Abbas blasts Mashaal: We already recognized Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Elior Levy - December 13, 2012 - 1:00am

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas blasted Hamas Politburo Chief Khaled Mashaal for asserting that his group will never recognize Israel, hinting that the statement hinders the chances of the two-state solution, according to the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet.

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In Step Toward Palestinian Unity, Hamas Holds Rally in West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Jodi Rudoren - December 13, 2012 - 1:00am

NABLUS, West Bank — Hundreds of men and boys sporting the signature green of the militant Hamas faction marched through the narrow alleys of the old city here on Thursday afternoon, calling for Palestinian unity but also renewed attacks on Israeli cities, in the first public demonstration by the Islamist party allowed in the West Bank in years.

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Hamas chief ends Gaza visit with Palestinian unity call
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Nidal al-Mughrabi - December 10, 2012 - 1:00am

GAZA, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal ended his first visit to the Gaza Strip on Monday with a pledge his Islamist movement would strive to heal political rifts with Palestinian rivals who hold sway in the occupied West Bank. His comments reinforced promises he and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the rival Fatah movement, made to each other in a telephone conversation a month ago, to forge ahead with a stalled unity deal opposed by Israel.

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No 'victory' at UN unless Palestinian unity is the result
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Hussein Ibish - (Opinion) November 30, 2012 - 1:00am

The recent conflict between Israel and Hamas significantly recontextualised the request by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) for an upgrade from the United Nations General Assembly to "non-member observer state" status. How all parties react to the upgrade will have a significant effect on the balance of power within Palestinian society, and strongly influence future regional developments.

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Official: Party conference in 2013 to reboot Fatah
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
November 26, 2012 - 1:00am

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party will hold a general conference in the first half of 2013 in order to revitalize the movement, a senior official said Sunday. Fatah is reeling from Israel's eight-day war on Gaza, which was seen locally as victory for Hamas and other factions using armed resistance in Gaza.

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Russia FM: Hamas can play vital role in advancing Palestinian issue
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Avi Issacharoff - November 5, 2012 - 1:00am

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that the Palestinian issue must remain a top priority and should not be neglected as a result of the upheavals of the Arab Spring. Speaking after a meeting with the deputy head of Hamas' political bureau, Moussa Abu Marzouk, in Cairo, Lavrov clarified that Moscow thinks Hamas can play an important role in advancing the Palestinian issue. "We believe the Palestinian issue cannot be solved without Palestinian unity, and the same goes for solving the entire Middle East conflict."

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Fatah official casts doubt on existence of Hamas unity proposal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
(Analysis) November 2, 2012 - 12:00am

Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad said Thursday that Egyptian officials told him they have not received a proposal from Hamas on reconciliation between their parties.

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Haniyeh says Hamas wants to end political division
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
(Analysis) October 27, 2012 - 12:00am

 

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Obama and Romney need to confront, solve Israeli-Palestinian divisions
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Hill
by Ibrahim Abu Ta'a - (Blog) October 22, 2012 - 12:00am

I was born and raised in Jerusalem. Most of my work colleagues are Jewish, and despite the growing tension between Jews and Palestinians in Israel, years of working together have made us quite close. I speak Hebrew fluently, as well as my native Arabic, and I have always engaged my Jewish acquaintances with the same openness and respect I would give to anyone else.

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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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