Middle East News: World Press Roundup

ATFP President Dr. Ziad Asali begins a week long guest slot on Shmuel Rosner’s blog (1). You can submit questions regarding the Israeli Palestinian Peace Process by email at rosnersdomain@haaretz.co.il. Hamas places conditions on accepting the 1967 borders (2) as Israel continues to decline the conversation (4). Tariq Alhomayed discuses the global political context of the Israeli-Syrian negotiations (6). Israeli settlers arrive in Ras al-Amud (9) and MK Uri Ariel asks the Israeli government to encourage Israeli Arabs to “willingly emigrate” from the country(10).

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Israeli Fire 'kills Four Children In Gaza' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters April 28, 2008 - 6:08pm Israeli fire hit a house in the Gaza Strip today while a family was eating breakfast, killing six Palestinians, including four children and their mother, residents and medical officials said. The deaths in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun cast another shadow on Egyptian efforts to forge a ceasefire between Israel and militant groups and end violence threatening US-brokered Palestinian statehood talks. » Read more

Inclusiveness Most Promising Approach ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Ghassan Khatib - (Opinion) April 28, 2008 - 6:11pm Jimmy Carter's visit to the region and his meetings with several parties including Hamas officials coincided with serious Egyptian efforts to try to forge a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. The former US president's meetings with the Syrian leadership and Hamas were controversial in the United States, however, and he was brutally criticized in Israel. Only in Palestine were his efforts welcomed by the full political spectrum. » Read more

Eu Faults Hamas For Gaza Fuel Crisis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon - April 28, 2008 - 6:13pm Jerusalem expressed mild satisfaction Sunday night that a statement issued by the EU on the fuel shortage in Gaza placed at least part of the blame on Hamas's shoulders. After expressing "grave concern" at reports that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) had suspended its humanitarian work in the Gaza Strip because of a fuel shortage, and after calling for "regular and unrestricted delivery of fuel supplies" through the "controlled reopening of the crossings" into the area, the EU then singled out Hamas. » Read more

Settlers To Move Into E. J'lem Police Hq ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - April 28, 2008 - 6:14pm Based on an agreement signed with former police commissioner Moshe Karadi, right-wing settlers will take up residence in a group of buildings in Jerusalem's predominantly Arab neighborhood Ras al-Amud in the next few days. The building had hitherto served as the Samaria and Judea District Police headquarters. The buildings are slated to become the nucleus of a new Jewish neighborhood in the so-called Holy Basin area, the fate of which is supposed to be decided in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. » Read more

Mk Ariel: Arabs Should Be Urged To Willingly Emigrate From Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz April 28, 2008 - 6:15pm MK Uri Ariel on Sunday called on the government to encourage Israeli Arabs to "willingly emigrate" from Israel and from large cities within it, so as to solve the problematic situation of the country's minorities. The National Union MK made a speech during a first-of-its-kind conference dealing with the issue of Israel's minorities as well as with "the creeping Arab occupation", and said "the issue of Arabs living within the State of Israel should be addressed." » Read more

Above All, Olmert Must Want Peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Uzi Benziman - (Opinion) April 28, 2008 - 6:16pm It's not clear whether Ehud Olmert's situation regarding the possibility of initiating peace moves with Syria resembles that of the man who wants to but can't, the one who can but doesn't want to, or the one who can't and convinces himself that he doesn't want to anyway. » Read more

Palestinian Negotiators Go Home Frustrated ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Inter Press Service (IPS) by Khody Akhavi - April 29, 2008 - 5:12pm As President George W. Bush races to ink a deal before his term expires in January of next year, disagreements remain over the final-status issues and the territorial integrity of a future Palestinian state. Following the latest round of talks last week in the U.S. capital between President Mahmoud Abbas and Bush, the Palestinian negotiating team appeared pessimistic about any durable prospect for peace, despite assurances from Bush himself to the contrary. » Read more

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