Middle East News: World Press Roundup

Middle East Progress features an interview with Taghreed El-Khodary, a New York Times reporter in Gaza (1). The International Herald Tribune looks at the change in Gaza since the takeover by Hamas (4). Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warns Israel that continued settlement construction is threatening the Middle East peace process (5). The Jerusalem Post reports that negotiations between Israel and Hamas are closing in on a ceasefire deal (10).

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'three Dead' In Fresh Gaza Clash ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News June 16, 2008 - 5:01pm The Israeli military says it has killed three Palestinian militants in fighting in the southern Gaza Strip, near the town of Khan Younis. Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad said three fighters were missing and another three were injured. They had been on a mission to plant explosives along the border fence with Israel, the group says. Militants frequently target the border fence, part of the Israeli defences used to impose its closure on Gaza. » Read more

Hamas And Gaza Emerge Reshaped After Takeover ATFP World Press Roundup Article from International Herald Tribune by Ethan Bronner - June 16, 2008 - 5:02pm GAZA: Cursing God in public here — a fairly common event in this benighted and besieged strip of Palestinian land — can now lead to prison. So can kissing in public. A judge ruled last week that a bank could not collect its contracted interest on a 10-year-old loan because Islam forbids charging interest. » Read more

Rice Warns On Israel Settlements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bbc News June 16, 2008 - 5:03pm US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Jewish settlement building was having a "negative effect" on efforts to forge a Middle East peace deal. Ms Rice was referring to Israeli plans to build 1,300 new homes in Ramat Shlomo, an area of the West Bank that Israel considers part of Jerusalem. She also said militants must stop firing rockets at Israel from Gaza. She spoke after meeting Israeli PM Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank. » Read more

Egypt: Iran Has 'negative Effect' On Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters June 16, 2008 - 5:05pm Egypt sees Iran "on a surge" in the Arab world, playing many political and diplomatic cards regardless of Arab interests, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said in an interview.  Aboul Gheit said that in response to its dispute with the United States and Europe over its nuclear program Iran was seeking bargaining leverage abroad and the only region it could find leverage was in the Arab world. "This has a negative effect on the Palestinian question, definitely, and in Lebanon to some extent," he added. » Read more

Israel Brushes Aside U.s. Pressure Over Statehood Deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Adam Entous - June 16, 2008 - 5:06pm JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel sought on Monday to lower U.S. expectations for any deal with the Palestinians this year, brushing aside pressure over settlements and calling for decisions on Jerusalem's future to be deferred. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ended her sixth trip to the region this year with no sign of progress in nudging both sides toward a peace deal by the end of 2008. She held three-way talks with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad before making a surprise visit to Beirut. » Read more

It's Either Land For Peace, Or Expect Little Peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Rana Sabbagh-gargour - June 16, 2008 - 5:08pm There is an argument in some political quarters that the land for peace formula, upon which efforts to realize comprehensive Arab-Israel peace and a settlement to the Palestinian problem were based, is clinically dead. » Read more

What Us Role Between Syria And Israel? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star by Ariel Kastner - (Opinion) June 16, 2008 - 5:10pm The recent announcement that indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria are being conducted in Turkey has led many to ask whether this round of negotiations represents anything more than political games. Given that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is facing a deepening corruption investigation with louder calls for him to step down, and in light of floundering negotiations with the Palestinians, many Israelis presume he might be using the cover of peace talks with Syria to divert attention from his political challenges. » Read more

On A Collision Course ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al- Ahram by Saleh Al-naami - June 16, 2008 - 5:11pm Over the past 10 months, observers have been expecting an Israeli offensive in Gaza, notwithstanding Egyptian efforts to arrange a truce between the Israelis and Hamas. Yediot Aharonot 's military analyst Ron Ben-Yishai says that it is impossible for Israel to agree to the Egyptian initiative, not after the recent attacks by the Palestinian resistance. Israeli leaders, commanders, and intelligence officials believe that a truce would be seen as a victory of Hamas. The latter says that the rocket attacks are its way of telling Israel to lift the blockade. » Read more

Take Advantage Of Ceasefire ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Yossi Beilin - (Opinion) June 16, 2008 - 5:12pm   The decision has apparently been taken. After we already tried all other solutions, perhaps we have come to realize that the best way to stop the attacks on the western Negev is to reach a ceasefire. This is no great bargain, and certainly no substitute for peace. The fact that we are forced to reach either a direct or indirect agreement with Hamas is unpleasant. » Read more

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