Palestine - Jerusalem Post, August 26th - “Abbas meets Beilin and he is ready to start negotiations again” by Sheera Claire Frenkel.

On Saturday, during a meeting with the President of the Meretz, Yossi Beilin, the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas said that he was encouraged by recent votes showing that the Israeli had rather go for negotiations and bilateral steps...

The meeting, which took place in the Allenby passage leading to Jordan, was part of a series of negotiations they started together. Abbas asked the Israel government to come into contact again with him. That could lead to a peace agreement.
Abbas told Beilin that he was making his best to have Corporal Gilad Shalit liberated and that he was very sorry on his being held captive.
Beilin suggested as well that a second “Madrid” alike the 1991 one take place. Abbas answered that he had already discussed about it with the Arab Foreign Affairs Ministers.

Le Figaro, August 26th - “The uncertain future of the Gaza ground water” by John Bohannon

The geographic situation, the policy and the conflicts make water management impossible in the Gaza Strip.

The shortness of water is an endless problem in the East but, in Gaza, it is worse than anywhere else…In the last few years, many projects have been elaborated by donators. Among these projects, were refinement stations and desalination factories. Unfortunately, they all failed because security measures and sanctions were imposed on the Palestinian government led by Hamas.
Although they enjoy a full control on their water, they are doomed to move heaven and earth for the first time to spare it before it is definitively contaminated.
At first sight, it all looks as if problems were not to be overcome. The only natural spring water is the costal aquifer made of layers of deposits impregnated with water a few dozen meters or so under the earth…The one and only natural outlet of the aquifer is in the direction of the Mediterranean. It forms a crucial barrier against the intrusion of the sea-water which is the case for 90% of the wells. Then, salinity is already superior to the maximum recommended by the World Organization of Health.
There is an excess of nitrates…The aquifer is polluted by the sewers…The three refinement stations of the Strip are quite insufficient. Half of the pits have been dug illegally…In order to get to a good and lasting result, there is no keeping away from desalinization.
Another priority is to solve the problem with the sewers. Formerly, the World Bank, Germany, Finland and Japan had promised to build a group of three factories that would treat the liquid waste of the whole Gaza Strip. However, since the Hamas won on the elections, nothing has been done.

Lebanon 
Le Figaro, August 25th - Resolution 1701 creates a new strengthened UNIFIL but no political agreement was signed between the belligerents. This the worst situation one can ever imagine for the U.N peace-keeping force. Their mission is not to take all the concrete steps required in order to bring about the full and effective implementation of a peace refused by some belligerents.
…UNIFIL must help the Lebanese army to call for a complete
arms embargo against Hezbollah. The Israeli army will make certain there is no violation of the embargo…Syria does not allow UNIFIL to be stationed at the Lebanese-Syrian border.
…War may start again at any moment…

Syria
Le Monde, August 27th - “Relations between Egypt and Syria were strained but they went on deteriorating since the Lebanese war has started.” By Mouna Naïm

France does not trust Syria. Damascus has turned some Arab countries against itself. Bachar al Assad called the Arab leaders weedy persons because they had criticized the Lebanese Hezbollah and had rather start a peace process with Israel. Moreover, Egypt is getting worried because the relations between Syria and Iran keep on being most cordial….

Iran 

Le Monde, August 28th - On the occasion of the World Day of Human rights, Iran is set to organize an International Conference on the Holocaust…which has been denied by the Iranian rulers.
The Conference title is:” a study of the Holocaust: the world viewpoint”. It is set up by the Center of Political and International Studies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” It should last for a couple of days.
The themes are the following:” Causes of anti-Semitism in Europe”,” The Holocaust in historical documents”, “The Holocaust, the laws and the medias” and “The Holocaust and Zionism”
In the middle of August, the Iranian daily Hamshaahri and the Iranian cartoon House have organized a cartoon exhibit on the Jewish Holocaust during the Second World War.
President Ahmadinjad, who called the Jewish State a “ tumour” charged the Europeans of using the Holocaust myth in order to create Israël.