August 29th, 2011

Gazans forced to cancel habits of Muslim feast ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Ahmed Fayoomi, Hamada Hattab - (Analysis) August 29, 2011 - 12:00am GAZA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Various types of Turkish delights and chocolates piled up on stalls in a popular market in Gaza City, but only few people seemed to be interested. This was two days ahead of a Muslim's feast that marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Buying sweets to serve visiting relatives is a regular habit to mark this occasion. The scenes of frustration have been visible on the face of the 40-year-old Abu Rashid Abu Assi, as he kept promoting his sweets and almost begging people to buy from him. » Read more

Arab Spring spells uncertainty for Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News by Jeremy Bowen - August 27, 2011 - 12:00am The extraordinary developments in the Middle East and North Africa this year have not been entirely welcomed by the authorities in Israel, who now have a range of new problems to add to some more familiar ones. My passports say it all. Like most foreign correspondents in the Middle East I have two - one for Israel, the other for Arab countries. That's because some Arab states will not let you in if you have an Israeli visa. » Read more

Palestinians see progress in EU stance on UN bid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency (Analysis) August 29, 2011 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (AFP) -- The Palestinian leadership sees "progress" in the European Union's position on its plan to seek UN membership next month, a senior PLO official told AFP on Sunday. "There is progress in the European stance and a willingness to coordinate with the Palestinian leadership over the type of resolution we are looking for," said PLO secretary general Yasser Abed Rabbo a day after president Mahmoud Abbas met in Ramallah with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. » Read more

Palestinian leadership condemns Tel Aviv stabbings ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Xiong Tong - (Analysis) August 29, 2011 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian leadership on Monday condemned a Palestinian attack in which seven Israelis were injured in the central city of Tel Aviv. "We condemn the attacks against civilians, including the incident that was committed in Tel Aviv at dawn," said a statement by President Mahmoud Abbas's office. A Palestinian resident of the West Bank stole an Israeli taxi, hit an Israeli police checkpoint and stabbed people who gathered around him with a knife, wounding seven, Israeli reports said. » Read more

Israel's Image Won't Improve Without Policy Changes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Gary Wexler - August 29, 2011 - 12:00am The thousands of scantily clothed bikers, skateboarders, walkers, hawkers, gawkers and performers were simply taking advantage of another breezy, crystal clear Southern California day. They had fought their way valiantly through relentless freeway traffic to participate in the year-round weekend ritual of parading down Los Angeles’ bohemian thoroughfare, the Venice Beach boardwalk. » Read more

A paradox of hate: extremist Israelis ally with neo-Nazis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Maik Baumgärtner - August 30, 2011 - 12:00am Anti-Semitism is still a threat to European Jews. On a daily basis, Neo-Nazis, left-wing extremists and radical Islamists spread their online hatred and, too often, their propaganda incites real-life attacks. » Read more

Nablus man wounds 8 in Tel Aviv ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency (Analysis) August 29, 2011 - 12:00am JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Eight people were wounded early Monday when a Palestinian crashed a stolen taxi into a group of border guards outside a Tel Aviv nightclub, then attacked them with a knife, Israeli police and media said. Four border guards and two would-be club goers were hurt in the attack which took place outside HaOman 17 nightclub in south Tel Aviv, police spokeswoman Luba Samri told AFP, saying one was critically injured, two others were in serious condition, and the rest sustained light wounds. » Read more

WEST BANK: Olive Revolution seeks free access to East Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Maher Abukhater - (Analysis) August 26, 2011 - 12:00am When Israeli police and soldiers manning Qalandia checkpoint prevented West Bank Muslims under the age of 50 from crossing into Jerusalem to reach Al-Aqsa Mosque to perform the last Friday of Ramadan prayer, the dozens left behind decided to pray at the checkpoint. When they finished, they, along with Israeli and international supporters from a movement called Olive Revolution, gathered facing Israeli police and soldiers separated only by cement blocks. They chanted anti-occupation slogans and demanded access to East Jerusalem, which Israel has occupied since June 1967. » Read more

National reconciliation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Nermeen Murad - August 29, 2011 - 12:00am The underlying political current against reform in Jordan is closely tied to the continued ripple effects of the 1970 clash between Palestinian “resistance groups” and the Jordanian government. Unspoken is the fear that any relaxing of the restrictions on the security-driven containment of the Jordanians of Palestinian origin or refugee residents of camps in Jordan could recalibrate the tenuous political balance in the country and provide grounds for civil conflict. » Read more

Israel mulls ties with a changed Egypt ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Joel Greenberg - (Analysis) August 27, 2011 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — A deadly border incident this month that drew a threat by Egypt to recall its ambassador to Israel has starkly revealed the changed political terrain in the relationship between the two countries. Israeli officials who relied on former president Hosni Mubarak as a partner in upholding the 1979 Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty are now contending with the newly assertive voice of public opinion in Egypt and its influence on that country’s leadership. » Read more