June 12th, 2012

Abbas looking to break deadlock in negotiations with Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Adam Gonn - (Analysis) June 11, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinian National Authority ( PNA) President Mahmoud Abbas said he might be willing to hold talks with Israel, if it frees Palestinian prisoners and allows for weapons to be transferred to Palestinian security forces. Abbas said that, since Israel has rejected both his previous demand to halt settlement construction on the West Bank or accept the cease-fire lines that existed prior to the 1967 war as the borders for a Palestinian state, he might be willing to attend talks if the new demands were meet. » Read more

The warning - and the responsibility ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) June 11, 2012 - 12:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's problematic attitude toward the National Security Council was at the center of the complaints voiced against him by former NSC head Uzi Arad. This attitude was also discussed in a State Comptroller's Report that is due to be released shortly. » Read more

Quarter of Palestinians suffer from Poverty, says Statistics Bureau ATFP World Press Roundup Article from WAFA June 12, 2012 - 12:00am Around 25.8% of Palestinians suffered from poverty in the Palestinian Territory in 2011, said a report by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) on Monday. It showed that slightly more than one out of four individuals was living below poverty line in 2011, 17.8% in the West Bank and 38.8% in Gaza Strip. Similarly about 12.9% of individuals were living below the deep poverty line in 2011, 7.8% in the West Bank and 21.1% in Gaza Strip. » Read more

Britain gives $155 million to Palestinian refugees ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) June 12, 2012 - 12:00am Britain on Tuesday announced a 100 million pound ($155 million) aid package to support Palestinian refugees in the Middle East for the next three years. The British embassy in Amman said International Development Minister Alan Duncan made the announcement after a visit to the Baqaa Palestinian refugee camp near the Jordanian capital. » Read more

Rafah Border Crossing Gets a Makeover ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line by Omar Ghraieb - June 7, 2012 - 12:00am Abu Yousef Hammouda shuffled into the Rafah border crossing to travel to Egypt for his periodic medical treatment and a smile grew on his weary face as he entered the newly renovated and air conditioned halls. “I have traveled to Egypt many times before,” said Hammouda, who looked much older than his 30 years. “The arrival hall wasn’t modern or efficient but today I see what a huge effort has been made and what a great job has been done.” » Read more

'US-Israeli military cooperation stronger than ever' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post June 12, 2012 - 12:00am US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta hosted President Shimon Peres at the Pentagon on Monday, saying that military cooperation between the US and Israel was "stronger than ever, stable and ongoing." Peres visited the Pentagon as part of a multi-day visit to the US in which he is scheduled to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from US President Barak Obama. In addition to meeting Panetta, Peres took part in a roundtable discussion with other senior US officials, including US military chief Gen. Martin Dempsey. » Read more

Israeli MK, AIPAC behind Senate bid to cut total number of Palestinian refugees ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - June 12, 2012 - 12:00am Capitol Hill in Washington was rocked late last month when the Senate Appropriations Committee approved an amendment requiring the State Department, for the first time, to do a "count" of Palestinian refugees. The amendment required the State Department to specify how many of the five million Palestinians who receive aid from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency are refugees who were personally displaced from their homes in 1948, and how many are descendants of those refugees. » Read more

Parties say Israel-Vatican accord accepts occupation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency June 12, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinian political factions on Sunday condemned a draft economic agreement between Israel and the Vatican, saying it entails the Holy See recognizing Israeli legislation in East Jerusalem and occupied Palestinian territory. The document outlining an agreement between Israel and the Vatican on legal and fiscal issues has been circulating in different circles, the PLO said in a statement. » Read more

PA will borrow from banks if necessary ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency June 12, 2012 - 12:00am The Palestinian Authority will start talks with the private sector, and still has bank funds available to cover its financial crisis, the newly-appointed PA minister of economy Jawad Naji said Monday. The Palestinian Monetary Authority chief Jihad al-Wazir said Sunday the PA had reached its maximum limit for bank borrowing. But the minister told Ma'an: "If we need, we will borrow from banks to pay salaries." "In fact there are deposits and cash which we haven’t used so far," Naji continued. » Read more

Israeli authorities 'demolish Jerusalem farm complex' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency June 12, 2012 - 12:00am   Israeli authorities demolished a complex of sheep barns in an East Jerusalem neighborhood on Tuesday morning, a local rights group said. Bulldozers tore down the 700-square-meter steel buildings belonging to Aziz Jamil Jaabees in the al-Salaa neighborhood in Jabal al-Mukabbir, the Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights said. » Read more