Gazans call on Egypt not to destroy tunnels
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
September 30, 2012 - 12:00am

GAZA, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Palestinian notables and community leaders demonstrated on Sunday at the borderline area between southern Gaza Strip and Egypt, calling on Egypt not to destroy dozens of smuggling tunnels.

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Barak: Lieberman's comments on Abbas harm Israel's interests
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
September 30, 2012 - 12:00am

Defense Minister Ehud Barak harshly criticized Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman over the weekend, for naming Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as “the biggest obstacle to peace.”

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Palestinian authority aims to securitize $200 million of debt
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Martin Dokoupil, Sylvia Westall - September 30, 2012 - 12:00am

KUWAIT (Reuters) - Palestinian authorities are aiming to securitize an initial $200 million of some $1.3 billion worth of government debt by the first quarter of 2013 to help reduce state borrowing from local banks, a top banker said on Sunday.

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Poll: 72 percent plan to vote in October's local elections
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
September 29, 2012 - 12:00am

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- A new poll shows 72 percent of Palestinians plan to vote in elections taking place in three weeks, but supporters of Hamas are much less likely to participate in the vote, which is being boycotted by the party. In a poll published on Saturday by the Arab World for Research & Development, 85 percent said they support holding local elections, which will take place on Oct. 20 in the West Bank only.

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Palestinians shrug off Abbas bid for statehood at UN
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Jihan Abdalla, Noah Browning - September 28, 2012 - 12:00am

RAMALLAH (Reuters) -- Palestinians who were galvanized a year ago by the launch of a campaign for statehood in the United Nations were left cold on Thursday by a watered-down bid from their leader President Mahmoud Abbas. In a speech to the UN General Assembly, Abbas sought so-called "non-member state" status in the world body, a grade below the full recognition that eluded the Palestinians at the UN Security Council last year, due to insufficient backing.

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Hamas says Abbas' call for UN recognition of non-member state "solo "
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
September 28, 2012 - 12:00am

GAZA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement, which rules the Gaza Strip, said Thursday Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' bid to the United Nations for a non-member Palestinian state is "a solo action." Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said in a press statement emailed to reporters that Abbas' move to ask for the UN recognition of a Palestinian state "wasn't agreed upon or consulted by the entire Palestinians."

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Netanyahu and Abbas offer little hope for future peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Hugh Naylor - (Opinion) September 28, 2012 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM // The Palestinians and Israelis diverge on almost every issue but what they do have in common is that they have done little to satisfy the administration of Barack Obama. In his address at the United Nations yesterday, Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president, called for world recognition of a Palestinian state while Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, demanded firmer international pressure on Iran.

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Abbas set to renew bid to upgrade Palestine's UN status
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Hugh Naylor - September 27, 2012 - 12:00am

RAMALLAH // When Mahmoud Abbas addresses the UN General Assembly today, those in attendance could be forgiven if they experience a sense of déjà vu. During his speech at last year's annual gathering of the world body, the Palestinian Authority (PA) president announced his intention to seek recognition for a Palestinian state amid great fanfare and popular support back home. Today, he is expected to make a similar request. Only this time, the distinguished guests will notice the Palestinian leader doing so under less enthusiastic circumstances.

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Q&A: Palestinian bid for upgraded UN status
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
September 27, 2012 - 12:00am

The Palestinians are to ask the United Nations to upgrade their status to become a "non-member observer state" by the end of 2012. It follows a failed bid to join the international body as a full member state in 2011 because of a lack of support in the UN Security Council. Here is a guide to what is likely to happen and its significance. What are the Palestinians asking for?

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Abbas set to renew bid to upgrade Palestine's UN status
Media Mention of Hussein Ibish In The National - September 27, 2012 - 12:00am

RAMALLAH // When Mahmoud Abbas addresses the UN General Assembly today, those in attendance could be forgiven if they experience a sense of déjà vu. During his speech at last year's annual gathering of the world body, the Palestinian Authority (PA) president announced his intention to seek recognition for a Palestinian state amid great fanfare and popular support back home. Today, he is expected to make a similar request. Only this time, the distinguished guests will notice the Palestinian leader doing so under less enthusiastic circumstances.

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