August 30th

Palestinian reconciliation goes forward slowly: Haneya ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua August 30, 2011 - 12:00am Implementing the Palestinian reconciliation deal takes a long time, Prime Minister of the deposed Hamas administration in Gaza Ismail Haneya said Tuesday. "The implementation is going on very slowly," Haneya said during a mass prayer in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip to mark the end of Muslims' fasting month of Ramadan. "The reconciliation should be based on clear principles and concentrated choices that do not give up any of those principles," Haneya added, stressing on the option of armed resistance against Israel. » Read more

The day after Palestine ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Avi Yesawich - (Opinion) August 30, 2011 - 12:00am In three weeks, a sovereign Palestinian state will almost certainly be welcomed into the United Nations – if not by the UN Security Council then as a “non-member state” by the General Assembly. Worldwide celebrations in honor of the new Palestinian state will undoubtedly take place. Unfortunately, this festival will be honoring a superficial development; an illusion of achievement. In reality, recognition of a Palestinian state in the current political climate will not resolve any of the outstanding issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, only exacerbate them. » Read more

New Palestinian strategy document will make it difficult for U.S. to oppose UN vote ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - (Analysis) August 30, 2011 - 12:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is probably aware that when it comes to a media event, like a speech at the UN General Assembly, President Shimon Peres doesn’t have to be asked twice to sacrifice himself for the nation. Someone who has been watching the honorable president for decades once told me that Peres is blessed with a unique characteristic: He always knows how to adjust reality according to his needs at the time. » Read more

Israel says Gaza gets anti-plane arms from Libya ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Alertnet August 29, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinians in Gaza have acquired anti-aircraft and anti-tank rockets from Libya during its six-month civil war, enlarging but not significantly improving their arsenal, Israeli officials said on Monday. While the rebellion against Muammar Gaddafi has stirred concern abroad about the fate of Libya's ageing chemical weapons stockpiles, Israel has no indication Hamas or other Palestinian factions have sought these, the officials said. » Read more

Jerusalem Post fires writer over 'right to terror' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 30, 2011 - 12:00am The English-language Jerusalem Post said on Tuesday it had terminated the employment of a columnist who wrote in a private blog that Palestinians "have the right to use terrorism" against Israelis. The right-leaning daily announced on its front page that US-born writer Larry Derfner was being dismissed "due to a professional disagreement... connected to his personal blog." » Read more

Netanyahu's show of 'restraint' is meaningless ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amir Oren - (Opinion) August 30, 2011 - 12:00am The government of Benjamin Netanyahu excels at presenting what is self-evident as the peak of wisdom. The decision to make do with a series of air strikes on the Gaza Strip following the terror attack north of Eilat a week and a half ago, was celebrated as tremendous brilliance. By extension of this logic, a minister who will suddenly announce that two and two equals four would expect the Nobel Prize in Mathematics ?(and being turned down will be explained as anti-Semitism?). » Read more

Calls to raise Israel-Egypt treaty troop limits ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman by Amy Teibel - August 29, 2011 - 12:00am A deadly attack on Israel from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula has sparked calls to raise the number of Egyptian troops allowed in the area under the historic peace treaty with Israel, to counter a surge in Islamist militant activity. But some in Israel, afraid the recent revolt in Egypt might lead to the collapse of the pact, are wary of altering it in any way. Israel says Palestinian militants crossed from Gaza into Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, made their way along the Israel-Egypt border, crossed back into Israel, attacked Israeli vehicles and killed eight people on Aug. 18. » Read more

Israeli army trains West Bank settlers ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 30, 2011 - 12:00am The Israeli army is training settlers in the West Bank to repel any violent protests in the territories when the Palestinians try to secure UN membership next month, the military said. Asked to confirm a story first reported in Haaretz newspaper, the army issued a written statement saying it was in the process of training settlement response teams, "to deal with any possible scenario." But it declined to give details on "operational preparedness." » Read more

August 29th

EU's Ashton: Mideast changes give momentum to Israeli-Palestinian peace process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by DPA - (Analysis) August 29, 2011 - 12:00am Changes in the Middle East have given "even more momentum" to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Monday. Summing up a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, she said the recent changes which have overtaken the region have provided the impetus to "the need to try and find a solution that will enable the people of Israel and the people of Palestine to live in peace and security together." EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and President Shimon Peres, August 28, 2011. Photo by: GPO » Read more

Amid renewed unrest, political players discuss Sinai development ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Masry Al-Youm by Nadine Marroushi - August 29, 2011 - 12:00am In the wake of renewed unrest in Sinai, talk about the dire need to develop the eastern peninsula is resurfacing. Political parties have been quick to make proposals. » Read more