Mishal still a contender for Hamas leadership – Source
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat
by Ali El-saleh - November 13, 2012 - 1:00am

London, Asharq Al-Awsat - Contrary to recent reports that Khalid Mishal, head of the Hamas movement’s Political Bureau, would not nominate himself for a fifth term to the post he’s held since 1996, an informed Palestinian source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Mishal's name is still on the table.

»

State of Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
(Editorial) November 13, 2012 - 1:00am

Our political leaders are reassessing their options in the wake of the latest escalation in the South. Israel’s current policy is to react to each new barrage from Gaza by identifying and singling out the specific terrorist organization that fired at our civilians, targeting rocket-launching crews and arms caches.

»

Abbas tells Obama he'll seek Palestinian UN upgrade, defying U.S.
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Noah Browning, Matt Spetalnick - November 12, 2012 - 1:00am

RAMALLAH, West Bank/WASHINGTON, Nov 11 (Reuters) - P alestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told President Barack Obama on Sunday he was intent on pressing ahead with a Palestinian bid for United Nations recognition as a non-member state, despite the U.S. leader's objections. Abbas explained his decision to Obama in a phone conversation, according to Abbas aide Nabil Abu Rdaineh. Continued defiance of Washington on such a sensitive issue casts further doubt on the chances for any renewed U.S.-led Israeli-Palestinian peace drive following Obama's re-election on Tuesday.

»

Israeli FM meets ambassadors over Palestinian UN bid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
November 12, 2012 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman met Sunday with Israeli ambassadors to the European Union regarding Israel's response to the Palestinians' bid for upgrading their status at the United Nations. The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is expected to submit its application for upgrading their status at the United Nations later this month.

»

Israel says to close cash tap if Palestinians seek UN statehood
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Ori Lewis - November 11, 2012 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -- Israel will stop collecting tax revenues for the Palestinian Authority and not hand over any money if President Mahmoud Abbas continues to seek observer state membership of the United Nations, Israel's finance minister said Saturday. "If the Palestinians continue to advance their unilateral move they should not expect bilateral cooperation. We will not collect their taxes for them and we will not transfer their tax revenues," Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said.

»

Palestinian, US president discuss UN initiative
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
November 11, 2012 - 1:00am

RAMALLAH, West Bank —A spokesman for the Palestinian president says the Palestinians will proceed with asking the U.N. General Assembly to recognize a Palestinian state, despite a personal call from President Barack Obama to abandon the bid. Nabil Abu Rdeneh said President Mahmoud Abbas had a long phone conversation with Obama on Sunday evening. He said Obama "expresses his opposition to this step," but Abbas replied he would carry on.

»

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.

»

Palestinian farmers turn to organic farming
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Diaa Hadid - (Analysis) November 9, 2012 - 1:00am

  The Palestinian olive harvest, an ancient autumn ritual in the West Bank, is going upscale.

»

Official: 51 states 'undecided' over Palestinian UN bid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
(Analysis) November 9, 2012 - 1:00am

 Fifty-one countries are undecided over whether to support in its bid to become a non-member state of the UN, an Arab League official said Friday.

»

Palestinians release draft of statehood bid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
(Analysis) November 9, 2012 - 1:00am

  Palestinian diplomats have circulated a draft resolution to U.N. member states that calls for recognition of "Palestine" as an observer state. The draft resolution could be put to a vote in the 193-nation U.N. General Assembly later this month, Reuters reported this week.

»


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