Fatah youth launches West Bank rallies, 6 injured
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
November 14, 2012 - 1:00am

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Six people were wounded by Israeli forces on Wednesday as Fatah's youth organization organized rallies across the West Bank to kick off a week of activities to commemorate independence day, Ma'an's reporter said. Fatah youth organized demonstrations in Qalqiliya, Ramallah, Nablus and Hebron, blocking bypass roads linking Israeli settlement infrastructure in the West Bank.

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European watchdog 'concerned' by PA pressure on journalists
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
November 14, 2012 - 1:00am

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- A European press freedom group said Monday it was concerned about the Palestinian Authority's steps to put pressure on a columnist who criticized President Mahmoud Abbas' office. The Vienna-based International Press Institute said it was joining Palestinian journalists who have raised concerns about the PA's treatment of Jihad Harb after he questioned hiring practices at Abbas' office.

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Israel, Palestinians put lid on Gaza, for now
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Alertnet
November 13, 2012 - 1:00am

TEL AVIV/GAZA, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Israel and the Palestinians stepped back from the brink of a new war in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, sending signals to each other via Egypt that they would hold their fire unless attacked, after five days of mounting violence.

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Abbas says Russia to join in Arafat's death investigation
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
November 11, 2012 - 1:00am

RAMALLAH, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday revealed that Russia will take part in investigating the death of his predecessor Yasser Arafat alongside France and Switzerland. "There is a complete coordination between us and the French and also experts from the Russian government to exhume Arafat's body," Abbas said during a festival in the West Bank city of Ramallah marking the eighth anniversary of Arafat's death.

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Hamas MP says Abbas not welcome in Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
November 8, 2012 - 1:00am

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Hamas-affiliated MP Yahia Mousa said Wednesday he would not welcome Mahmoud Abbas to the Gaza Strip, after the president was reported to have considered a joint visit with the Turkish premier. "No hello, no welcome, no greeting, your visit is refused. Gaza is the house of the revolution and the revolutionary, and we don't welcome anyone who sells our homeland," Mousa posted on his official Facebook account.

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Hamas denies preventing Fatah official from leaving Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
November 6, 2012 - 1:00am

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- The Ministry of Interior in Gaza on Tuesday denied reports that security forces had prevented a Fatah official from leaving the Gaza Strip a day earlier, a statement said. Central committee member Amal Hamad waited at the Palestinian side of the Erez crossing for two hours before she was turned back, Fatah said on Monday.

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Fatah official casts doubt on existence of Hamas unity proposal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
(Analysis) November 2, 2012 - 12:00am

Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad said Thursday that Egyptian officials told him they have not received a proposal from Hamas on reconciliation between their parties.

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Abbas concerned by Qatar emir visit
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
(Analysis) October 27, 2012 - 12:00am

President Mahmoud Abbas said Friday he was concerned about the Qatari emir's visit to the Gaza Strip, saying it could lead to Gaza's separation from the West Bank.  Abbas made the remarks while visiting the grave of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on the first day of Eid al-Adha.  The president stressed that his bid to upgrade Palestine's status at the UN was one of the most important things he could do for the Palestinian people.  The UN bid aims to preserve the two-state solution, he said. 

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Analysts: Despite Hamas absence, elections still Fatah failure
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
October 22, 2012 - 12:00am

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The first elections held in the West Bank for six years reflect how frustrated Palestinians are with their political system and ruling party Fatah, political observers said Sunday. The poll was held on Saturday in 92 of the 353 municipalities in the West Bank. Other seats were uncontested, creating automatic winners, or failed to register any candidates in this round, and will hold polls next month.

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Fatah 'not invited' to meet Qatari emir
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
October 22, 2012 - 12:00am

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Fatah has not been invited to meet Qatar's emir who is due to visit the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, a Fatah leader said Monday. Yahya Rabah told Ma'an that Fatah received no invitation from Qatar or the Hamas-led government in Gaza to meet Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. Rabah, who is based in Gaza, said Fatah was not informed of the reason for the visit or any of the arrangements but said the trip raised questions.

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