May 3rd

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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May 2nd

Israel says it may end tax revenue transfers to the PA, prompting calls from the US for clarification and from PM Fayyad for international intervention. Hamas’ leadership denies it is leaving Syria. Palestinian leaders are making their way to Cairo for a national unity agreement signing ceremony. The deal may be partly the result of new Egyptian foreign policy, which Rami Khouri says marks Egypt’s return to the Arab fold. Hamas says the next prime minister must be from Gaza, but Fatah officials say Fayyad may remain in office. Aaron David Miller says the deal creates the illusion of unity. Israel feels increased tension and pressure. Egypt calls on the US to recognize a Palestinian state. Likud hardliners call for annexing the West Bank. The planned opening of the Gaza-Egypt border may cause new problems for Israel. The PA welcomes the death of Osama bin Laden, but Hamas condemns it and calls him a “holy warrior.” Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim will perform a “peace concert” in Gaza. Akiva Eldar and the Daily Star both welcome the Palestinian unity agreement and Amira Hass says it may serve Israeli policies. Tzachi Hanegbi says PM Netanyahu should announce plans for Israeli national unity. The Arab News says Pres. Obama has capitulated to Israeli intransigence.

Palestinians: Bin Laden's death is good for the cause of peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
May 2, 2011 - 12:00am

The Western-backed Palestinian Authority said on Monday the killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. forces was "good for the cause of peace," "Getting rid of Bin Laden is good for the cause of peace worldwide but what counts is to overcome the discourse and the methods -- the violent methods -- that were created and encouraged by Bin Laden and others in the world," PA spokesman Ghassan Khatib said.

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Fayyad urges international intervention over Israeli freeze on Palestinian taxes
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
May 2, 2011 - 12:00am

Palestinian Authority Prime Minster Salam Fayyad on Sunday urged foreign powers to intervene after Israel froze the transfer of tens of millions of dollars in Palestinian tax money following the formation of a Hamas-Fatah unity government. "Threats ... will not deter us from concluding our reconciliation process. It is our policy and we must work harder to end our divisions as soon as possible," added Fayyad.

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Palestinian reconciliation is good news for Mideast peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Akiva Eldar - (Opinion) May 2, 2011 - 12:00am

What do they have in common - the hawks of Iz al-Din al-Qassam, the military wing of Hamas; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; his bodyguard, Defense Minister Ehud Barak; and Nobel Peace Prize laureate President Shimon Peres ? They all threw a fit over the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas.

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Palestinian reconciliation may lead to Israel's Palestinian separation
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amira Hass - (Opinion) May 2, 2011 - 12:00am

As someone who considers herself to be a conservative journalist, I make an effort to refrain from reporting about what will happen in the future. Too many headlines, in my opinion, are about what so-and-so will say and what the fate of so-and-so will be. In the face of competition from the Internet and television, the printed press, afraid of becoming irrelevant, is often forced into making predictions. "I forgot my crystal ball at home" - is how I respond to the question "What will be?" I prefer to focus on what has been done and been said today and yesterday.

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Opening of Rafah crossing offers Israel challenges
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
by Adam Gonn - May 1, 2011 - 12:00am

The Egyptian government's recent decision to open the Rafah border crossing point, the only land route into the Gaza Strip that doesn't pass through the Israeli territory, has left Israel scrambling for a response. Following the Hamas takeover of Gaza in June 2007, Israel has imposed a land and maritime blockade on the enclave.

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