We must catch up
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons
by Yusef Harb - (Interview) February 6, 2012 - 1:00am

bitterlemons: How do you think the "Arab spring" is affecting the average Palestinian? Harb: The Arab spring has its causes and is a natural response to the political and social regimes that have been in power in the Arab states for the last 50 years. Palestinian society, however, has a clear distinction from the regimes in the Arab world. It is led by a new, modern regime, one created in 1994 through the Oslo agreement and one that protects the capabilities of the Palestinian people.

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Palestinian Détente Disaster
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Time Magazine
by Joe Klein - (Opinion) February 6, 2012 - 1:00am

I’ve been traveling to the Middle East as a journalist for the past 30 years. During that time, Israel has grown into an ethnically diverse, economically successful country with a strong (internal) tradition of democracy, free speech and the rule of law–a tradition not always extended toward its Palestinian neighbors, especially when Likud governments are in power.

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Urgently Palestinians need leaders of high caliber
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
by Stuart Littlewood - (Opinion) February 4, 2012 - 1:00am

Did anyone know? Did Western media care? No. Not until reports appeared that Jewish community leaders cancelled a meeting with him after intervention by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Office and Israel's embassy in London, and Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi condemned the move as “seeking to suppress and manipulate Jewish public opinion.” It was also typical of Netanyahu's “persistent efforts” to prevent dialogue, she said, according to the Palestinian Ma'an news agency.

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From Across the Line: Do Palestinians Have a Life?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Nida' Tuma - (Opinion) February 3, 2012 - 1:00am

Accompanying an Israeli couple on a short tour of Ramallah, I opt to take them to a nice Palestinian American-style coffee shop – one of my favorite places to go. Interestingly, one of their first comments on the visit is that the coffee prices are just as high as those in Tel Aviv. NIS 15 for a cup of coffee is quite expensive considering the average Palestinian income, but still affordable to some.

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Abbas, Mashaal Expected to Agree to New Govt Thursday
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
February 1, 2012 - 1:00am

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas chief Khalid Mashaal are expected to agree on the structure of a Palestinian national unity government during their meeting in Cairo on Thursday. Secretary-general of Fatah Revolutionary Council Amin Maqboul told Ma'an Monday that failure to appoint a new government was the main obstacle to elections in the West Bank and Gaza. Mashaal, who lives in exile, arrived in Jordan on Sunday where he met King Abdullah II, his first visit since being expelled from the country in 1999.

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Freed Palestinian Prisoners Adapt to Qatar Exile
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
by Michael Buchanan - February 1, 2012 - 1:00am

As part of the deal to free the captured Israeli soldier Sgt Gilad Shalit last year, more than a 1,000 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli jails. The vast majority were allowed back into the West Bank and Gaza Strip, but 40 prisoners were forced to leave the region entirely, deemed by Israel to be a continuing security threat. The releases were enormously controversial in Israel, where some of the prisoners were seen as mass murderers. A two-bed flat not far from the cornice in Qatar's capital, Doha, is now home for 47-year-old Ibrahim Shammasina from Ramallah.

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Put Hamas-Jordan amity to a referendum
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
by Rami Khouri - (Opinion) February 1, 2012 - 1:00am

Why am I not impressed by the statement by Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal after meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Amman Sunday. Meshaal declared, “We are happy with this good new start ... With this new chapter in relations with Jordan. We hope Jordanian and Palestinian interests will be served.”

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Palestinian security forces question 2 journalists
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
February 1, 2012 - 1:00am

RAMALLAH, West Bank — Two Palestinian journalists said Wednesday they were detained and questioned by Palestinian security forces, one after mocking the Palestinian leadership and the other after reporting about alleged corruption at a Palestinian diplomatic mission. The detentions came as renewed criticism was aimed at Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' government for suppressing dissent.

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Support for Palestinian Authority Erodes as Prices and Taxes Rise
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Isabel Kershner - January 31, 2012 - 1:00am

RAMALLAH, West Bank — For many Palestinians and their international supporters, the one bright spot in an otherwise dreary political landscape has been the nation-building efforts of Salam Fayyad, the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, who has restored law and order and encouraged economic growth in the West Bank. Salam Fayyad, prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, is under increasing pressure.

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Palestinian Authority suspends plans to raise taxes
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
January 30, 2012 - 1:00am

RAMALLAH (Reuters) -- The Palestinian Authority announced on Sunday it was suspending plans to raise income tax that have sparked widespread protests but said it was still seeking ways to cut costs in 2012 to plug a gap resulting from lower-than-expected foreign aid revenues. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said earlier this month that the Palestinian Authority was planning to double the income tax rate to 30 percent as part of efforts to cut the budget deficit to $750 million in 2012, from $1.1 billion a year earlier.

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