In Step Toward Palestinian Unity, Hamas Holds Rally in West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Jodi Rudoren - December 13, 2012 - 1:00am NABLUS, West Bank — Hundreds of men and boys sporting the signature green of the militant Hamas faction marched through the narrow alleys of the old city here on Thursday afternoon, calling for Palestinian unity but also renewed attacks on Israeli cities, in the first public demonstration by the Islamist party allowed in the West Bank in years. |
Hamas Gains Allure in Gaza, but Money Is a Problem
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Steven Erlanger - December 13, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA CITY — Hamas has been riding high of late, after its professed victory in the recent conflict with Israel and the overthrow last year of Egypt’s president, Hosni Mubarak, an avowed enemy. |
Gaza conflict deters Bethlehem Christmas pilgrims
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from CNN by Tim Hume - December 13, 2012 - 1:00am CNN) -- Authorities in the Palestinian town of Bethlehem are hoping it won't be a silent night this Christmas Eve, following a spate of tourist cancellations due to recent violence in Gaza. The West Bank town of around 29,000 people, eight kilometers (five miles) south of Jerusalem, contains the Church of the Nativity, venerated by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus. |
Palestinian anti-corruption body gets boost
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Kafah Zaboun - December 12, 2012 - 1:00am Ramallah, Asharq Al-Awsat - Rafik Natsheh, head of the Palestinian anti-corruption body, has stated that his organization will now resume its pursuit of corrupt government figures who have fled abroad. Given that Palestine has obtained non-member observer status at the United Nations, the anti-corruption body has the right to pursue corrupt fugitives who have court judgments issued against them. |
Rooftop gardens provide food and hope for cash-strapped Palestinians
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Hugh Naylor - December 13, 2012 - 1:00am DHEISHEH, WEST BANK // High in the sky above a narrow, noisy and congested street in this West Bank refugee camp is a veritable paradise of green, shade and quiet. Throat-burning exhaust, blaring horns and clinging dust seem to choke the life from the Palestinians navigating the street below. But atop this overcrowded, dilapidated apartment block is a garden that bursts with cucumbers, bell peppers and strawberries - and hope. |
The Arab Peace Initiative under review
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy by Jerome M. Segal - (Opinion) December 12, 2012 - 1:00am The Arab League Ministerial Council that convened in Doha Sunday to review the Arab Peace Initiative and reevaluate the peace process concluded without any decisive action. Qatar's Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani maintained that the initiative would "not be on offer for ever." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas objected saying, "It is not permissible to talk about sidelining the Arab Peace Initiative. |
Two-state attrition
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Journal by Rob Eshman - (Analysis) December 12, 2012 - 1:00am There are three subjects that Jews in my social circle never tire of: food, movies and the two-state solution. Consider me officially tired of the third. |
Gaza government to rebuild ministries, headquarters
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency December 13, 2012 - 1:00am GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- The government in Gaza will start rebuilding ministries and headquarters destroyed in Israel's 8-day bombardment of the Gaza Strip, the cabinet said Wednesday. A ministerial committee has been appointed to survey the damage and assess reconstruction needs, cabinet secretary-general Abdul-Salam Siyam said. Offices of ministries destroyed in the war have been moved to apartments and other buildings to continue providing services to citizens, Siyam said in a statement. |
Israel Needs Diplomatic Iron Dome
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Yaakov Livne - (Opinion) December 10, 2012 - 1:00am Israel experienced in the past weeks two highly significant events that have far-reaching implications for its future. The first was Operation Pillar of Defense, and the other was the UN General Assembly resolution to grant Palestine the status of an observer state in the international body, which is another step toward recognition of the Palestinian Authority as a full-fledged state. |