Overcoming political obstacles in implementing the Palestinian state-building program ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ibishblog by Hussein Ibish - (Blog) May 6, 2011 - 12:00am Presented at the UNITED NATIONS SEMINAR ON ASSISTANCE TO THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE: "Mobilizing international efforts in support of the Palestinian Government’s State-building program" Helsinki, 28 and 29 April 2011     Introduction » Read more

Israel has Lost a Strategic Ally, "Sheikh Osama"... ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Elaph by Khairallah Khairallah - (Opinion) May 2, 2011 - 12:00am Osama bin Laden met the fate he deserved. It is thought that the Arabs will be amongst the first to congratulate the Barack Obama Administration for this achievement. Primarily they are supposed to try and learn from the experiences they endured as a result of the actions of Osama bin Laden. Difficult questions must be asked about the environment that allowed this phenomenon to survive and cause so much hardship. . » Read more

Palestinian unity has cast Netanyahu adrift ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Zvi Barel - (Opinion) May 8, 2011 - 12:00am As though he were a bereaved father, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making the rounds around the world trying to wrest condolences. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, he laments, is now lost to him. Actually, Bibi is not really emitting a feeling of mourning; instead, it's more like the anger of someone who has been betrayed by a partner he always claimed never to have, a cunning partner who had seemed weak and dependent, as though his life had been controlled by Netanyahu. » Read more

Hamas agrees to new Egyptian draft for Shalit deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Jack Khoury - May 8, 2011 - 12:00am The militant Palestinian group Hamas has agreed to a new draft agreement drawn up by Egypt for a prisoner swap with Israel that would see the release of an Israeli soldier held captive by the group for almost five years, Al Jazeera reported Sunday. Following Hamas' recent reconciliation with rival Palestinian faction Fatah, Egypt has reportedly stepped up efforts to mediate the deal, which would secure the release of Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian jailed in Israel. » Read more

Hamas chief: We will coordinate all decisions regarding Israel with Fatah ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz May 7, 2011 - 12:00am Hamas leader Khaled Meshal said Saturday that his movement will make all decisions regarding the struggle against Israel, including if and when to use violence, in coordination with the West Bank leading faction Fatah, The Wall Street Journal reported. Speaking from Cairo, just days after the Hamas-Fatah reconciliation agreement was signed, Meshal said that the best way to achieve their goals was through agreement with the Palestinian Authority lead by President Mahmoud Abbas. » Read more

Abbas: national unity best way to peacemaking ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua May 8, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday that national unity is the best way to make comprehensive peace and achieve the two-state solution. "We are ready to resume peace negotiations if the Israeli government accepts the peace references and halts settlement construction," Palestinian official WAFA news agency quoted Abbas as saying. Abbas statements came during his meeting in Ramallah with the members of the Jewish-American J Street pro-peace advocacy group. » Read more

INTERVIEW-Hamas's Meshaal urges West to back Palestinian deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Yasmine Saleh - May 8, 2011 - 12:00am Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal urged the United States and the European Union on Sunday to support a reconciliation deal that ended a four-year rift with Fatah, saying the accord was the Palestinian people's choice. Meshaal told Reuters in an interview that the issue of Palestinian recognition of Israel could only be addressed after an independent state was set up in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. "The international position, especially that of the Europeans and the Americans, is still unclear but we hope they respect our will and decision," Meshaal said. » Read more

Hamas mulling recognition of Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from United Press International (UPI) May 8, 2011 - 12:00am Only after a Palestinian state is established will Hamas decide whether to recognize Israel, Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal said. "No one has the right to demand from the Palestinians … or from Hamas or any other Palestinian organization what will happen after that (the establishment of a Palestinian state.) When we achieve Palestinian statehood we will be free and without occupation … then the country will decide its policy," Israel Radio quoted Mashaal saying. » Read more

1 killed in Jerusalem gunfight ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency May 9, 2011 - 12:00am Four armed men opened fire on an East Jerusalem resident near a restaurant in the town Al-Eizariya on Sunday, witnesses said. The target, Samir Muheisen, sustained 10 gunshot wounds to the torso and medics said he was declared dead in hospital. Clashes erupted in an area east of the incident, in Abu Dis near the campus of Al-Quds University. Students were evacuated from the campus by security until calm was restored, officials said. PA security forces and medical teams were called into the area to disperse the clashes, reporting several injuries from clubs and fire arms. » Read more

Israel's obstacles to peace hurt U.S. ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The San Francisco Chronicle by Richard North Patterson - (Opinion) May 8, 2011 - 12:00am Once again, we read, the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians are dead. So it is imperative that, at last, Americans and Israelis alike face some very hard truths about this impasse - including the fact that the current policies of Israel damage the national interests and moral stature of both countries. » Read more