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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Netanyahu, Abbas display divergent priorities at UN
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
by Jonathan Marcus - (Opinion) September 27, 2012 - 12:00am

t is perhaps one of the paradoxes of the past 18 months in the Middle East that as people protested and dictators toppled, so the region's longest-lasting conflict - that between Israel and the Palestinians - has largely disappeared from the headlines. What used to be termed "the peace process" has largely become moribund - a useless label as there is no peace process to describe.

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Family blames sewage, trash for deaths of 8 children in Gaza camp
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
September 26, 2012 - 12:00am

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- A family in Gaza that lost eight children over two years says the lack of sanitation around their home in al-Bureij refugee camp is responsible for their deaths. The Salim family lives meters from a landfill in the central Gaza camp, and their home is surrounded by open sewage and trash. Omar Salim, 30, told Ma'an that his son Mohammad pleaded not to be taken to the hospital when he fell ill with a fever and had blue spots on his skin.

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For Arab student going to Ariel, the message is 'Yalla, get off the bus'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Jack Khoury - September 25, 2012 - 12:00am

An Arab student says security guards humiliated her and forced her off a bus at gunpoint on her way to Ariel University Center in the West Bank.

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PA minister suspected of sexual harassment revealed to be Fatah member in charge of coordination with Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Avi Issacharoff - September 25, 2012 - 12:00am

The Palestinian minister that has been suspected of sexually harassing an employee was revealed to be Civil Affairs Minister Hussein al-Sheikh, a senior Fatah member and the person in charge of the civilian and security coordination with Israel.

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Welcome to 'Fortress Gaza,' Home of the Newly Radicalized Hamas
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Atlantic
by Zvika Krieger - (Opinion) September 25, 2012 - 12:00am

Top officials in Hamas have confirmed this week that the group's leader, Khaled Mishaal, has decided to resign his post. Hamas official Salah al-Bardawil tried to dismiss any suspicions of internal discord: "He has decided to retire to make room for the younger members." But Mishaal's decision belies significant shifts within the organization.

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Finance minister tells donor conference: Peace at risk
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
September 24, 2012 - 12:00am

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian Authority finance minister warned on Sunday that if the government's fragile financial situation persists, the peace process between Israel and Palestinians is at risk. Nabil Kassis was addressing a meeting of donors to the PA, the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee, in New York.

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PA threatens to sue union over transport strikes
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
September 24, 2012 - 12:00am

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- The Palestinian Authority will go to the Supreme Court of Justice if the public transport workers union proceeds with strikes this week, a Palestinian minister said on Sunday. The union has confirmed it will proceed with planned strikes this week after it was not satisfied by the government's response to their demands. Workers will go on strike Monday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and all day Wednesday.

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Israel working to avert collapse of ailing Palestinian economy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Avi Issacharoff - September 24, 2012 - 12:00am

Israel has taken significant steps to ease the Palestinian Authority's financial difficulties, fearing that instability in the West Bank threatens the PA's future, and that the Israel Defense Forces could eventually become the target of demonstrations there.

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Press group condemns PA arrest of journalist
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
September 24, 2012 - 12:00am

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- A Palestinian press freedom group on Sunday condemned the arrest of a journalist last week by Palestinian Authority security forces.Walid Khalid, office director of the "Felesteen" newspaper, was arrested by PA security forces on Sept.

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