May 2nd

New Tension Roils Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Wall Street Journal by Matt Bradley, Joshua Mitnick, Jay Solomon - May 1, 2011 - 12:00am Israel froze $88 million in Palestinian funds Sunday, elevating tensions over an Egyptian initiative to broker a power-sharing agreement between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority and raising new concerns about the prospects for peace in the region. » Read more

Palestine united ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star (Editorial) April 30, 2011 - 12:00am The nascent Palestinian reconciliation, to be consummated next Wednesday in Cairo, is a welcome step that should result in a unified and stronger push for statehood led by the right group – a united Palestinian people. » Read more

Editorial: Arabs and Uncle Sam ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News (Editorial) May 2, 2011 - 12:00am They in the West have a thing for opinion polls. In the latest of its opinion polls, the US-based Pew Research Center reports that views about the US in the Arab world remain as negative as ever despite the arrival of President Barack Obama and all the impossible dreams and sweet promises he offered before and after his election. Interestingly, the Pew researchers note with dismay, even after the recent apocalyptic events in the Middle East, there has been no remarkable change in people’s perceptions about Uncle Sam. » Read more

Hamas-Fatah Hug Gives Illusion of Unity ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bloomberg by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) May 1, 2011 - 12:00am As spring breaks out for Palestinian unity, winter arrives for the Middle East peace process. The prospective Hamas-Fatah unity agreement was driven primarily by domestic politics: Both of these long-term rivals are seeking to energize their bases, preempt discontent on the streets and dangle the always-attractive illusion of Arab unity before their constituents. » Read more

GAZA STRIP: Hamas leadership says it will remain in Syria ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Ahmed al-Dabba - April 30, 2011 - 12:00am Hamas officials on Saturday denied reports that its top leaders are planning to move from Syria and relocate to Qatar or another Arab country. “The leadership will remain there," said Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan. "As far as I know, we were not told to move to any other country.” The London-based Alhayat newspaper reported Saturday that the Syrian government demanded Hamas leaders, who have been based in Damascus for about a decade, leave. The newspaper said that Qatar had agreed to receive the movement’s politburo leader, Khaled Mashaal. » Read more

Israel suspends tax transfers to Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Joel Greenberg - May 1, 2011 - 12:00am Israel moved against the reconciliation agreement between the Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas on Sunday, with the country’s finance minister saying he would delay the transfer of tax funds collected for the Palestinian Authority until it proves the money will not reach Hamas. The minister, Yuval Steinitz, said that he had postponed meetings between his staff and Palestinian officials and that the tax transfers, which constitute most of the authority’s revenue, would be put on hold until the destination of the money is clarified. » Read more