Sarkozy: It is silly to talk about a Jewish state ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Lior Zilberstein - October 6, 2011 - 12:00am French President Nicolas Sarkozy has always described himself as a true friend of Israel. However, according to unusual statements attributed to him in the French magazine Le Canard Enchaîne, he unequivocally sides with the Palestinians. The paper quotes comments made by the French leader during a cabinet meeting held upon his return from last month's UN General Assembly, Yedioth Aharonoth reported. » Read more

Europeans want another settlement freeze from PM ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon - October 6, 2011 - 12:00am Some of Israel’s best friends in Europe, such as Germany and the Netherlands, are urging Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to freeze construction across the Green Line as a way to bring the Palestinian Authority back to talks, western diplomatic officials told The Jerusalem Post Wednesday. The idea, according to the officials, is for Israel to refrain “from provocative action” in order to pave the way for the Palestinians to accept the new Quartet proposals and get them back to the negotiating table. » Read more

Israel may increase PA control in goodwill gesture ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Yaakov Katz - October 6, 2011 - 12:00am The government is considering a Palestinian request to transfer security control of additional territory in the West Bank to PA security forces as a goodwill gesture to President Mahmoud Abbas. The initiative may be linked to efforts to get Abbas to agree to renew negotiations. The territory under consideration to be transferred is in Area B (assigned under the Oslo Accords to PA civil and Israeli security control) and Area C (assigned under the Oslo Accords to full Israeli control). » Read more

General strike continues in UNRWA schools in Gaza Strip ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua October 6, 2011 - 12:00am A general strike in all schools run by United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip continued on Wednesday. The strike was prompted by the UNRWA's Arab staff union to protest a decision which suspended the union head's work for three unpaid months. Teachers demonstrated in front of the UNRWA headquarters in Gaza city, chanting slogans against the humanitarian organization. They halted work in all UNRWA schools in the Gaza Strip, which host 220,000 students. » Read more

Palestinians say will work with Blair ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Alertnet October 6, 2011 - 12:00am A senior Palestinian official on Wednesday added his voice to calls for the replacement of international Middle East envoy Tony Blair, but the office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said it would carry on cooperating with the former British leader. "The Palestinian presidency will continue to work with the envoy of the international Quartet Committee Tony Blair in his capacity as the choice of the Quartet," presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rdainah said in a brief statement. » Read more

Ex-Israeli officials: 'Price tag' attacks could start intifada ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 6, 2011 - 12:00am Following a recent increase in 'Price tag' attacks on Palestinian holy sites, former high-ranking Israeli security officials warned of the risk of a surge in violence across the region. The attack this week on a mosque in the village of Tuba-Zangariya in northern Israel, where the interior prayer hall and religious emblems were set on fire, was the most recent in a series of attacks that Jewish settlers label "Price Tag" attacks, signifying payback for any Israeli curbs on settlements in the West Bank. » Read more

Palestinian anger at US rising over UN veto threat ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman by Mohammed Daraghmeh - October 6, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinians have long been skeptical of America's ability to help them win independence. But low expectations have turned into frustration and in some cases outright anger after the U.S. threatened to derail a bid for U.N. recognition of an independent state and Congress put a hold on $200 million in badly needed aid. » Read more

Hamas popularity hits a new low after opposing UN statehood bid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Kristen Chick - October 6, 2011 - 12:00am Of the many complaints in Gaza, one has become a popular refrain: the increasing taxes levied by Hamas. Fathi Abu Gamar, a gas station owner in Jabaliya refugee camp, readily joins the chorus: The Islamist movement that rules this tiny coastal territory takes more than half his revenue from gas sales, he says, leaving him with a tiny profit. » Read more

Clinton: UNESCO should rethink vote to admit Palestine ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency October 6, 2011 - 12:00am US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday that the UN cultural agency UNESCO should "think again" on plans to vote on Palestinian membership, noting that such a move could cause the United States to cut funds for the organization. Clinton, speaking to reporters in the Dominican Republic where she was on an official visit, said she found it "inexplicable" that UNESCO would consider moving ahead on a Palestinian vote while the issue was still before the United Nations Security Council. » Read more

Palestinians Win a Vote on Bid to Join Unesco ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Steven Erlanger - October 6, 2011 - 12:00am Despite strong opposition from the United States, Germany and several other European states, the Palestinians gained initial approval on Wednesday of a bid for full membership in Unesco — the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization — as part of their broader campaign for recognition as a state by the United Nations Security Council. But full membership in Unesco could mean a legally mandated cutoff of all contributions from the United States, both dues and voluntary. » Read more