Palestine's National Poet
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
(Editorial) August 21, 2008 - 12:00am

ONE of the wisest pronouncements I have heard in my life was that of an Egyptian general, a few days after Anwar Sadat’s historic visit to Jerusalem. We were the first Israelis to come to Cairo, and one of the things we were very curious about was: How did you manage to surprise us at the beginning of the October 1973 war? The general answered: “Instead of reading the intelligence reports, you should have read our poets.”

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Palestine’s national poet
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
by Uri Avnery - August 20, 2008 - 8:00pm

ONE of the wisest pronouncements I have heard in my life was that of an Egyptian general, a few days after Anwar Sadat’s historic visit to Jerusalem. We were the first Israelis to come to Cairo, and one of the things we were very curious about was: How did you manage to surprise us at the beginning of the October 1973 war? The general answered: “Instead of reading the intelligence reports, you should have read our poets.”

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Report: Cairo warns Hamas of Israeli attacks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Roee Nahmias - August 20, 2008 - 8:00pm

Egypt has warned Hamas leaders that Israel may target them if the organization refuses to compromise on its inflexible stance in the negotiations to secure the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit – Hamas officials are quoted as telling the London-based 'Al-Quds Al-Arabi' newspaper.

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Moot argument
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Meron Benvenisti - (Opinion) August 20, 2008 - 8:00pm

It's hard to tell whether the reports that more and more Palestinians are now leaning toward a one-state solution are genuinely due to an increase in supporters of the idea, or to Israeli sensitivity. The binational bogeyman is so off-putting to Israelis that any Palestinian expression on the issue gives rise to speculation and conspiracy theories.

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Livni: Time is running out for peace talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - August 20, 2008 - 8:00pm

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Thursday called for a unity coalition to pursue the creation of Palestinian state living peacefully alongside Israel, saying "time is against the moderates" looking to reach a peace agreement. Livni, a front-runner to replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said she would try to form such a government if she wins next month's primary election of the ruling Kadima Party, as polls indicate she is likely to do.

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Israel Closes Gaza Crossings Over Rocket Fire
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Shumlik Hadad - August 20, 2008 - 12:00am

Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered the commercial crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip closed as of Wednesday morning following the launching of a Qassam rocket towards southern Israel earlier on Tuesday. The crossings are to remain closed over the next two days. On Thursday Barak will conduct a revaluation of the situation Palestinian gunmen launched a Qassam rocket from northern Gaza towards Israel on Tuesday evening. The rocket landed in an open area in a kibbutz belonging to the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council.

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Hamas: Abbas Thwarting Shalit Deal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Ali Waked - August 20, 2008 - 12:00am

Hamas' military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, held a wide-scale exercise Tuesday evening on the ruins of the former settlement of Netzarim. During the exercise, group spokesman Abu Ubaida said that if Israel carries on with its policy regarding a future prisoner exchange deal, kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit's fate will be similar to that of missing IDF navigator Ron Arad. Ubaida accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad of thwarting the deal.

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Hamas: Abbas thwarting Shalit deal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Ali Waked - August 19, 2008 - 8:00pm

Hamas' military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, held a wide-scale exercise Tuesday evening on the ruins of the former settlement of Netzarim. During the exercise, group spokesman Abu Ubaida said that if Israel carries on with its policy regarding a future prisoner exchange deal, kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit's fate will be similar to that of missing IDF navigator Ron Arad. Ubaida accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad of thwarting the deal.

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Israel To Treat Gaza Peace Boats 'like Pirates'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Telegraph
by Carolynne Wheeler - August 19, 2008 - 12:00am

The SS Free Gaza and the SS Liberty, which are sailing from Crete to Cyprus and then on to Gaza after being delayed by a storm, will carry about 40 protesters campaigning against Israel's economic sanctions on the Palestinian territory, including an 84-year-old Holocaust survivor and Lauren Booth, sister-in-law of Tony Blair, who is the international special envoy to the Middle East. The boats, which will also carry a cargo of balloons, musical instruments and thousands of hearing aids, are expected to approach Gaza early next week.

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The Only Alternative To Two States Is Conflict
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons
by Ghassan Khatib - (Opinion) August 18, 2008 - 12:00am

With Palestinians facing greater and greater difficulties in their struggle to achieve an independent state in the territories occupied by Israel in the war of 1967, a serious debate has been sparked over the viability of the two-state solution.

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