Both Palestinian and Irish sources decried reports that a Palestinian exile in Ireland, Jihad Jaara, escaped an assassination attempt and describe the story as a total fabrication.

The Irish Times reported on August 9, that reports which alleged that the Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service, tried to assassinate Jaara are false.

The story, which surfaced on the website of Israeli newspaper Yediodh Ahronoidt, has also appeared on websites all over the Middle East, said the Irish Times.

The newspaper quoted Dr. Hikmat Ajjuri, head of the General Delegation of Palestine to Ireland, as saying, "Jihad was with me the whole day on Thursday and we were laughing.It is a total fabrication and such a confusing piece of news." IMEMC had reported earlier this week that shots were fired at Jaara as he was making his way to the Palestinian Delegation office in Dubiln, and that he survived what was believed to be an assassination attempt.

In a separate occurence in 2005, The Irish Evening Herald newspaper reported that Irish police tracked two Israeli Mossad agents who had planned to assassinate Jaara. An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman denied the report as baseless. Irish police sources told the newspaper that around the end of January, police managed to track the two Mossad agents who were collecting intelligence information on Jaara, which the Irish police believed was for the purpose of assassinating him.

Jaara and twelve of his colleagues were expelled to various European countries after Israel and the Palestinian Authority approved a deal to end the siege of the Nativity Church in Bethlehem in May 2002.

Jaara, who has been living in Dublin since he was deported, was the leader of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of the Fatah movement in Bethlehem area.

 United States Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama visited Jerusalem and Ramallah on Wednesday meeting with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, President Shimon Peres, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and other dignitaries. 

While in Jerusalem, Obama met with President Shimon Peres and stated that the security of Israel will be of great importance to his administration if elected.  Obama stated in a meeting with Peres that "I'm here on this trip to reaffirm the special relationship between Israel and the United States and my abiding commitment to Israel's security and my hope that I can serve as an effective partner, whether as a U.S. senator or as president,"Obama also expressed his deep concern about the conflict and if elected would start working towards a solution to peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.  

 

While in Jerusalem, presidential hopeful met with Defense Minister Ehud Barak at the David King Hotel, as well as Benjamin Netanyahu, where they both expressed the importance of preventing Iran from becoming a prominent nuclear force. He then visited Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and following that ceremony he met with President Shimon Peres. 

 

The presidential candidate took a trip to the West Bank city of Ramallah where he met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. During the meeting, President Abbas briefed Obama of the peace process and the security situation for the Palestinians.  The men discussed the key issues facing Palestinians including Jerusalem, the wall, refugees, settlements, water, and security.  

 

 Obama declared a full commitment to peace and security in the region, for Palestine and Israel.  He declared to President Abbas that if he is elected, he will be a constructive partner for peace for this region.  He also stated that security and peace for Palestine and Israel are vital American interests and talked about a possible two state solution and is committed to help President Abbas this two state solution become a reality by the end of this year. Obama got to see the wall and the road blocks on his trip to Ramallah, said a spokesperson.  

 

 Obama stated that decisions are required from Palestinians and Israelis and not from America.  "The substance of the meeting was more important than the time," said a spokesperson. "The meeting left us feeling well about his [Obama's] commitment to peace."  Obama stated that "it is not about pro-Israel or pro-Palestinian at this point, it is about Pro-peace and is divided with those who are pro-peace and those who are not." When asked how his meeting with Abbas went, Obama's response was simply "Excellent!" 

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown ended a visit to Bethlehem where he, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian PM Salam Fayyad headed a Palestinian-British Business meeting attended by a number of Palestinian and British businessmen.

The meeting yielded in the UK pledging 500 million USD for three years, 2008 – 2011. 

 

Abbas described the aid as generous while other Palestinian businessmen thought that enhancing economy is the way to peace in the region.

 

Mounib Al-Masri  a prominent Palestinian businessman and owner of the Palestinian telecommunication and cell phones companies said "through business, I think we can make the peace process nicer and easier to do."

 

Brown arrived in Bethlehem on Sunday morning, where he and Abbas held a press conference at the presidential palace in the city.  Gordon then visited the church of the nativity before proceeding to the Interncontinental hotel for the business meeting.

 

In his speech, Brown praised the business meeting and announced the Palestinian-British Business Conference in London.

 

“You are making history. You have agreed to have a Palestinian-British Business Conference in London,” Brown said.After the meeting, Brown headed to meet with Israeli Prime Minster Ehud Omert. 

 

In a press conference that they held together, Brown said that a Palestinian-Israeli peace deal is near, pointing to an urgent need for justice.  Brown criticized Israel for its ongoing settlement expansion, however, Olmert asked him to understand Israel's need to build settlements. 

 

Olmert told Brown, "You criticised our settlement policy, and I tried to explain to you the restraints that we put on ourselves on the one hand, and the need to keep the pace of life going on the other.  "While you disagree with us I hope you understand the position of Israel," he added. 

 

Such a statement is seen by local observers as a clear evidence that Israel does not give a value to agreements. Brown also said that the wall is a "graphic evidence of the urgent need for justice for the Palestinian people" and an end to the occupation of Palestinian land.” 

 

He however,said that there should be a viable Palestinian state alongside with Israel. On his part, Olmert said he expects a peace deal to be reached by the end of 2008, something that many doubt. Brown is a member of the executive of the Jewish National Fund,  which is dedicated to the  support of Israel.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during the press confrence (Photo: Ghassan Bannoura-IMEMC) British PM Gordon Brown during the Press conference in Bethlehem (Photo: Ghassan Bannoura-IMEMC)

Egypt warned from the continued Israeli settlements construction in Jerusalem is harmful to the peace process.

The comments were made by the Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmad Abu Al Ghayit talks with Didiah Fariti, the Swaziland envoy to the Middle East, on Friday evening in Cairo.

Husam Zaki the spokesperson of the Egyptian external Affairs Ministry stated that Abu Al Ghayit confirmed that the world must work side by side with the Palestinians in order to make justice and help the Palestinians to take their rights back.

Zaki added that this meeting is part of the Egyptian efforts to create an international purser on Israel in order to push the peace process forward.

Palestinian sources reported that the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Sunday in the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem.

This is Brown’s first visit to Palestine as the Prime Minister of Britain. British business men are expected to accompany Brown during his visit, where they will meet their Palestinian counterparts to support investment in the Palestinian areas.

Brown, served as the British Minister of Finance when Tony Blaier was the Prime Minister, he is known for his support to investment and development in the Palestinian areas.

The British official will arrive in Israeli on Saturday where he is expected to meet with the Israeli Prime Minister Ehod Olmert and Defense Minister Ehod Barak.

Prior to Brown's visit, Palestinian and British officials said that UK is studying the possibility of holding an investment conference for Palestine; this conference is expected to be discussed with Palestinian officials during the British official visit.