Palestinians argue over elections as reconciliation efforts stuck ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Saud Abu Ramadan, Emad Drimly - February 3, 2011 - 1:00am Leaders of various Palestinian political factions argued on Thursday over when to hold new presidential and legislative elections on the Palestinian territories, as efforts to achieve a reconciliation between rival Fatah and Hamas had been stalled for more than three years. » Read more

Rights group: PA banning freedom of expression ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 4, 2011 - 1:00am A Palestinian rights group on Thursday warned of deteriorating freedom of expression in the West Bank, as the PA banned "unlicensed assembly" in response to rallies in solidarity with Egyptians. In a statement, the Palestinian Commission for Human Rights condemned the PA's closure of the demonstrations. On Wednesday, PA security forces shut down a rally in Ramallah, using batons to push demonstrators back and detaining at least two protesters. PCHR said a number of journalists were also detained at the event. » Read more

Fayyad: Occupation factor in regional instability ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 4, 2011 - 1:00am Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Thursday said the failure to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had contributed to unrest across the Middle East. Fayyad said protests across the region reflected people's desire for political reform and their legitimate aspirations for democracy. But while internal conditions sparked the wave of demonstrations across the Arab world, the PA premier said the ongoing occupation of Palestine was a source of growing despair for Arab people. » Read more

What Egypt's unrest could mean for Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Joshua Mitnick - February 3, 2011 - 1:00am As Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's grip on power slipped this week, Israelis and Palestinians are sizing up what a change in government in Cairo may mean for the Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Both Israel and the Palestinian Authority officials fear the empowerment of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt might prompt Cairo to ease access to Gaza, and help Hamas consolidate its rule there. » Read more

Ministers: Paris to host new Palestinian donor conference ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency February 4, 2011 - 1:00am Paris will host a new international donor conference for a Palestinian state in June, ministers from donor countries and the so-called Quartet on the Middle East said following talks Thursday. "At the request of the PA, a new international donors? conference for the Palestinian State will be held in Paris in June 2011," a statement released after the talks said, referring to the Palestinian Authority. The group also "call on Israel to take more ambitious, structural measures to continue to ease access and movement" of Palestinians. » Read more