October 7, 2008 | The American Task Force on Palestine

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October 7, 2008

Egyptian police block a convoy of activist groups attempting to deliver medical supplies to the Gaza Strip (1). The Christian Science Monitor reports on the first attempt at high school integration in Israel (2). Member of Hamas’ parliament announce that they will not recognize Mahmoud Abbas as president after his term expires on January 8th (4). Israeli Prime Minister designate Tzipi Livni is expected to meet with party leaders in an attempt to form a coalition government (5). Israel agrees to the deployment of Palestinian security forces in the West Bank town of Hebron (9).

Egypt blocks Gaza protest attempt
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
October 5, 2008 - 8:00pm

Police in Egypt have blocked a convoy organised by opposition groups to carry medical supplies to the Gaza Strip. The convoy had been due to leave from the journalists' syndicate in central Cairo but activists gathering there were surrounded by police. Reports say at least 15 people were detained in Cairo - some of them linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. Some activists were reportedly detained trying to cross into Sinai and some nearer Rafah. The protest is being supported by other opposition groups in Egypt.

In Israel, a first attempt at high school integration
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
by Brenda Gazzar - October 6, 2008 - 8:00pm

Yazan Khalaf has no shortage of big dreams. Aspiring to be a pilot, the young Arab-Israeli entering the 10th grade is also trying to "change the whole world." Yazan might not start any kind of global revolution, but he is taking part in an educational experiment that could profoundly affect Israel.

Olmert's Final Divorce From "All of Eretz Israel"
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Counterpunch
by Uri Avnery - (Opinion) October 6, 2008 - 8:00pm

In colloquial Israeli Hebrew, when someone discovers something that everybody else already knows, we say: "Good morning, Elijahu!" Why Elijahu? I don't know. Now one could say: "Good morning, Ehud!" That's what I said to myself when I read the sensational interview that Ehud Olmert gave this week, on the eve of the Jewish New Year, to the newspaper "Yediot Aharonot".

Hamas will not recognise Abbas after term ends
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
October 6, 2008 - 8:00pm

Hamas members of parliament said on Monday that they will not recognise Mahmoud Abbas as president after January 8, a move that could sharpen the internal divisions plaguing the Palestinians. “The legal term of President Abbas ends on January 8 and Abu Mazen [Abbas] will not remain president for a single minute after this date,” Hamas parliamentary leader Ahmed Bahar told AFP.

Livni expected to meet leaders of religious parties in bid to form ruling coalition
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
October 6, 2008 - 8:00pm

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni pressed ahead with efforts to secure a ruling coalition on Monday, a day after delivering her first foreign-policy speech since being named to form a new government. Elected on September 17 to replace Premier Ehud Olmert at the head of the Kadima party, Livni needs to put together a governing coalition if she is to also take over as premier while averting a snap election.

Russia's Jerusalem land claim worries Israelis
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Tia Goldenberg - October 6, 2008 - 8:00pm

The Russians are coming to downtown Jerusalem, reclaiming ownership of a landmark with the approval of the Israeli government, just as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert visits Moscow to try to iron out serious policy differences between the two countries. After years of contacts, Olmert's Cabinet agreed Sunday to hand over the small tract known as Sergei's Courtyard. The area, which once accommodated Russian pilgrims visiting the Holy Land, now houses offices of Israel's Agriculture Ministry and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel.

Israeli govt sued over settlement
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
by Mohammed Mar’i - October 6, 2008 - 8:00pm

For the first time in the history of illegal takeovers of privately owned Palestinian land, the Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din on behalf of five Palestinian landowners demanded compensation from Israel for assistance it provided to builders of the illegal settlement outpost Migron in the West Bank as well as its failure to evacuate it.

Washington and Beirut set up joint military panel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
by Hussein Abdallah - October 6, 2008 - 8:00pm

Lebanon and the United States set up a joint commission on Monday charged with organizing their bilateral military relationship. The commission was set up after a meeting on Monday between Defense Minister Elias Murr and US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Mary Beth Long, who arrived in Beirut late on Sunday. In a related development, a joint statement by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the US Embassy said that Beirut and Washington had signed three military contracts worth $63 million in US grants to the LAF.

'Israel has agreed to allow PA troops into Hebron'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Ali Waked - October 6, 2008 - 8:00pm

Israel is backing a bid by the Palestinian Authority to reassert control over Hebron, a senior Palestinian defense official told Ynet on Monday evening. According to the official Israel has authorized the request made by the PA to deploy security forces in the West Bank city as part of the effort to push back Hamas, which is poised to seize control there. At present time Israel has yet to confirm such an agreement.

Egypt seeks ways to end Fatah-Hamas rift
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Khaled Abu Toameh - October 5, 2008 - 8:00pm

A senior Hamas delegation is scheduled to arrive in Cairo Tuesday for talks with Egyptian officials on ways of ending the Hamas-Fatah power struggle. Headed by Musa Abu Marzouk, deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, the delegation is expected to hold a series of meetings with Egyptian Intelligence Chief Gen. Omar Suleiman and other senior Egyptian government officials over the next few days. The visit to Cairo is the first of its kind by a high-level Hamas delegation in several months.

Israeli security officials: Time running out on Shalit deal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amos Harel, Avi Issacharoff - October 6, 2008 - 8:00pm

Security officials have warned that the time for making a deal for the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit is running out. The officials told Haaretz that the more time that passes, the more things can go wrong and the greater the danger that an opportunity will be missed to bring Shalit home. Talks are to open Tuesday in Cairo between Hamas and Fatah, mediated by the Egyptians, with an Egyptian-proposed package deal on the agenda that would include the release of Shalit.

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