Dozens of graduates of the course who took part in the discussion fought in the Gaza operation. » Read more

Israeli Soldiers Break Ranks over Gaza War ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters March 19, 2009 - 12:00am Israel's military was rocked on Thursday by Gaza war veterans' accounts of the killing of civilians and allegations that deep contempt for Palestinians pervaded its ranks. The soldiers, alumni of a military academy, gathered last month to discuss their experiences in the 22-day Israeli offensive that ended in January, a campaign that Palestinians and human rights groups have said warranted war crimes probes. » Read more

Israel seizes West Bank Hamas men ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News March 19, 2009 - 12:00am Israel has detained 10 senior Hamas leaders in the West Bank two days after indirect talks between the two sides on a possible prisoner swap collapsed. An Israeli military spokeswomen described them as "terror operatives"; Hamas said they included four MPs, a former deputy PM and an academic. Israeli forces and the rival West Bank Palestinian leadership have clamped down on the militant group since 2007. That was when Hamas took sole control of Gaza, which is blockaded by Israel. » Read more

March 18th

Robert Fisk: Why Avigdor Lieberman is the worst thing that could happen to the Middle East ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Robert Fisk - March 18, 2009 - 12:00am Only days after they were groaning with fury at the Israeli lobby's success in hounding the outspoken Charles Freeman away from his proposed intelligence job for President Obama, the Arabs now have to contend with an Israeli Foreign Minister whose – let us speak frankly – racist comments about Palestinian loyalty tests have brought into the new Netanyahu cabinet one of the most unpleasant politicians in the Middle East. » Read more

Egypt seeks softer US Hamas line ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News March 18, 2009 - 12:00am Egypt's intelligence chief is visiting Washington in what officials say is a push for a more flexible US stance on Hamas, to aid Palestinian unity talks. The US, EU and UN will not deal with the militant rulers of Gaza unless they reject violence and recognise Israel. Talks in Cairo to end the rift between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority have faltered over the issue. The division between the factions is also a major barrier to reconstruction in Gaza after Israel's offensive. » Read more

Egypt opens Gaza border to aid, Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press March 18, 2009 - 12:00am Egypt has opened its border crossing with the Gaza Strip for the second time in two months to allow medical aid and Palestinians to enter the coastal territory. Border official Ghazi Hamad says more than 40 trucks carrying medicine and mineral water have crossed into Gaza so far. He says 120 Palestinians who were stranded in Egypt were also able to cross. The border will remain open until Thursday. » Read more

Still optimistic ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Faisal Al Rfouh - March 18, 2009 - 12:00am Proponents of peace in the Middle East are genuinely worried over the stalemate in the ongoing unity talks between the Palestinian factions in Cairo. After a weeklong parley, the Palestinian parties failed to agree on the composition and obligations of a unity government. This impasse seems to be the result of the varying positions of the main protagonists, Hamas and Fateh. » Read more

Egypt blocks Hamas cash at Rafah border ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters March 18, 2009 - 12:00am Egyptian security forces blocked two Hamas officials on Tuesday from entering the Islamist-run Gaza Strip with night-vision goggles and around $900,000 in cash, security and customs sources said. The Hamas officials were stopped at the Gaza border after customs agents found the cash -- 500,000 euros and $250,000 -- during a search of their bags as they headed home after taking part in Palestinian reconciliation talks in Cairo. » Read more

U.S. opens P.A. training center ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) March 17, 2009 - 12:00am A top U.S. official inaugurated a training center for Palestinian security personnel built with U.S. funds. David Johnson, the assistant secretary of state for law enforcement, on Tuesday joined Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in dedicating the compound in Jericho. The center was built with $10.1 million of State Department assistance," a State Department statement said, adding that it was the first of several U.S.-funded building projects for the P.A. security forces. » Read more

Israel's Olmert says effort to free Gilad Shalit has failed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Richard Boudreaux - March 18, 2009 - 12:00am The split screen seemed to capture Israel's mood of frustration over its setbacks in recent years. On one side, television viewers saw the somber face of Ehud Olmert as he addressed them Tuesday evening for perhaps the last time as prime minister. His message: Marathon efforts to win the release of a captured soldier had failed. The other side showed the soldier's dejected parents as they listened from a tent outside Olmert's residence. » Read more