August 29th, 2012

Palestinian woman critically wounded by Israeli fire in Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua August 29, 2012 - 12:00am Israeli forces stationed on Gaza borders opened fire at Palestinian farmers Wednesday, critically wounding a woman, witnesses and medical sources said. The 42-year-old woman was working on her land near the eastern edge of central Gaza Strip when she received several gunshots, the witnesses added. Israel has established a buffer zone along its borders with the Gaza Strip, saying the aim was to distance militants from the security fence separating the two territories. However, Palestinians say the 300-meter wide no-go area takes most of Gaza' s agricultural land. » Read more

Palestinian's UN recognition quest on hold ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Mohammed Daraghmeh - August 28, 2012 - 12:00am The Palestinian foreign minister says the Palestinians are putting their quest for international recognition at the U.N. on hold for now. Foreign Minister Riad Malki says President Mahmoud Abbas has decided not to apply at the General Assembly session next month, although he will informally appeal for recognition in a speech. The decision stands in contrast to last year, when the Palestinians asked the Security Council to admit them as a full member state. » Read more

Egypt broadens Sinai campaign against militants ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Marwa Awad - August 29, 2012 - 12:00am Egypt's military said on Wednesday it would broaden its offensive against militants in the Sinai Peninsula, a campaign that has raised concerns in Israel about the movement of heavy armor into the area near its border. After militants attacked and killed 16 border guards on Aug. 5, Egypt launched an operation using the army and police to raid militant hideouts, arrest suspects and seize weapons, including rockets and other arms, that are rife in the area. » Read more

Egypt leader said to reach out to Sinai radicals ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Maggie Michael - August 29, 2012 - 12:00am Egypt's Islamist president is using former jihadists to mediate with radical Islamists in Sinai, trying to ensure a halt in militant attacks in return for a stop in a military offensive in the lawless peninsula, participants in the talks say. » Read more

Former Israeli commandos dominate politics ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Aron Heller - August 29, 2012 - 12:00am When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had to fill a sensitive Cabinet post recently, he turned to an old army buddy from his days in an elite commando unit. His choice for minister of civil defense, Avi Dichter, replaced another graduate of the legendary Sayeret Matkal unit. Netanyahu's defense minister and vice premier, as well as Israel's opposition leader, also served there. » Read more

Witness to Rachel Corrie’s Death Responds to Israeli Court Ruling Absolving Soldier ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Robert Mackey - August 28, 2012 - 12:00am As my colleagues Jodi Rudoren and Danielle Ziri report, an Israeli judge ruled on Tuesday that the state bore no responsibility for the death of Rachel Corrie, an American activist who was crushed to death by a military bulldozer in 2003 as she tried to block the demolition of a Palestinian home in Gaza. Ms. Corrie, who was a student at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., joined the pro-Palestinian International Solidarity Movement in January 2003, and was killed two months later in the Gazan town of Rafah, which straddles the border with Egypt. » Read more

August 28th

Israel must punish rabbis who preach hatred ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Anat Hoffman - (Opinion) August 27, 2012 - 12:00am Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin apologized to Jamal Julany, one of the victims of a racist attack in Zion Square, during his visit to the 17-year-old. "We are sorry," said Rivlin, a Likud Party leader. He went on to say, "It is hard to see you hospitalized because of an inconceivable act" and "What happened is the responsibility of every leader and member of Knesset." » Read more

What Abbas should say to Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Gershon Baskin - (Opinion) August 27, 2012 - 12:00am To the people of Israel, We, the Palestinian people, seek peace with you, the people of Israel. We seek our independence, in a state of our own, just like you, as your neighbors, living side by side, Palestine next to Israel. I bring before you historic proof of our intentions, as we have let it be known to the entire world. Our intentions are real, our desire for peace, genuine, our plans for the future, peaceful. On November 15, 1988, in front of the world, and in front of our people, and in our Arabic language we declared our Declaration of Independence: » Read more

Outposts gone wild ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) August 28, 2012 - 12:00am After a seemingly endless number of legal hearings and debates among the highest-ranking politicians, as well as a public debate complete with pressure and threats from the interested parties, the Migron affair is due to come to an end this week. The High Court of Justice ruling on whether 17 families living on the outpost will be allowed to stay, because they say they purchased their land legally, is scheduled for 10 A.M. Tuesday morning, the day of the planned evacuation. It is expected to halt the extended frenzy surrounding a handful of infiltrators who made their own law. » Read more

Rachel Corrie verdict exposes Israeli military mindset ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian by Chris McGreal - (Opinion) August 28, 2012 - 12:00am Reporters covering Israel are routinely confronted with the question: why not call Hamas a terrorist organisation? It's a fair point. How else to describe blowing up families on buses but terrorism? » Read more