Middle East News: World Press Roundup

NEWS: Israelis debate their regional strategy. Israel now has to take Egyptian public opinion into consideration. Palestinians seek greater access to occupied East Jerusalem. Eight Israelis are wounded by a Palestinian man in Tel Aviv. Palestinian leaders condemned the attack. Palestinians believe they are making progress with the EU on a UN initiative. The end of Ramadan in Gaza is marked by economic woes. DM Barak says militants in Gaza are planning more attacks on Israel. The EU says Middle East unrest is producing new opportunities for peace. Egyptians debate how to restore security in Sinai. COMMENTARY: Francis Boyle says a UN initiative will not endanger Palestinian rights. Jeremy Bowen says Israel is facing an uncertain regional landscape. Gary Wexler says Israel can't improve its image without policy changes. Maik Baumgärtner and Lisa Bjurwald say it is ironic that Israeli hard-liners are aligning with European neo-Nazis. Nermeen Murad says the past should not haunt Jordanians and Palestinians citizens of Jordan. MK Tibi says Congressional visitors are not shown the realities in Israel and Palestine. Thalif Deen says Palestinians under occupation are being denied access to sufficient water.

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With Mideast in Turmoil, Israel Debates Strategy ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner - (Analysis) August 26, 2011 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Eight days after Israel suffered a terrorist attack from Egyptian Sinai and weeks before it faces a Palestinian statehood resolution at the United Nations, its officials say they are struggling with a painful set of strategic and diplomatic challenges produced by the region’s popular uprisings. » Read more

Israel mulls ties with a changed Egypt ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Joel Greenberg - (Analysis) August 27, 2011 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — A deadly border incident this month that drew a threat by Egypt to recall its ambassador to Israel has starkly revealed the changed political terrain in the relationship between the two countries. Israeli officials who relied on former president Hosni Mubarak as a partner in upholding the 1979 Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty are now contending with the newly assertive voice of public opinion in Egypt and its influence on that country’s leadership. » Read more

WEST BANK: Olive Revolution seeks free access to East Jerusalem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Maher Abukhater - (Analysis) August 26, 2011 - 12:00am When Israeli police and soldiers manning Qalandia checkpoint prevented West Bank Muslims under the age of 50 from crossing into Jerusalem to reach Al-Aqsa Mosque to perform the last Friday of Ramadan prayer, the dozens left behind decided to pray at the checkpoint. When they finished, they, along with Israeli and international supporters from a movement called Olive Revolution, gathered facing Israeli police and soldiers separated only by cement blocks. They chanted anti-occupation slogans and demanded access to East Jerusalem, which Israel has occupied since June 1967. » Read more

Nablus man wounds 8 in Tel Aviv ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency (Analysis) August 29, 2011 - 12:00am JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Eight people were wounded early Monday when a Palestinian crashed a stolen taxi into a group of border guards outside a Tel Aviv nightclub, then attacked them with a knife, Israeli police and media said. Four border guards and two would-be club goers were hurt in the attack which took place outside HaOman 17 nightclub in south Tel Aviv, police spokeswoman Luba Samri told AFP, saying one was critically injured, two others were in serious condition, and the rest sustained light wounds. » Read more

Palestinian leadership condemns Tel Aviv stabbings ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Xiong Tong - (Analysis) August 29, 2011 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian leadership on Monday condemned a Palestinian attack in which seven Israelis were injured in the central city of Tel Aviv. "We condemn the attacks against civilians, including the incident that was committed in Tel Aviv at dawn," said a statement by President Mahmoud Abbas's office. A Palestinian resident of the West Bank stole an Israeli taxi, hit an Israeli police checkpoint and stabbed people who gathered around him with a knife, wounding seven, Israeli reports said. » Read more

Palestinians see progress in EU stance on UN bid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency (Analysis) August 29, 2011 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (AFP) -- The Palestinian leadership sees "progress" in the European Union's position on its plan to seek UN membership next month, a senior PLO official told AFP on Sunday. "There is progress in the European stance and a willingness to coordinate with the Palestinian leadership over the type of resolution we are looking for," said PLO secretary general Yasser Abed Rabbo a day after president Mahmoud Abbas met in Ramallah with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. » Read more

Gazans forced to cancel habits of Muslim feast ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Ahmed Fayoomi, Hamada Hattab - (Analysis) August 29, 2011 - 12:00am GAZA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Various types of Turkish delights and chocolates piled up on stalls in a popular market in Gaza City, but only few people seemed to be interested. This was two days ahead of a Muslim's feast that marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Buying sweets to serve visiting relatives is a regular habit to mark this occasion. The scenes of frustration have been visible on the face of the 40-year-old Abu Rashid Abu Assi, as he kept promoting his sweets and almost begging people to buy from him. » Read more

Barak: Gaza groups planning new major terror attack on Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Anshel Pfeffer - (Analysis) August 29, 2011 - 12:00am Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned Monday that Palestinian organizations in Gaza are preparing to carry out an attack similar to the one in southern Israel on August 18, in which eight civilians were killed. Barak, who visited the plant of Israel Aerospace Industries subsidiary Elta in Ashdod on Monday morning, said that “even this morning we are on high alert in the south in the face of the possible attack, which is similar in set-up to the one that happened ten days ago.” » Read more

EU's Ashton: Mideast changes give momentum to Israeli-Palestinian peace process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by DPA - (Analysis) August 29, 2011 - 12:00am Changes in the Middle East have given "even more momentum" to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Monday. Summing up a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, she said the recent changes which have overtaken the region have provided the impetus to "the need to try and find a solution that will enable the people of Israel and the people of Palestine to live in peace and security together." EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and President Shimon Peres, August 28, 2011. Photo by: GPO » Read more

Amid renewed unrest, political players discuss Sinai development ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Masry Al-Youm by Nadine Marroushi - August 29, 2011 - 12:00am In the wake of renewed unrest in Sinai, talk about the dire need to develop the eastern peninsula is resurfacing. Political parties have been quick to make proposals. » Read more

Analysis: Protecting Palestinians after we join the UN ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency by Francis Boyle - August 29, 2011 - 12:00am In the Nov. 15 1988 Palestinian Declaration of Independence that was approved by the Palestinian National Council, representing all Palestinians all over the world, the executive committee of the PLO was set up as the Provisional Government for the State of Palestine --pursuant to my advice. » Read more

Arab Spring spells uncertainty for Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News by Jeremy Bowen - August 27, 2011 - 12:00am The extraordinary developments in the Middle East and North Africa this year have not been entirely welcomed by the authorities in Israel, who now have a range of new problems to add to some more familiar ones. My passports say it all. Like most foreign correspondents in the Middle East I have two - one for Israel, the other for Arab countries. That's because some Arab states will not let you in if you have an Israeli visa. » Read more

Israel's Image Won't Improve Without Policy Changes ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward by Gary Wexler - August 29, 2011 - 12:00am The thousands of scantily clothed bikers, skateboarders, walkers, hawkers, gawkers and performers were simply taking advantage of another breezy, crystal clear Southern California day. They had fought their way valiantly through relentless freeway traffic to participate in the year-round weekend ritual of parading down Los Angeles’ bohemian thoroughfare, the Venice Beach boardwalk. » Read more

A paradox of hate: extremist Israelis ally with neo-Nazis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Maik Baumgärtner - August 30, 2011 - 12:00am Anti-Semitism is still a threat to European Jews. On a daily basis, Neo-Nazis, left-wing extremists and radical Islamists spread their online hatred and, too often, their propaganda incites real-life attacks. » Read more

National reconciliation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times by Nermeen Murad - August 29, 2011 - 12:00am The underlying political current against reform in Jordan is closely tied to the continued ripple effects of the 1970 clash between Palestinian “resistance groups” and the Jordanian government. Unspoken is the fear that any relaxing of the restrictions on the security-driven containment of the Jordanians of Palestinian origin or refugee residents of camps in Jordan could recalibrate the tenuous political balance in the country and provide grounds for civil conflict. » Read more

Congressional tourists avoid apartheid in Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Salon.com by Ahmad Tibi - August 26, 2011 - 12:00am Americans, do you know where your member of Congress is? He or she may well be visiting Israel right now. In fact, 81 members of the House of Representatives -- nearly 20 percent of the whole body -- are expected here this month, according to new reports. If challenged, the representatives (numbering 55 Republicans and 26 Democrats) are likely to say a few words about looking for business opportunities good for their constituents or the need to provide for the security of Israel, which has cost American taxpayers billions of dollars. That's their business and yours. ? ? » Read more

Palestinians Thirsting for Justice in Water-Starved Occupied Territories ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Inter Press Service (IPS) by Thalif Deen - August 26, 2011 - 12:00am STOCKHOLM, Aug 26, 2011 (IPS) - In the strife-stricken Middle East, oil has always been in the realm of politics. But in the Israeli-occupied territories of Gaza and the West Bank, oil has been supplanted by water. Shaddad Attili, head of the Palestinian Water Authority, told IPS that the Palestinians have not only been deprived of water as a basic human right but that water is also being used as a weapon of war by the Israelis. » Read more

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