Hamas, Fatah differ over attitude to agreements ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Nidal Al-Mughrabi - March 13, 2009 - 12:00am Rival Palestinian factions have so far failed to overcome obstacles in reconciliation talks which they hope will lead to a unified governing body for the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, officials said on Friday. President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement has insisted during Egyptian-hosted talks taking place in Cairo that rival Islamist group Hamas must "abide" by existing peace agreements signed with Israel but Hamas has refused to make such a commitment. » Read more

US Government Announces $30 Million Quick Impact Aid Package for Gaza and the West Bank Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - July 3, 2003 - 12:00am Washington DC, Jul. 3 -- Today, in a ceremony in Ramallah, the US Government announced plans for the disbursement of a $30 million Palestinian aid package through the United States Agency for International Development West Bank and Gaza Mission (USAID/WBG). Palestinian Authority (PA) Minister of Planning Nabil Qassis hosted the announcement ceremony to mark the US commitment, with Acting US Consul General in Jerusalem Jeffrey Feltman and USAID/WBG Mission Director Larry Garber participating. Read more

Some hope, much pessimism, on Palestine ATFP World Press Roundup Article from (Editorial) March 13, 2009 - 12:00am There are many reasons to feel more pessimistic than optimistic about the possibility of any major breakthrough in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year. The inaction by the international community, especially the United States, over the past few years has made the situation more complicated, with increased violence and hardened public opinions on both sides. » Read more

Sources: Israel agrees to free all 450 Hamas prisoners for Shalit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Yoav Stern - March 13, 2009 - 12:00am Israel has agreed to free all 450 of the prisoners demanded by Hamas in exchange for kidnapped Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, and the dispute now revolves around Israel's demand that some of these prisoners be deported rather than returned home, Palestinian sources in Cairo said Thursday. Ofer Dekel, Israel's lead negotiator on the issue, was in Cairo Thursday for further talks with Egyptian mediators. » Read more

Parties aiming to increase settlements fight over Housing portfolio ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Mazal Mualem - March 13, 2009 - 12:00am Three factions are fighting over the Housing portfolio, which prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu has promised the ultra-Orthodox Shas party. Shas is resolved to appoint the party's MK Ariel Atias - today minister of communications - as housing minister, while United Torah Judaism, the other ultra-Orthodox party, wants the ministry mainly to be in control of the Israel Lands Administration. » Read more