Hamas to appoint Abu Marzouk as chief: sources
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
October 24, 2012 - 12:00am

GAZA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Hamas is considering appointing Moussa Abu Marzouk, currently deputy head of the Hamas politburo, to replace Khaled Mashaal as the movement's chief, sources said Wednesday. The Shurra council of Hamas, the Islamic Palestinian movement that rules the Gaza Strip, made the decision to appoint Abu Marzouk after a series of meetings in Cairo last week, the sources said.

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Momentum builds for Gaza to secede, Israel and West Bank to become one
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
by Christa Case Bryant - October 24, 2012 - 12:00am

After decades of the "two states for two people" blueprint more or less dominating proposals for Israeli-Palestinian peace, a new paradigm is gaining momentum. Under this model, Israel absorbs the West Bank and its 2.5 million Palestinians, while Hamas-run Gaza becomes a separate entity aligned with the Middle East’s rising Islamist powers.

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Hamas Rising?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Hussein Ibish - (Opinion) October 24, 2012 - 12:00am

Is everyone conspiring to undermine the Palestinian Authority and promote Hamas? This morning, in the context of yesterday's visit of the Emir of Qatar to Gaza, with his pledges of massive financial and diplomatic support, it sure looks that way. The biggest threat to the PA is a fiscal crisis originating in its quixotic U.N. membership bid of September 2012, which produced a confrontation with its main donors, particularly the United States.

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Gaza and Qatari guardianship
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat
by Tariq Alhomayed - (Opinion) October 24, 2012 - 12:00am

The visit of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, to the Gaza Strip has raised some criticism, specifically from the Palestinian Authority. However this visit also raises a lot of questions, most importantly: Does the visit of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa mean that Gaza is now under Qatari guardianship, after it was previously under the guardianship of Iran and Bashar al-Assad?

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Salafis determined to establish Islamic Emirate in Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat
by Kifah Zaboun - (Editorial) October 23, 2012 - 12:00am

Ramallah, Asharq Al-Awsat - A prominent Salafi jihadist based in the Gaza Strip has stressed that his group’s efforts of establishing an Islamic Emirate in the Gaza Strip continues despite the severe blows handed to them at the hands of Israel and the Hamas Movement. "We always are planning to establish God's Sharia on earth. This is the duty of every Muslim. Our project, God willing, exists, and the day will come when the mujahidin will fulfil their project." Abu Abdul-Muhajir told Asharq Al-Awsat.

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Qatar visit breaks Gaza ice, delights Hamas
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Nidal Al-Mughrabi - October 23, 2012 - 12:00am

GAZA, Oct 23 (Reuters) - The Emir of Qatar embraced the Hamas leadership of Gaza on Tuesday with an official visit that broke the isolation of the Palestinian Islamist movement, to the dismay of Israel and rival, Western-backed Palestinian leaders.

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Qatari emir visits Gaza in boost to Hamas rulers
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Ibrahim Barzak - October 23, 2012 - 12:00am

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip —The emir of Qatar received a hero's welcome in Gaza on Tuesday, becoming the first head of state to visit the Palestinian territory since the Islamist militant Hamas seized control of the coastal strip five years ago.

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Bomb wounds Israeli officer on Gaza border
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Maayan Lubell - October 23, 2012 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM - An Israeli officer was severely wounded on Tuesday when a bomb went off beside an army patrol along the border with the Gaza Strip, a military spokeswoman said. The attack came hours before the Emir of Qatar arrived in Gaza in the first visit by a head of state to the blockaded enclave since it was taken over in 2007 by the Iranian-backed Islamist Hamas movement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will deliver a strong response to the attack. "We will fight and we will hit them very, very hard," Netanyahu said.

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Israel Bans Even Marriage Ties Between West Bank and Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Hayat
by Mohammad Younes - October 22, 2012 - 12:00am

Ali Batha — from the West Bank — met Rihab Abu Hashish — from the Gaza Strip — while studying at Birzeit University in the West Bank in 2000, and lived a love story that led them to marriage. However, at the time, this young couple didn't know that Israeli policy is aimed at completely separating the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, and prevents any contact between the two sides, including even marriage.

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Qatari emir comes to Gaza bearing gifts – maybe with some strings attached
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
by Whitney Eulich - October 22, 2012 - 12:00am

The emir of Qatar traveled to Gaza today, becoming the first head of state from any nation to visit the territory since the Islamist group Hamas took power five years ago. The emir is bringing significant offers of aid, furthering the small oil-rich nation's efforts to gain influence around the region.

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