Egyptian President Morsi reassures Israel that peace treaty is safe ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters August 28, 2012 - 12:00am Egypt's new Islamist president said on Monday he would pursue a "balanced" foreign policy, reassuring Israel its peace treaty was safe, hinting at a new approach to Iran and calling on Bashar Assad's allies to help lever the Syrian leader out. Mohammed Morsi, who was elected in June and consolidated his power this month by dismissing top military leaders, is seeking to introduce himself to a wider world ahead of a trip to Iran - the first by an Egyptian leader in three decades - and China. » Read more

More East Jerusalem Palestinians seek Israeli academic degrees ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Nir Hasson - August 28, 2012 - 12:00am The number of young East Jerusalem Palestinians wanting to study in Israeli universities is rising rapidly. As a result, the number of East Jerusalem residents registering for Israeli matriculation exams has risen by tens of percent, Education Ministry officials estimate. Most Palestinians who take the Israeli exams, which are adjusted for the Israeli Arab students, do so after studying at one of the many private matriculation schools that have opened in East Jerusalem in recent years. » Read more

PA 'stops recruitment, promotions' due to financial crisis ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 26, 2012 - 12:00am The Palestinian Authority issued a decision on Friday to stop all new recruitment and promotions in government institutions until further notice as a result of the financial crisis it is currently experiencing, a statement from President Abbas' office said. Palestinian economist Nasser Abed al-Kareem told Ma'an that the PA was forced to make the decision as a result of the current financial crisis, adding that the move will add around $30 million annually to the PA's budget. » Read more

Diplomat: FM's letter aimed to block Abbas’s UN bid ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Herb Keinon - August 28, 2012 - 12:00am Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman’s letter to the Quartet last week calling for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s ouster is part of a campaign to get leading democracies to oppose the PA’s UN bid, a senior diplomatic official said Monday. The idea behind the letter, the official said, was primarily to preempt Abbas’s move at the UN by putting on the public agenda his record of rejecting Israeli gestures and refusing to negotiate, while trying to diplomatically isolate Israel. » Read more

FM: Abbas to seek support for UN bid at Tehran summit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency August 28, 2012 - 12:00am President Mahmoud Abbas will canvas for support for the UN bid at a summit of 120 developing nations in Tehran, PA Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said Tuesday. The PLO plans to ask the UN General Assembly to upgrade its status to a non-member observer state. A previous bid for full UN membership stalled at the Security Council last year. Al-Malki told Ma'an he was confident Palestine had the support of the non-aligned states at the summit. » Read more

Rights group: investigate Palestinian police abuse ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press August 27, 2012 - 12:00am An American rights group is calling on the Palestinian Authority to investigate incidents where police beat protesters in the West Bank. The New York-based Human Rights Watch said in two incidents, Palestinian police beat Palestinian demonstrators in the West Bank city of Ramallah in June and July. The group said six people were hospitalized. The group said Palestinian officials conducted four inquiries but did not prosecute any of the police involved. » Read more

Israeli PM retracts from his request to amend investments, fearing public backlash ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua August 27, 2012 - 12:00am Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu retracted on Monday from his request to modify his private investments, fearing public speculation over an upcoming war with Iran would circulate and affect global economy. On Aug. 15, a special committee at the State Comptroller's office authorized Netanyahu's request to make changes to his foreign and domestic investment portfolio. » Read more

UN: Gaza not 'liveable' by 2020 barring urgent action ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Nidal al-Mughrabi - August 28, 2012 - 12:00am Gaza will no longer be "liveable" by 2020 unless urgent action is taken to improve water supply, power, health, and schooling, the United Nations' most comprehensive report on the Palestinian enclave said on Monday. "Action needs to be taken now if Gaza is to be a liveable place in 2020 and it is already difficult now," UN humanitarian coordinator Maxwell Gaylard told journalists when the report was released on Monday. » Read more

UN agency: Gaza won't be viable by 2020 due to population growth ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua August 28, 2012 - 12:00am The United Nations agency that is responsible for Palestinian refugees warned Monday that the Gaza Strip will not be viable if population growth continues under closure. Robert Turner, operations director of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), said at a news conference here that the population in Gaza will increase to over two million by 2020. The Gaza Strip's current population is 1.6 million. » Read more

Israelis get gas masks, shelters in order ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Edmund Sanders - August 27, 2012 - 12:00am With his wife expecting their third child next month, Ram Gilboa, a sports commentator who lives just outside Tel Aviv, recently found himself jotting down a list of baby supplies that friends and family could buy: a crib, diapers ... gas mask. "That's not normal," Gilboa, 32, recalled with a nervous laugh. "When you're making a list of gifts for a baby, gas mask is not supposed to be on it." » Read more