June 13, 2008

Middle East News: World Press Roundup

Reuters features an article on Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad (1). The Washington Times reports on Israel’s plan to build 1,300 new apartments in east Jerusalem (2). Video footage obtained by the BBC of Israeli settlers assaulting a Palestinian family causes controversy (3). Militants from Gaza bombard southern Israel after the home of a Hamas commander is blown up (5). Israel refuses to reopen the Rafah crossing as part of a cease fire deal with Hamas (7).

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Israel Oks 1,300 East Jerusalem Homes

Israel announced plans Friday to build 1,300 more homes in east Jerusalem, further angering Palestinians who warned ongoing construction threatens efforts to work out a peace deal by the end of the year.

The announcement by Israel's Interior Ministry brought to more than 3,000 the number of homes Israel has approved for construction on land that Palestinians want for a state since the renewal of the U.S.-supported peace talks late last year.

Middle East Peace Deal Possible In 2008: Bush

PARIS (AFP) US President George W. Bush said Friday he was confident that a Middle East peace deal was possible in 2008, as he delivered the keynote speech of a farewell trip to Europe.

"I firmly believe that, with leadership and courage, a peace agreement is possible this year," Bush said at the Paris headquarters of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

© 2008 Agence France-Presse

Gaza Fighters Bombard Israel After Deadly Blast

GAZA CITY (AFP) - Palestinian fighters bombarded southern Israel on Thursday after a Hamas commander’s house in northern Gaza was blown up in a blast which killed seven people, including a four-month-old baby.

The attacks started immediately after the explosion which Palestinian medics said also wounded 51 people, among them women and children, in and around the two-storey building.

Palestinians Bombard Israel After Blast Kills 7

GAZA CITY, 13 June 2008 — Palestinian gunmen bombarded southern Israel yesterday after a Hamas commander’s house in northern Gaza was blown up in a blast that killed seven people, including a four-month-old baby.

The attacks started immediately after the explosion which Palestinian medics said wounded 51 people, among them women and children, in and around the two-story building.

The Israeli military said nearly 50 rockets and mortar rounds were fired from the Gaza Strip following the explosion, which Hamas blamed on the Jewish state.

Israeli Forces Attack Palestinian Demonstrators Against Barrier Wall

RAMALLAH, June 13 (KUNA) -- Israeli forces attacked two Palestinian peaceful protests against the Israeli-built barrier inside the West Bank, injuring many people.
In the Al-Masara Town south of Beit Laham, five Palestinians were injured after Israeli forces attacked a peaceful protest.
Organizers of the march against the barrier, said that the people in the march containing Palestinians and foreigners as well as Israelis, were beaten with batons injuring five Palestinians in the process.

Haniyeh: Israel Refuses To Reopen Rafah In Truce

Israel has refused to include the reopening of the Rafah border crossing in a possible Gaza truce agreement, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Thursday.

Haniyeh told reporters in the Strip that the opening of the crossing was an essential component of any agreement.

"Any agreement must include a timetable for the opening of the Gaza crossings and a list of goods that can be transferred through them," he said.

Idf Removes 10 Roadblocks In Mount Hebron Vicinity

The IDF decided Friday to remove 10 road blocks near southern Mount Hebron, as way of easing the restrictions placed on Palestinians in the West Bank.

The decision was made after a security assessment held by the defense establishment. Ninety road blocks have been removed across the west back in recent months.

Hamas: Explosion In Beit Lahiya Preparation For ‘quality’ Attack

Hamas’ Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades confirmed Friday that the operatives who died in Thursday's explosion in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahiya were making last-minute preparations for a “special mission”, a Hamas codename for a “high-quality” attack.
According to the statement, the dead were operatives of a special Hamas unit. The organization promised that its people will “continue following in the path of those killed.”

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