Rise in arms smuggling from Egypt may hinder diplomatic efforts

In the UK and international media today, the Times notes that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said yesterday that Hamas's rule of Gaza was only "temporary" and that talks with Fatah will resume after the weekend marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Meanwhile, Reuters and the Metro-London report that PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas yesterday rejected an idea of reconciliation talks with Hamas unless it ceases control of Gaza. The Independent reports that the issue of land swap as part of an agreement on the future borders of a Palestinian state would be a key factor in next month's Middle East summit. The Guardian carries a piece on a shopkeeper's struggle for economic survival in Gaza. The paper also notes that the Oxford Union debating society has approached Holocaust denier David Irving to speak at a forthcoming event. The Economist runs an article assessing the strategic aspects of Palestinians rockets fired into Israel. Reuters reports that EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana may meet Iranian senior nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani next week to try to persuade Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and other activities that can produce fuel for nuclear weapons.

In the Israeli press, several papers note that Syrian President Bashar Assad, in an interview with two Tunisian newspapers, cast doubt whether Syria will attend the Middle East summit hosted by the US next month. Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post note that Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Quartet Middle East envoy Blair in a meeting yesterday that any attempt to discuss core issues at next months summit would result in the collapse of the Israeli governing coalition. Haaretz reports that Israeli political leaders filed a complaint to the US over the rise in weapons smuggling from Egypt into Gaza and how this may affect the progress in the Middle East summit. Kol Israel radio this morning notes that an unnamed Palestinian negotiator said that concessions made by Israel in the Taba talks six years ago are being used as the basis for negotiation discussions to create a joint declaration before the start of the Middle East Summit. Maariv reports that PA Chairman Abbas said that he will not talk with Hamas unless they cease control of Gaza. Channel 10 news last night reported that the outgoing IDF deputy chief of staff Moshe Kaplinsky has called for Israel to enter into dialogue with Syria in order to ease its hostility towards Israel. Channel 2 news last night ran exclusive footage of an IDF operation against terror activities in Gaza.

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