Fayyad loses bid for head of Palestinian unity government
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ahram Online
by Saleh Al-Naami - May 18, 2011 - 12:00am

Ahram Online has discovered through informed sources that Salam Fayyad, the head of the Palestinian government in Ramallah, is no longer being put forward as a candidate for the premiership in the forthcoming transitional government. Informed sources affirmed that Fayyad was in fact among the four names Fatah suggested for the post, while Hamas had also put forth four suggestions. Soon afterwards, however, the number of candidates shrank at both ends as Fatah no longer recommended Fayyad for the position.

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Palestinian Authority Delays Elections
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Ethan Bronner - May 17, 2011 - 12:00am

The Palestinian Authority said Tuesday that it was delaying local elections scheduled for July until late October in order to organize the voting in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas. Last month, Hamas and its rival, Fatah, which dominates the Palestinian Authority, announced a surprise unity agreement. Palestinians have not held an election in five years because of a bitter split between the groups. The October poll will indicate how each party is faring as it prepares for legislative and presidential elections within a year, as called for in the unity accord.


Hamas, Fatah agree to hold simultaneous municipal polls
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
May 12, 2011 - 12:00am

Hamas and Fatah decided to hold municipal elections in the Palestinian territories after agreeing on postponing their date, a Palestinian official said Thursday. This decision came after the two movements suddenly reached an initial agreement for reconciliation in Cairo earlier this month. Azzam Al-Ahmad, a Fatah official, said that his movement and Hamas agreed to demand the upcoming technocratic government, which they will form according to the Cairo agreement, to postpone the elections so they are held simultaneously in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

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Fatah wins Bethlehem University elections
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
April 13, 2011 - 12:00am

Fatah has won the student council elections at Bethlehem University in a vote that was boycotted by Hamas. Fatah picked up 18 seats, defeating a joint list by the Popular and Democratic Fronts for the Liberation of Palestine that won 13. About 60 percent of students participated in the elections, student elections officials said. Hamas and Islamic Jihad boycotted the vote and others at universities in the Fatah-run West Bank.


Fatah wins Birzeit University elections
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
March 31, 2011 - 12:00am

Fatah won Birzeit University's student senate election, which was boycotted by Hamas, officials said Wednesday. Mohammed Al-Ahmad, the dean of students, said Fatah won 29 of 51 seats. The Popular Struggle Front and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine's joint bloc won 14 seats, and eight others went to three smaller blocs, Al-Ahmad said. Seven blocs participated in the elections that were held "in a very positive atmosphere" under the auspices of Ramallah governor Laila Ghannam, he said. Voter turnout reached 50 percent despite the boycott calls, he said.

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Elections committee opens voter registration
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
March 9, 2011 - 1:00am

The Palestinian Authority-appointed Central Elections Commission announced Wednesday that voter registration had opened, in the latest step ahead of July 9 municipal elections. Registration will continue for one week only, a statement from the CEC said, and would include teams sent out to high schools to ensure participation of voters who turned 17 since the last voter registration was conducted in 2010.

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'Fatah-Hamas unity gov't will be led by Salam Fayyad'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
February 24, 2011 - 1:00am

Palestinian sources familiar with the details of a unity government deal being discussed by Hamas and Fatah representatives, said that the proposed government would be headed by Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and will include members from both factions and independents, Al-Hayat reported Thursday. According to the report, the sources say that the plan has already been accepted by PA President Mahmoud Abbas and a number of Hamas leaders. The unity deal allows Hamas to continue ruling in the Gaza Strip as long as it refrains from violence.

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Hamas to exchange terror for unity?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Elior Levy - February 24, 2011 - 1:00am

Palestinian sources told the London-based al-Hayat Thursday that a plan by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to create a unity government with both rival Palestinian factions had already been approved by Fatah, and was currently awaiting the approval of Hamas. According to the plan, both factions will keep their respective authorities in the West Bank and Gaza, including security forces.

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Fayyad asks Facebook: Who to be in govt?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
February 23, 2011 - 1:00am

As young people across the Middle East are using Facebook and Twitter to bring down governments, appointed Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has asked his followers on both sites to help put one together. "In the light of the ongoing consultations aiming to form a government list, which people do you consider credible, have excellent leadership and scientific skills, and can be reliable to hold a ministerial portfolio," Fayyad asked on his Facebook page shortly before noon on Wednesday.

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Palestinian Foreign Minister: Iran Controls Hamas; Statehood by September
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
by Felice Friedson - (Interview) February 20, 2011 - 1:00am

The Media Line: Yasser Abed-Rabo said to me the other day that Mahmoud Abbas will not run for president. So, who will?

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