Palestinian factions sign unity deal in Cairo ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) May 3, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian factions gathered in Cairo on Tuesday signed a reconciliation deal that will pave the way for elections within a year, an AFP correspondent said. Representatives of 13 factions, including President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party and its rival Hamas, as well as independent political figures inked the deal following talks with Egyptian officials. A formal signing ceremony will be held on Wednesday, and will be attended by Hamas chief Khalid Mash'al and President Mahmoud Abbas. » Read more

Palestinian vulnerability exposed as Israel withholds money ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Maher Abukhater - (Blog) May 2, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Monday sent out an urgent appeal for help saying he may not be able to pay for salaries for about 130,000 public employees or anything else if Israel does not release about $100 million in funds collected over the last month on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. » Read more

Palestinian vulnerability exposed as Israel withholds money ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Maher Abukhater - May 2, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Monday sent out an urgent appeal for help saying he may not be able to pay for salaries for about 130,000 public employees or anything else if Israel does not release about $100 million in funds collected over the last month on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. » Read more

Smaller Palestinian factions, including Islamic Jihad, back Hamas-Fatah reconciliation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press May 3, 2011 - 12:00am A top Palestinian negotiator says 15 smaller factions, including militant Islamic groups, have thrown their weight behind a reconciliation deal ending a four-year rift between the movement’s main groups, Hamas and Fatah. Under a framework accord reached last week between Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, and Fatah in the West Bank, a unity caretaker government will be formed ahead of elections next year. » Read more

Tensions Rise as Hamas Refuses to Take Sides in Syria ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner - May 2, 2011 - 12:00am Relations between the Palestinian group Hamas, which is based in the Syrian capital, Damascus, and the Syrian authorities have been strained in recent weeks, mostly as a result of the antigovernment uprising there, with reports growing that Hamas is looking for another home. Al Hayat, the London-based pan-Arab newspaper, reported Saturday that Hamas’s political wing was decamping to Doha, the capital of Qatar, but Hamas officials in Syria and beyond it denied it. Similar reports circulated on Monday and denials were again issued. » Read more

Tensions Rise as Hamas Refuses to Take Sides in Syria ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner - May 2, 2011 - 12:00am Relations between the Palestinian group Hamas, which is based in the Syrian capital, Damascus, and the Syrian authorities have been strained in recent weeks, mostly as a result of the antigovernment uprising there, with reports growing that Hamas is looking for another home. Al Hayat, the London-based pan-Arab newspaper, reported Saturday that Hamas’s political wing was decamping to Doha, the capital of Qatar, but Hamas officials in Syria and beyond it denied it. Similar reports circulated on Monday and denials were again issued. » Read more