Lawsuit Accuses IRS of Screening Israel-Related Charities
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
by Josh Nathan-Kazis - August 25, 2010 - 12:00am

A hawkish pro-Israel activist group has filed a lawsuit alleging that the Internal Revenue Service is impeding or denying applications for tax-exempt status from nonprofit organizations that oppose the Obama administration’s Israel policies. But experts in nonprofit tax law say that the allegations seem far-fetched.

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Dismal lack of classrooms in East Jerusalem
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
August 24, 2010 - 12:00am

The education of Palestinian children in East Jerusalem is subject to "ongoing neglect," a joint report issued by two Israeli rights group said Tuesday. The Association of Civil Rights in Israel and Jerusalem-based NGO Ir Amim say the education system in East Jerusalem remains short of 1,000 classrooms for Palestinian students. According to the report, only 39 schools were built for Palestinians over the past year despite promises made in court to build 644 by 2011.

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Support builds for boycotts against Israel, activists say
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Boston Globe
by Farah Stockman - August 22, 2010 - 12:00am

In May, rock legend Elvis Costello canceled his gig in Israel. Then, in June, a group of unionized dock workers in San Francisco refused to unload an Israeli ship. In August, a food co-op in Washington state removed Israeli products from its shelves. The so-called “boycott, divestment, and sanctions’’ movement aimed at pressuring Israel to withdraw from land claimed by Palestinians has long been considered a fringe effort inside the United States, with no hope of garnering mainstream support enjoyed by the anti-apartheid campaign against South Africa of the 1980s.

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Arab states cut aid to PA
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
August 20, 2010 - 12:00am

Arab states have cut financial aid to the Palestinian Authority so far this year and the United Nations has warned of a looming Palestinian cash crisis. "The Arabs are not paying. We urge them to meet their financial pledges," said Saleh Rafat, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization's executive committee and one of the few Palestinian officials willing to speak out on the matter. Arab government officials declined to comment on the issue.

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4 Palestinians to be tried for violating settlement boycott
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Ali Waked - August 17, 2010 - 12:00am

The Palestinian Finance Ministry decided Tuesday to indict four merchants who violated the boycotted on products made in West Bank settlements. The four Palestinians are expected to face harsh penalties. Moreover, the law states that Palestinians caught selling settlement products may have their license revoked and vehicle impouned. Despite this, Fayyad's counterpart in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, said he believes the Palestinian Authority is not being firm enough with Israel. Hamas unimpressed

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Palestinian Health Ministry Moves to Self-Reliance
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
by David Miller - August 15, 2010 - 12:00am

Transfer of Palestinian patients to Israel for medical treatment will soon come to an end in order to keep funding inside the Palestinian Authority, according to the Palestinian Minister of Health. Minister Fathi Abu-Moghli said that funds previously used to cover medical treatment for Palestinians abroad would now be channeled into developing the Palestinian health sector.

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PA reports year's achievements
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Ali Waked - August 15, 2010 - 12:00am

The Palestinian government on Sunday published a report outlining its activity in the past year. According to the document, in the past 12 months the Palestinian Authority's government, headed by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, marked significant achievements in the construction of government institutions and other infrastructure.

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Palestinian, Israeli economy ministers meet
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
August 13, 2010 - 12:00am

Palestinian Authority Minister of National Economy Hasan Abu Libdeh held a meeting Thursday with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Ben Eliezer, the Palestinian ministry said. The meeting, called by the Israeli trade and industry minister, was to discuss the PA's campaign to ban settlement produce in the West Bank. “The request for this meeting only indicates the success of the campaign and its impact on the decline in economic strength of the settlements,” Abu Libdeh said.

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Palestinians 'adamant about continuing boycott on settlement goods'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - August 13, 2010 - 12:00am

Palestinian Authority Economy Minister Hassan Abu Libda said Thursday that Palestinians would continue to boycott settlement goods despite Israel's requests. Abu Libda made his comments after a meeting with Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer. Ben Eliezer had asked the PA minister in the past to put an end to the boycott, which calls on Palestinians not to buy goods from companies such as Shamir Salads, Kobi Burekas, Ramat Hagolan Dairies, Jerusalem Granola, Bagel Bagel, Mei Eden, Soda Club, Barkan Wineries, Ramat Hagolan Wineries, Rav-Bariach and Ahava Products.

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PA minister calls boycott of settlement products a success, vows to continue
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Ora Coren, Barak Ravid - August 13, 2010 - 12:00am

Palestinian Authority Economy Minister Hassan Abu Libda met with Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer in Tel Aviv yesterday, but said afterward that Palestinians would continue to boycott settlement goods despite Israel's requests that it stop. The two also discussed a new Palestinian law, expected to take effect at the beginning of 2012, which would ban Palestinians from working in the settlements. In addition, Abu Libda detailed the PA's request for observer status in the World Trade Organization and asked for Israel's cooperation on this matter.

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