January 6th

WikiLeaks: Israel charged bribes for Gaza access ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Josef Federman - January 6, 2011 - 1:00am A U.S. diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks on Thursday quoted American officials as saying a key Israeli cargo crossing for goods entering the Gaza Strip was rife with corruption. The June 14, 2006, cable, published Thursday by Norway's Aftenposten daily, says major American companies told U.S. diplomats they were forced to pay hefty bribes to get goods into Gaza. It was unclear whether the practice still continues. There was no immediate comment from Israel. » Read more

Palestinians seek quick UN action on settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters January 6, 2011 - 1:00am The chief Palestinian U.N. delegate said on Wednesday that Arab states had launched negotiations on a resolution condemning Israeli West Bank settlement activity and aimed to have a final draft soon. An initial text, prepared by more than a dozen countries, was delivered to members of the 15-nation Security Council in December. A group of mostly Arab nations met this month's council president, Bosnian ambassador Ivan Barbalic, in New York to discuss progress on the draft resolution. » Read more

Israel, Palestinians argue over building new city in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Osama Radi - January 4, 2011 - 1:00am Arguments between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) mounted on Monday over building a new city north of the West Bank city of Ramallah, which involved several private Israeli housing companies. Several months ago, the Palestinian Developing Company of Beiti, the major Palestinian company responsible for building the city, and around 12 Israeli construction companies signed the contracts to build the first-ever new Palestinian city called Rawabi. However, the contracts valued billions of Israeli shekels have been opposed by both Israelis and Palestinians. » Read more

Muslim, Christian and Jewish clerics meet in Ramallah ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 6, 2011 - 1:00am Muslim, Christian and Jewish clerics met in Ramallah on Wednesday to declare a joint stance on Israel's occupation of Jerusalem. The religious leaders met at the offices of the Islamic Christian Commission in Support of Jerusalem and the Holy Sites. In a news conference at the Ramallah office, the commission's secretary-general Dr Hasan Khatir welcomed the religious officials, in particular Rabbi Yisrael Hirsch, head of the Neturei Karta group. Khatir said the press conference was held to refute "Zionist lies." » Read more

Israeli PM ignores Palestinian peace map: report ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua January 3, 2011 - 1:00am While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared on Sunday his willingness to discuss all core Mideast issues with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, he is de facto ignoring the Palestinian National Authority's efforts to present him with its peace plan, local daily Ma'ariv reported on Monday. Israeli representatives, including Netanyahu, have repeatedly turned down in recent weeks their Palestinian counterparts' requests to review official documents drafted by the PNA which detail their position on essential issues of the conflict. » Read more

Netanyahu to meet Mubarak in Sharm ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 6, 2011 - 1:00am Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads Thursday to Egypt for talks with President Hosni Mubarak on ways to break the impasse in peace negotiations with the Palestinians, his office said. The two leaders will meet in the Red Sea resort of Sharm Ash-Sheikh for talks that will also focus on threats facing the region. "On the agenda for the talks is the advancement of the political process, regional issues and other subjects of interest to the two countries," a statement from Netanyahu's office said. » Read more

Palestinian official urges US to oblige Israel to accept Palestinian state ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua January 2, 2011 - 1:00am A senior Palestinian official on Monday urged the United States to oblige Israel to accept an independent Palestinian state to end the ongoing conflicts. "The United States should carry out its pledges to find a fair solution to the Palestinian cause and achieve peace and stability in the region," said Tayeb Abdel Rahim, chief secretary of the Palestinian presidency, when addressing on behalf of Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas a rally held in Ramallah to mark the 46 anniversary of the establishment of Fatah movement. » Read more

Violence on Gaza border continues ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency January 6, 2011 - 1:00am Three mortar shells were said to have been fired toward an Israeli military base along the Gaza border on Thursday morning, an armed group affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said. The Jihad Jibril Brigades said the mortars targeted the Kissufim military zone northeast Al-Qararra near Khan Younis. An Israeli military spokeswoman said she had reports of a projectile landing at approximately 7:30 a.m. in the Negev regional council area, north of the Gaza Strip, but said she was not aware of any attacks in the area of Kissufim. » Read more

Report: Netanyahu ordered Shin Bet to investigate senior aides ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz January 6, 2011 - 1:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Shin Bet security service a few months ago to investigate senior members of his bureau suspected of passing sensitive information to the media, Army Radio reported on Thursday. Netanyahu's suspicions were aimed at some of his closest aides and he thus made a personal request to the Shin Bet and to Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein to look into the matter, according to the report. » Read more

Jordan: Swift action needed for peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) January 5, 2011 - 1:00am Jordan's King Abdullah II on Wednesday urged "swift action" to help push forward the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, warning against wasting more time, a palace statement said. "Efforts for having serious and effective peace talks should continue, based on a two-state solution, which is the only way to achieve regional stability and security," the statement quoted the king as telling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the telephone. "The deadlocked peace process threatens the entire region." » Read more