Why some in Israel say the Gaza blockade has failed
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
by Joshua Mitnick - May 14, 2010 - 12:00am

Both Hamas and Israel chalked up victories this week. In Damascus, the Islamic militants got a rare international embrace from Russia President Dmitry Medvedev. In Washington, the Jewish state got about $280 million for weapon system to intercept rockets from Gaza. Skip to next paragraph

»

Gaza is a Victim Twice!
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat
by Hassan Haidar - May 13, 2010 - 12:00am

According to an ordinary piece of news, the Egyptian Supply Control members seized a truck loaded with 100 small power generators at a security checkpoint at the entrance of Al-Arish City. These were being smuggled into the Gaza Strip, so the load was confiscated and the person accompanying the driver arrested.

»

Gazan man says Hamas beat him for alleged affairs
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman
by Diaa Hadid - May 12, 2010 - 12:00am

A Gaza art gallery owner said Wednesday that Hamas police repeatedly beat and abused him over allegations that he had had sexual relations with women who are not his wife, which is forbidden by Islamic law. Gaza human rights activists say the rare admission by Jamal Abu Qumsan, who is unmarried, is the clearest evidence yet of a quiet but persistent Hamas morals crackdown in Gaza, as part of an attempt to implement strict Islamic law.

»

Regulator says Gaza banking OK despite closures
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman
by Karin Laub - May 12, 2010 - 12:00am

The top Palestinian financial regulator sought to assure an anxious public Wednesday that the Gaza Strip is not facing a banking crisis after the Palestinian territories' largest lender closed two of its three Gaza branches last week. The decision by the Jordan-based Arab Bank to shutter the shops set off jitters among its Gaza customers. On Wednesday, dozens of clients lined up at the bank's sole remaining branch in Gaza City, some of them in order to close their accounts.

»

Exclusive: Arab Bank shuts down in Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Golan Hazani - May 10, 2010 - 12:00am

The largest bank in the Arab world, the Arab Bank, will shut down its three Gaza branches, the Calcalist learned Monday. Their closing will mark the last of the banks working according to international banking standards in Gaza. Tunnel operators in Strip say ruling Islamist movement issue the order late Wednesday for unknown reasons; Hamas says tunnels will continue to operate as long as blockade not lifted Full Story

»

Palestinian president warns of Hamas arms smuggling in West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
May 6, 2010 - 12:00am

The Palestinian president has accused Hamas militants of smuggling large amounts of weapons into the West Bank, just as peace talks with Israel are getting under way. President Mahmoud Abbas said in a newspaper interview published Thursday that his forces have largely thwarted the smuggling efforts. He says they confiscate weapons, explosives and other equipment from Hamas operatives every day. The comments, made to the London-based Arabic daily Sharq al-Awsat, appeared to be aimed at easing Israeli concerns as indirect U.S.-mediated peace talks begin this week.

»

Abbas: Hamas is smuggling weapons into the West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Jack Khoury - May 6, 2010 - 12:00am

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday accused the rival Hamas movement of smuggling weapons into the West Bank territory under his control. "On the one hand, the organization is punishing those who launch rockets in Gaza, while at the same time it hoards weapons in the West Bank," the Palestinian leader said in an interview with the London-based A-Sharq al-Awsat. Palestinian security forces routinely discover these caches, Abbas told the newspaper.

»

MESS Report / Hamas fears economic crisis could spark uprising
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amos Harel, Avi Issacharoff - May 4, 2010 - 12:00am

It turns out that not only Greece and Spain are suffering economic hardship. The Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip is facing a severe economic crisis due to the dwindling foreign assistance the organization normally relies on. The financial distress is raising concern among Hamas leaders that they may not be able to withstand the increasing public pressure, which could lead to a popular uprising against the government.

»

Hamas short on cash as Gaza blockade takes toll
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Rizek Abdel Jawad - May 3, 2010 - 12:00am

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Hamas confirmed Sunday it is unable to pay thousands of government workers in full for a second straight month — a new sign that the Islamic militants are caught in what may be the most serious cash crunch in three years of ruling Gaza. Hamas dismisses rumors of a financial crisis, and insists its money woes are temporary. However, it has resorted to an unpopular tax drive to raise money, suggesting that a heavy blockade on the territory, an Egyptian crackdown on smuggling and an increasingly expensive government bureaucracy are taking their toll.

»

Fayyad calls for lifting Gaza siege
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
April 30, 2010 - 12:00am

Prime Minister of the caretaker government Salam Fayyad called Thursday for lifting the siege on Gaza. Following talks with South African foreign affairs chief Ibrahim Ismail Ibrahim in his office in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Fayyad affirmed the necessity of lifting the siege to enable the Palestinian Authority to begin rebuilding Gaza by implementing developmental and vital projects similar to those being accomplished in the West Bank.

»


American Task Force on Palestine - 1634 Eye St. NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20006 - Telephone: 202-262-0017