February 15th

Congressman says US should break Gaza blockade ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press February 15, 2010 - 1:00am The United States should break Israel's blockade of Gaza and deliver badly needed supplies by sea, a U.S. congressman told Gaza students. Rep. Brian Baird, a Democrat from Washington state, also urged President Barack Obama's Mideast envoy to visit the Hamas-ruled territory to get a firsthand look at the destruction caused by Israeli's military offensive last year. The Obama administration, like its predecessor, shuns Hamas because the Islamic militant group refuses to recognize Israel or renounce violence. » Read more

Palestine Investment Fund plans IT park in new development ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 15, 2010 - 1:00am Mirroring Dubai's 'city' model, the Palestine Investment Fund (PIF) announced plans to establish what organizers call a "Techno Park," housing hubs for the budding technology sector of Palestine, PIF Chief Executive Muhammad Mustafa said Thursday. The park will be built as part of the new housing development Ar-Reihan, west of Ramallah, alongside that project's housing and commercial sectors. » Read more

Clinton: US can't force Israel, PA into peace talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 15, 2010 - 1:00am US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday made an unusual acknowledgement of frustrations with the long-frozen Palestinian-Israeli negotiation process. Speaking at the US-Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar, on the first day of a trip to the Middle East, Clinton said, know people are disappointed that we have not yet achieved a breakthrough.” » Read more

Hamas Detains U.K. Journalist ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press February 15, 2010 - 1:00am A British freelance journalist in Gaza will be held for 15 days, Hamas officials said Monday, in an unprecedented step against a foreign reporter since the Islamic militants seized control of Gaza in 2007. Documentary filmmaker Paul Martin was detained Sunday at a Gaza courthouse where he was to testify on behalf of a defendant accused of collaborating with Israel, said Hamas Interior Ministry spokesman Ehab Ghussein. » Read more

Palestinian President Suspends Aide in Sex Scandal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - February 14, 2010 - 1:00am Facing a corruption scandal that has rocked the highest echelons of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, the Palestinian president suspended his chief of staff on Sunday while a committee investigates accusations that the aide sought to trade influence for sex. A videotape broadcast by an Israeli television station last week shows the chief of staff, Rafiq Husseini, waiting naked in bed for a Palestinian woman who was said to have come to the president’s office seeking government help. » Read more

February 12th

West Bank stab suspect 'suicidal' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News February 12, 2010 - 1:00am A Palestinian man accused of killing an Israeli soldier in the West Bank may have been suicidal, the Israeli military has said. A senior military officer who spoke to alleged killer Mohammed Khatib, 34, told journalists "he said he was tired of living". Sgt Maj Ihab Khatib, 26, was stabbed in the chest as he sat in a 4x4 army vehicle on Wednesday. The attack has been condemned by the Palestinian Fatah movement. 'Personal circumstances' Mohammed Khatib, who is not related to the victim, is a senior police officer working for Fatah. » Read more

Peace making requires application of the law ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Rami Khouri - (Opinion) February 12, 2010 - 1:00am Of the many long-running conflicts that see two communities competing for the same piece of land, three in particular have always caught my attention: Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Palestine-Israel. The first is on the way to being resolved through peaceful political negotiations, with another advance this week in the areas of police powers and administration of justice. The Cyprus conflict has long lost its military edge, and shows signs of moving towards a breakthrough, due to both internal leadership changes and external pressures and inducements. » Read more

Talks and more talks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times (Editorial) February 12, 2010 - 1:00am The Palestinian side seems to have caved in to the US demand to restart negotiations with Israel. The only condition this time, is to have talks conducted indirectly! So far so good, except for the fact that since direct talks with Israel went nowhere for so long, one wonders what the wisdom of continuing to talk is. » Read more

It's time to get tough with Israel's leaders ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) February 12, 2010 - 1:00am Inch by inch, the Palestinian president appears to be once again succumbing to American pressure. He is about to allow his junior officials to start so-called "proximity talks" with their Israeli counterparts to pave the way for the resumption of peace negotiations, which broke down after Israel's invasion of Gaza in December 2008. » Read more

Bare Hands and Deteriorating Minds ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat by Zuheir Kseibati - (Opinion) February 11, 2010 - 1:00am The opinion polls do not reveal surprising facts in Israel, as they promise the Likud Party and its leader Benjamin Netenyahu with more publicity among the Israelis. These polls promise to reward their extremism with more seats in the Knesset. » Read more