July 26th

Syrian army 'bombs Palestine Hospital' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 26, 2012 - 12:00am Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad on Thursday bombed a hospital in Damascus' Yarmouk refugee camp, Palestinian sources told Ma'an.  » Read more

East Jerusalem concert nixed after claims of "normalization" ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) July 26, 2012 - 12:00am The UN Middle East envoy announced on Wednesday the postponement of a concert planned for East Jerusalem, after Palestinian objections to the perceived act of "normalization". » Read more

Sources: Fayyad sues lawmaker ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 26, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is suing a Palestinian lawmaker who claimed the premier had enlisted a British firm to provide his security, Ma'an learned Wednesday. » Read more

Settlers celebrate passing 350,000 mark; Peace Now says figures are inflated ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times of Israel by Raphael Ahren - July 26, 2012 - 12:00am Jewish settlers in the West Bank have crossed the 350,000 mark this year, according to new Interior Ministry figures. » Read more

Warning: Turbulence Ahead ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) July 25, 2012 - 12:00am "Everybody knows that relations with Israel have never been worse." So thundered the venerable John McCain, foreign policy preacher and iconoclast par excellence, in a sermon from the mountaintop on one of last Sunday's talk shows. The Arizona senator was commenting on President Barack Obama's claim last week in Palm Beach, one he has oft repeated on the campaign trail, that U.S.-Israeli ties are stronger than ever. » Read more

PNA accomplishes rehabilitation of Gaza's sole power plant ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua July 26, 2012 - 12:00am The Palestinian authorities announced Wednesday it has completed the rehabilitation of the sole power plant in the Gaza Strip. » Read more

Abbas: Bid for UN recognition to be decided on Sept. 6 ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua July 26, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday announced that the Arab League will decide on September 6, the date for applying to the United Nations to recognize a Palestinian state. » Read more

Hamas slams municipal elections in West Bank only ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua July 26, 2012 - 12:00am Islamic Hamas Movement on Wednesday slammed the Palestinian decision to hold the municipal elections in the West Bank only. » Read more

Iran accuses Israel of plotting Bulgaria bus attack ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters July 25, 2012 - 12:00am Iran's U.N. envoy accused Israel on Wednesday of plotting and carrying out a suicide bomb attack on a bus in Bulgaria a week ago in which five Israeli tourists were killed. » Read more

Hamas Rising ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy by Jonathan Schanzer - (Opinion) July 25, 2012 - 12:00am Countries across the Middle East are opening their coffers to support the Palestinian cause -- but the funds are increasingly being diverted in a direction that portends renewed conflict with Israel. » Read more