September 21st

Egypt continues to support Palestinian reconciliation: FM ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua September 21, 2012 - 12:00am CAIRO, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Amr said Egypt is working on the Palestinian reconciliation, state media reported on Thursday. "We hope the disputes between the West Bank and the Gaza strip will be resolved soon," said Amr, adding that differences weaken the reconciliation efforts, official news agency MENA reported. » Read more

PMO: PA's UN statehood bid violates Oslo process ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon, Tovah Lazaroff - September 20, 2012 - 12:00am The Prime Minister’s Office warned Thursday that a Palestinian unilateral statehood bid at the UN, along with attempts to set the territorial boundaries of the conflict through a General Assembly resolution, would be a “mistake” and “a blow to the peace process.” “We hope this does not happen,” said Mark Regev, spokesman for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. “The Palestinians committed themselves to resolving all outstanding issues in negotiations, and such a unilateral action would be viewed as a violation.” » Read more

Year After Effort at U.N., New Aim for Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Jodi Rudoren - September 20, 2012 - 12:00am JERICHO, West Bank — One year after the Palestinians’ high-profile failure to win United Nations membership through the Security Council, they are returning to the General Assembly next week seeking largely symbolic “nonmember state” status, with a subdued campaign that many analysts see as a long-shot effort to win back the waning attention of the world. » Read more

September 20th

Poll: Majority of Palestinians, Israelis say attack on Iran would result in major war ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Akiva Eldar - September 20, 2012 - 12:00am Around 80 percent of both Israelis and Palestinians say that an Israeli strike against Iran's nuclear facilities would ignite a major regional war, a joint Israeli-Palestinian survey indicated on Thursday, adding that around 70 percent of respondents say they believe the chances of establishing a Palestinian state in the next five years were practically nonexistent. » Read more

Palestinians Undecided on Timing Of UN Observer Status Bid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Ayyam by Hani Habib - September 19, 2012 - 12:00am Despite the clamor caused by the Palestinian premier when he requested that Palestine be given the status of “observer state” at the United Nations General Assembly, the Palestinian Authority has decided to go forward with this request at the UN. However, the PA is still uncertain of the best way to present this demand, and is hesitant regarding the vote it will undergo. » Read more

Study: Obama’s middle name influences Israeli perceptions ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) September 19, 2012 - 12:00am (JTA) – President Obama’s middle name, Hussein, can influence the way he is perceived by Israelis, a new study found. Researchers at the University of Haifa and University of Texas found that when Obama’s middle name was used to identify him, Israelis saw him as less pro-Israel. Results of the study, which was published in the journal Political Behavior, were announced Wednesday in a news release. » Read more

Erekat: UN resolution will set terms for talks with Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Tovah Lazaroff - September 20, 2012 - 12:00am Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat on Thursday said the terms of reference for Palestinian negotiations with Israel will be set in a proposed UN General Assembly resolution. Speaking after a meeting with a number of European Union envoys in Jericho, Erekat said the process of establishing a state begins at the UN, so seeking upgraded statehood status at the United Nations is not a unilateral step. "No one is talking about canceling the peace process," he said. » Read more

Jailed Palestinian activist ends hunger strike, amid signs of possible release ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - September 20, 2012 - 12:00am The campaign being waged by international pro-Palestinian activists against the incarceration of Zakarya Zubeidi is beginning to show signs of success, friends of the Jenin Freedom Theater co-founder said Thursday. Zubeidi, a resident of the Jenin refugee camp and a former leading militant turned cultural activist, has been under Palestinian Authority custody since May and went on hunger strike September 9. » Read more

AG urges Barak to allow inspectors to prosecute illegal construction in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chaim Levinson - September 20, 2012 - 12:00am Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein has requested Defense Minister Ehud Barak to allow construction inspectors operating in the West Bank to prosecute settlers who build without permits, Haaretz learned on Wednesday. The request was made as part of the AG's appeal to bolster the Civil Administration's inspecting unit, originally submitted a few months ago as part of the battle against illegal construction in settlements and outposts, only to be resubmitted recently. » Read more

News Analysis: Palestinians' despair pushes call for annulling Oslo interim accords ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua (Analysis) September 19, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinians signaled recently to annul or modify the interim Oslo peace accords signed with Israel in 1993, where observers considered the issue an explanation of despair towards reaching a final agreement and establish an independent Palestinian state. » Read more