Middle East News: World Press Roundup

The New York Times examines the State Department’s recent withdrawal of all Fulbright grants to Palestinian students (1). An opinion piece in the Daily Star suggests that any talk of border negotiations is premature while larger issues of cooperation and security remain unsolved (5). Israel closes a key food transport passage into Gaza (6). Violence continues in Gaza and the West Bank (3) (7) (8) (9). Israel’s Kadima party prepares for Olmert’s possible resignation and anticipates the future of their party (10).

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Usc, Ucla Professors Work On Israeli-palestinian Archaeological Pact ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Ashraf Khalil - May 30, 2008 - 5:04pm A pair of archaeology professors from crosstown rivals USC and UCLA are working together to help bring harmony to a small corner of the lengthy conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. For five years, Lynn Dodd of USC and Ran Boytner of UCLA have sought to come up with a plan for handling the rich archaeological heritage of the Holy Land should a binding peace deal be reached for the creation of a Palestinian state. » Read more

Israel Uses Gunfire To Repel Hamas Border Rally ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters May 30, 2008 - 5:06pm Israeli troops used gunfire and teargas on Friday to keep more than 3,000 Hamas supporters from approaching one of the Gaza Strip's main border crossings with Israel, wounding at least six Palestinians, witnesses said. At least two of the wounded were in a critical condition, Palestinian medical workers said. » Read more

Israel Destroyed 200 West Bank Buildings ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) May 30, 2008 - 5:07pm Israel demolished 208 buildings in the occupied West Bank last year, a UN agency said on Friday, adding that the Defence Ministry corrected its previous figure of 107. Most of the houses were torn down under demolition orders issued because there were no construction permits, which Israeli authorities only seldom grant to Palestinians. The buildings are located in the so-called Area C, which makes up more than 60 percent of the West Bank and is under full Israeli control. » Read more

Moving Now To A Discussion Of Palestine's Borders Is A Mistake ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Nabeel Kassis - (Commentary) May 30, 2008 - 5:11pm The Oslo Declaration of Principles of September 13, 1993, left several issues - Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, security arrangements, borders, relations and cooperation with other neighbors and other issues of common interest - for later negotiations that would determine permanent status. » Read more

Israeli Forces Shutdown Sopha Passage South Of Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Kuwait News Agency (kuna) May 30, 2008 - 5:12pm Israeli forces shutdown Sopha passage in south of Gaza Strip on Friday. Palestinian sources said Israel shut down the passage which was supposed to be open today for food supplies to enter Gaza. Israeli forces claimed the closure was called for due to security concerns. Earlier, Hamas Movement called for a peaceful protest after Friday prayer in response to imposed sanctions on Gaza strip. The protest comes one week after a similar protest at Al-Manthar passage east of Gaza where Israeli fire killed one Palestinian and injured 17 others. » Read more

Israeli Forces Attack Several Governorates In West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Kuwait News Agency (kuna) May 30, 2008 - 5:14pm An Israeli offensive was surged on the city of Nablus, West Bank, searching homes for people wanted by the Israeli authorities. Security sources in the city said that further forces poured into the city, in protection of Jewish settlers who intended to perform prayers in Joseph's Tomb, East of Nablus. Sources added that Israeli forces and Jewish settlers withdrew from the area without making any arrests of Palestinians or causing any violence. » Read more

6 Palestinians Injured By Idf Fire In Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Ali Waked - May 30, 2008 - 5:18pm Palestinian sources reported Friday afternoon that six Palestinians were injured by IDF fire near the Sufa crossing in the Gaza Strip. The incident took place as thousands of Hamas supporters took part in a demonstration organized by the movement in protest of the siege Israel imposed on Gaza. The protestors approached the crossing and reported of gunshots heard in the area, apparently by IDF troops trying to prevent them from nearing the crossing. » Read more

Gaza Woman Dies Of Wounds After Israeli Fire: Medics ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) May 30, 2008 - 5:24pm A 60-year-old Palestinian woman died on Friday of wounds she sustained when gunshots were fired from an Israeli military position near her home in the Gaza Strip, medics and relatives said. Yusra Qdeih was seriously wounded on Thursday night by gunfire that came from an Israeli position, her family said, adding that she had beenin her home in Khuzaa village, near the barrier that separates Gaza from Israel. She died on Friday after being hit in the chest, according to the head of Gaza's emergency services, Muawiya Hassanin. » Read more

Beleaguered Olmert's Party Eyes Succession ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) by Patrick Moser - May 30, 2008 - 5:26pm With Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert up against the ropes, members of his Kadima party are already jockeying for position in anticipation of his downfall and possible early elections. "The Kadima party primary began yesterday, even if nobody declared this officially. Even the prime minister realises that he cannot prevent it from taking place soon," the top-selling Yediot Aharonot wrote in an editorial. Olmert suffered a stinging one-two blow when his deputy challenged his leadership right after a key ally demanded he quit over a corruption scandal. » Read more

Anything Goes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Israel Policy Forum by M.J. Rosenberg - May 30, 2008 - 5:57pm The Ehud Olmert corruption story does not particularly grab me. I read about it in the Israeli press and yawn. I have yet to get through an entire news item on the subject without skipping to the next story. It is not that I am indifferent to corruption. I’m not. In the U.S. context, I would not support or vote for anyone who is found to have done the things Olmert is alleged to have done. (Note: “alleged”). » Read more

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