Israel worried over US move on PA gov't
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Hilary Leila Krieger, Haviv Rettig - April 28, 2009 - 12:00am

Senior Israeli officials said Monday they were "concerned" at the prospect that the US may approve funding for a Palestinian Authority government that includes Hamas. The concern arose after it became known that the Obama administration had asked Congress for minor changes in US law that would allow the continued provision of funds to the PA even if Hamas officials became part of a Palestinian unity government. The Jerusalem Post has learned from a highly placed source that Israeli officials are very troubled by the possibility of US funds going to a government that includes Hamas.

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Fatah is turning into a footnote
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Ben White - (Opinion) April 28, 2009 - 12:00am

The future of Fatah is up in the air. Internal divisions and a confused political programme – problems that arguably date back decades – have led this historic Palestinian party to a moment of truth. It is no exaggeration to say that the crisis is of sufficient proportions that Fatah's continued existence as a political force to be reckoned with is under threat.

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Palestinian rivals deadlocked on power-sharing
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
April 28, 2009 - 12:00am

Rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah ended a fourth round of power-sharing talks without a deal Tuesday, but are to meet again on May 16, negotiators said. The key stumbling block remains the political program of a Palestinian unity government that would be in power until elections are held in January 2010. Prospects of a breakthrough in the next round are slim. The international community said it will only deal with a Palestinian government that recognizes Israel, a concession the Islamic militant Hamas is unwilling to make.

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Palestinians return to Cairo for ‘difficult’ unity talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
April 27, 2009 - 12:00am

Rival delegations from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fateh Party and the Islamist Hamas movement were in Cairo on Sunday for a new round of reconciliation talks already deemed “difficult”. The two delegations were expected to meet separately with Egyptian security officials ahead of three-way talks on Monday with intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, the state-owned Al Akhbar daily said. The Fateh team was headed by former prime minister Ahmed Qureia, while the Hamas delegation was led by politburo member Musa Abu Marzouk.

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Defense sources: PA security forces step up fight against Hamas
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Avi Issacharoff, Amos Harel - April 27, 2009 - 12:00am

Defense and security sources in Israel have noted an improvement in recent weeks in the performance of the Palestinian Authority security forces in the West Bank. In conversations with Haaretz, the security sources said that the Palestinians have stepped up their activities against militant groups, primarily Hamas.

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Numerous Odds against a Lebanese Model for Palestinian Unity Government
Media Mention of Ghaith al-Omari In Dar Al-Hayat - April 26, 2009 - 12:00am

The Lebanese Model that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton referred to last week as a possible mechanism to work with a Palestinian unity government is becoming less likely due to the numerous odds against Hamas and Fatah in reaching an agreement.

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Numerous Odds against a Lebanese Model for Palestinian Unity Government
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat
by Joyce Karam - (Opinion) April 26, 2009 - 12:00am

The Lebanese Model that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton referred to last week as a possible mechanism to work with a Palestinian unity government is becoming less likely due to the numerous odds against Hamas and Fatah in reaching an agreement.

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Human Rights Watch accuses Hamas of Gaza killings
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
April 20, 2009 - 12:00am

Human Rights Watch accuses Hamas of Gaza killings Report issued by human rights group says Gaza security forces killed at least 32 Palestinian political rivals, suspected collaborators with Israel during and after Operation Cast Lead. Hamas spokesman denies accusations, says launched investigation into reports of political killings Reuters Hamas security forces killed at least 32 Palestinian political rivals and suspected collaborators with Israel during and after the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip, Human Rights Watch said in a new report.

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What is Left of Egypt's Mediation between the Palestinians?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat
by Elias Harfoush - (Analysis) April 16, 2009 - 12:00am

If there was any hope for negotiations between Fatah and Hamas in Cairo to reach an agreement that would end the state of division between the Palestinians, such a hope has become less likely today as a result of the repercussions of the exchange of smear campaigns between the Egyptian government and Hezbollah, on the background of the cell arrested by the Egyptians, who claim that it had been planning activities that pose a threat to Egypt's security.

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What’s really behind Hizbollah’s recent appearance in Egypt
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Michael Young - (Analysis) April 16, 2009 - 12:00am

Last week the judicial authorities in Cairo announced that they had arrested members of a Hizbollah cell and accused the Lebanese Shiite party of threatening Egypt’s national security. In a televised address, Hezbollah’s secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah, admitted that one of those in custody was a party member working to rearm Palestinians in Gaza. However, he added, no one was trying to undermine Egyptian security. Both accounts told us little about what is really going on.

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