Rival Leaders Agree to Hold Gaza Meeting
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Isabel Kershner - March 16, 2011 - 12:00am

The rival Palestinian leaderships of the West Bank and Gaza appeared to be taking practical steps on Wednesday toward ending their schism, in a rare response to public pressure for national unity after years of deep division. The new talk of unity came as Israel displayed weaponry it seized after intercepting a merchant ship on Tuesday. Israeli leaders said the weapons, including six advanced antiship missiles, originated in Iran, were loaded aboard the ship in Syria and were bound for Gaza.

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Hamas to present new reconciliation plan
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
March 4, 2011 - 1:00am

A political advisor to Prime Minster Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza says Hamas will present an initiative within the coming days on its government shakeup and rejection of Salam Fayyad's unity government. Yousef Rezqa told Ma'an that "Hamas, with all of its departments, is considering presenting this initiative to the Palestinians," saying it would "go into detail on what is obstructing the internal situation."

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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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Hamas pours scorn on Fatah call for unity
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from
February 22, 2011 - 1:00am

Hamas on Monday shrugged off calls for reconciliation with Fatah, saying its secular rival must prove its seriousness by freeing prisoners. "These declarations lack seriousness and credibility, they make no sense in light of the continued arrests and torture [of Hamas members] in Fatah prisons in the West Bank," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri, in response to an appeal by Fatah for the two factions to start talking.

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No objections from Hamas on unity govt
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
February 21, 2011 - 1:00am

Hamas has suggested the formation of a unity government several times already, but always faced opposition from the PA, a senior party member in the West Bank told Ma'an Sunday. Hamas leader Ayman Daraghma did not rule out participating in a new Palestinian Authority cabinet, and hinted that the ongoing unrest in the Arab world might give Fatah, which leads the West Bank government, the motivation to end the Palestinian political crisis.

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Abbas to Step Aside for Next Generation in PA Elections, Abed Rabbo Says
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
(Interview) February 14, 2011 - 1:00am

Yasser Abed Rabbo is a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee and is a senior adviser to Mahmoud Abbas. He was interviewed on February 13, 2011, by The Media Line’s Felice Friedson. The Media Line: The Palestinian Authority has taken a noticeably low-key position during the unrest in Egypt. How should that be viewed?

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Fatah, Hamas agree to meet in late December: official
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
December 13, 2010 - 1:00am

RAMALLAH-- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party agreed with Islamic Hamas movement to resume reconciliation dialogue by the end of December, a Fatah official said Monday. The two movements will meet by the end of this month for more discussions of controversial issues between the two rivals, said Azzam Al-Ahmad, a member of the Fatah Central Committee.

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Hamas reaches out, tries to shore up popularity
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman
by Ibrahim Barzak - December 13, 2010 - 1:00am

GAZA CITY, GAZA STRIP — Gaza's ruling Hamas movement has politicians sweeping streets to show community spirit, activists distributing chocolates and cards signed "from Hamas with love" and police officers visiting homes and schools to soften the often harsh image of the security forces.

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Erdogan pledges support for '67 state
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
December 12, 2010 - 1:00am

ANKARA, Turkey (Ma’an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas visited Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan in his Ankara home on Sunday, to discuss developments in the peace negotiations between Palestinian and Israeli negotiators. Following the meeting, Ambassador of Palestine to Turkey Nabil Ma’roof told the official PA news agency WAFA that Erdogan pledged to support a bid for the establishment of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders. The official said he would speak with the leaders of all those nations with which Turkey had diplomatic relations.

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