PA 'stops recruitment, promotions' due to financial crisis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 26, 2012 - 12:00am The Palestinian Authority issued a decision on Friday to stop all new recruitment and promotions in government institutions until further notice as a result of the financial crisis it is currently experiencing, a statement from President Abbas' office said. Palestinian economist Nasser Abed al-Kareem told Ma'an that the PA was forced to make the decision as a result of the current financial crisis, adding that the move will add around $30 million annually to the PA's budget. » Read more

Diplomat: FM's letter aimed to block Abbas’s UN bid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon - August 28, 2012 - 12:00am Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman’s letter to the Quartet last week calling for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s ouster is part of a campaign to get leading democracies to oppose the PA’s UN bid, a senior diplomatic official said Monday. The idea behind the letter, the official said, was primarily to preempt Abbas’s move at the UN by putting on the public agenda his record of rejecting Israeli gestures and refusing to negotiate, while trying to diplomatically isolate Israel. » Read more

FM: Abbas to seek support for UN bid at Tehran summit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 28, 2012 - 12:00am President Mahmoud Abbas will canvas for support for the UN bid at a summit of 120 developing nations in Tehran, PA Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said Tuesday. The PLO plans to ask the UN General Assembly to upgrade its status to a non-member observer state. A previous bid for full UN membership stalled at the Security Council last year. Al-Malki told Ma'an he was confident Palestine had the support of the non-aligned states at the summit. » Read more

Rights group: investigate Palestinian police abuse ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press August 27, 2012 - 12:00am An American rights group is calling on the Palestinian Authority to investigate incidents where police beat protesters in the West Bank. The New York-based Human Rights Watch said in two incidents, Palestinian police beat Palestinian demonstrators in the West Bank city of Ramallah in June and July. The group said six people were hospitalized. The group said Palestinian officials conducted four inquiries but did not prosecute any of the police involved. » Read more

Israeli PM retracts from his request to amend investments, fearing public backlash ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua August 27, 2012 - 12:00am Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu retracted on Monday from his request to modify his private investments, fearing public speculation over an upcoming war with Iran would circulate and affect global economy. On Aug. 15, a special committee at the State Comptroller's office authorized Netanyahu's request to make changes to his foreign and domestic investment portfolio. » Read more

UN: Gaza not 'liveable' by 2020 barring urgent action ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Nidal al-Mughrabi - August 28, 2012 - 12:00am Gaza will no longer be "liveable" by 2020 unless urgent action is taken to improve water supply, power, health, and schooling, the United Nations' most comprehensive report on the Palestinian enclave said on Monday. "Action needs to be taken now if Gaza is to be a liveable place in 2020 and it is already difficult now," UN humanitarian coordinator Maxwell Gaylard told journalists when the report was released on Monday. » Read more

UN agency: Gaza won't be viable by 2020 due to population growth ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua August 28, 2012 - 12:00am The United Nations agency that is responsible for Palestinian refugees warned Monday that the Gaza Strip will not be viable if population growth continues under closure. Robert Turner, operations director of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), said at a news conference here that the population in Gaza will increase to over two million by 2020. The Gaza Strip's current population is 1.6 million. » Read more

Israelis get gas masks, shelters in order ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Edmund Sanders - August 27, 2012 - 12:00am With his wife expecting their third child next month, Ram Gilboa, a sports commentator who lives just outside Tel Aviv, recently found himself jotting down a list of baby supplies that friends and family could buy: a crib, diapers ... gas mask. "That's not normal," Gilboa, 32, recalled with a nervous laugh. "When you're making a list of gifts for a baby, gas mask is not supposed to be on it." » Read more

Israel shells Gaza compounds after rocket attacks ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Dan Williams - August 27, 2012 - 12:00am Israeli forces shelled two compounds run by the Hamas government's security services in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, wounding two Palestinians, Hamas said. Israel described the targets as weapons manufacturing and storage sites and said they were hit in retaliation for recent short-range rocket salvoes launches from the coastal enclave into the Jewish state. Two such salvoes, on Sunday and Monday, caused no casualties and were claimed by ultra-conservative Salafi Islamists who have a presence in Gaza and the neighbouring Egyptian Sinai. » Read more

Anti-rocket school protects Israeli kids near Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Aron Heller - August 27, 2012 - 12:00am For the first time in years, the children of Sderot can study in peace. Living under a constant threat of rocket fire from militants in the nearby Gaza Strip, their schooldays were often interrupted by mad dashes to bomb shelters. But on Monday, they started the school year safe from attack in a new, fortified, rocket-proof school building. » Read more