November 4, 2008

Middle East News: World Press Roundup

Time Magazine chronicles the ongoing battle between the Israeli government and settlers over Oush Grab (1). The New Statesman examines the tension and violence surrounding this year’s olive harvest in the West Bank (2). Palestinian unity talks are scheduled to be held next week in Cairo (3). Egypt uncovers 13 tunnels used to smuggle goods into the Gaza strip (4). Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal visits Beirut, Lebanon (5). Egypt reportedly refuses entry for six members of Hamas’ parliament who were set to leave on a visit to several Arab countries (6).

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Israel in a Showdown with West Bank Settlers

The hill named Oush Grab lies a stone's throw from the Shepherd's Field, near Bethlehem. Christian pilgrims flock to the place where the Bible says an angel tipped off a shepherd that Jesus Christ had been born, but most visitors are unaware of the battle raging over this obscure hilltop. Oush Grab is an undistinguished rocky outcrop of limestone, dotted with thorny shrubs. And it has no political, strategic or Old Testament significance.

Farming Palestine

n what is becoming somewhat of an annual tradition, recent weeks have seen dozens of stories in the international media about the difficulties facing Palestinians during the olive harvest season. Ever since the start of the Second Intifada in 2000, the West Bank olive harvest has been extensively covered by the press, with reporters accompanying Palestinian farmers and villagers out to the groves.

Palestinian unity talks at crossroads - diplomat

Efforts by the Arab world to reconcile the Palestinian Fateh and Hamas factions could be put back for years if unity talks in Cairo next week end without agreement, a diplomat involved in the process said on Monday.

The Islamist group Hamas has threatened to boycott the November 10 negotiations unless Fateh halts its “arrests and repression” of Hamas activists in the West Bank and releases some 400 Hamas prisoners it says are held in West Bank jails.

Egypt uncovers 13 Gaza smuggling tunnels

Egyptian security forces have uncovered 13 tunnels used by smugglers to slip contraband into the Gaza Strip, a security official said on Monday.

Three of the tunnels collapsed after heavy rain along Egypt's border with the Palestinian territory, the official said, adding that the remaining tunnels would also be destroyed.

There were no reports of casualties after the tunnels collapsed. At least 40 Egyptian and Palestinian smugglers have died in tunnel accidents and demolitions by Egyptian security forces this year.

Meshaal’s mission was an exercise in public relations

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal made a full set of rounds in Beirut on Monday, pressing the proverbial flesh and telling this country's leadership much of what it wanted to hear. Unfortunately, he also engaged in a little wishful thinking and/or expected his interlocutors to do the same. Given Meshaal's reputation for diplomatic and political savvy, it was disappointing to hear him engage in a brand of public relations with which the Arab world is all too familiar.

Hamas colleagues barred from crossing Gaza border

A senior Palestinian parliamentarian said that he and five colleagues from the Hamas movement had been barred by Egypt from crossing its border with Gaza on their way to visit other Arab countries.

Acting parliament speaker Ahmad Bahar said in a statement on Sunday that "the Egyptians have rejected a request" for the six lawmakers to travel through Egypt.

The statement did not give the lawmakers' destination or the purpose of their trip.

A direct and immediate impact

The domestic Israeli political scene and balance of powers have a very strong effect on the peace process and the domestic Palestinian scene. The Israeli balance of power is in turn deeply influenced by Israeli public opinion. The latter sets the limits for how far negotiators can go as well as for how far Israeli bulldozers may reach.

Advance the dialogue regardless of transition

Global challenges of economy and security become an ever-growing concern in transition periods such as the present one. In that context, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other geopolitical developments in the Middle East represent a myriad of problems of leadership, legitimacy, continuity and practicability. The concurrent transition among the terms in office of the relevant actors in the arena--the United States, Israel and the Palestinian Authority--should be meticulously prepared for.

Maintenance mode

Israel finds itself in a unique position in terms of both its political history and the annals of the Israel-Arab peace process. PM Ehud Olmert has resigned and elections have been set for February 10, 2009. The elections have caught Israel in the throes of two peace processes, with the PLO and Syria. Olmert, who is not running for reelection, has indicated that he intends to pursue negotiations on both fronts.

Hamas' Deif: We'll continue to attack Zionist enemies of God

Mohammed Deif, the former head of Hamas' military wing, on Tuesday declared that the Palestinian military group will continue to launch terror attacks against Israel.

Speaking at a memorial ceremony for Hamas leader Fawzi Abu Al-Kara, Deif said his men will continue Jihad "until victory and martyrdom."

"We will pursue the Zionist enemies of God," the former Iz al-Din al-Qassam commander vowed.

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