Two pipes for two peoples: The politics of water in the West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - (Opinion) September 24, 2012 - 12:00am The IDF's Civil Administration is preventing the Palestinian Authority from laying a water pipe that would alleviate the acute water shortage for more than 600,000 Palestinians in the West Bank. The reason given for preventing the pipe's construction is that a section of less than two kilometers of it, laid on the margins of Route 50, would disrupt Jewish passenger traffic on the road. » Read more

'We want the PA to have stability and prosperity, even if we have to fund it' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times of Israel by Raphael Ahren - (Interview) September 23, 2012 - 12:00am s the director-general of Strategic Affairs Ministry, Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser has spent a lot of time researching Palestinian incitement against Israel and Jews. Under his tutelage, the ministry earlier this year published an Incitement Index, which listed numerous examples of statements made by senior Palestinian Authority officials who ostensibly demonized Israel, insulted Jews, marginalized the Holocaust and radiated a general unwillingness for peace and reconciliation. » Read more

Protesters Signal Political Crisis For the Palestinian Authority ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Lena Odgaard - (Opinion) September 23, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH – A World Bank report released Wednesday urged international donors to react quickly to a deep fiscal crisis in the Palestinian territories. The Palestinian Authorities have been under significant pressure this month due to a sudden eruption of continuous protests as thousands took to the streets in a cry of despair over increasing living expenses. » Read more

Asharq Al-Awsat talks to Hamas Deputy Leader Musa Abu-Marzuq ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Salah Jumaa - (Interview) September 24, 2012 - 12:00am Asharq Al-Awsat, Dr. Musa Abu-Marzuq, Deputy Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau spoke about the situation in the Gaza Strip, the prospects of inter-Palestinian reconciliation and elections. Musa Abu Marzuq also touched upon numerous other topics including Muslim Brotherhood President Mohamed Mursi in Egypt, the worldwide Muslim protests against the US film that insulted the prophet and the killing of the US ambassador to Libya. The following is the full text of the interview: » Read more

Listen to Morsi ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) September 24, 2012 - 12:00am Since being elected president of Egypt, Mohammed Morsi has said several times that his administration is committed to the peace treaty with Israel. Despite the fears raised by the regime change in Cairo, Egyptian security officials continue to cooperate with their Israeli counterparts against terrorists operating in Sinai. And despite their ideological and political affinity with Hamas, the heads of the ruling Freedom and Justice Party express support for the Israel-Palestinian peace talks, the two-state solution and the Arab Peace Initiative. » Read more

The settlers' army ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chaim Levinson - (Opinion) September 24, 2012 - 12:00am Two weeks ago, I happened to be at a large settlement where I used a camera to document a property offense committed by one of the residents against land belonging to another person, a Palestinian. An argument broke out between me and the settlement resident. He tried to prevent me from taking the pictures, saying this was his private property, while I claimed there was no legal barrier to my continuing. » Read more

Female candidate tops list to become mayor of Bethlehem ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency (Interview) September 24, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Having a woman compete for the municipal council of a city as famous and spiritually important as Bethlehem would have been seen as a pointless adventure a number of years ago. In 2012, however, fellow candidates of Vera Baboun are proud that she is leading a list of hopefuls to become the first female mayor of the city of Bethlehem. Speaking to Ma'an's reporter, Baboun says she belongs to the history and geography of Bethlehem and is keen to serve the city with a scientific and practical vision developed during her professional life. » Read more

Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Israeli threats, nuclear program and Syria ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by David Ignatius - (Interview) September 23, 2012 - 12:00am Iran may be on the firing line, but President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was as calmly combative as ever Sunday, dismissing Israel’s military threats and predicting that nothing will happen in the nuclear talks until after the U.S. presidential elections. » Read more

Israeli PM apologizes to UN chief for leaking conversation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua September 24, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently apologized to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon over leaking to the Israeli media parts of their conversation about Ban's visit to Iran last month, according to local media. On Aug. 10, the two officials discussed the 16th Non-Aligned Movement summit, in which Ban was about to participate in Iran's capital of Tehran. » Read more

Senior PA minister suspected of sexually harassing employee ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff - September 24, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has ordered an investigation into a senior minister suspected of sexually harassing an employee in his office, Haaretz has learned. The minister is considered an Abbas appointee. » Read more