Moth attacks threaten Gaza crops ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua April 20, 2011 - 12:00am The Hamas authorities warned Wednesday that swarms of moth spreading in the Gaza Strip recently, would do harm to crops growing in the enclave if out of control. It is unknown where the insects came from, an official with the Hamas Agricultural Ministry said, however, he added that he believes Israel was the source, since the moths are largely found in the fields near Gaza-Israel borders. The insect, known as "Vine Hawk-Moth," feeds on leaves of trees and herbage crops, Ziad Hamada said, noting the ministry lacks proper means to control the swarms, blaming Israeli economic sanctions. » Read more

Israel indicts Australian for alleged Hamas links ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Dan Williams - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am Israel has arrested an Australian who tried to enter the country as a tourist, charging him with working for the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. The April 17 indictment of Eyad Abu Arga, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters on Wednesday, appeared to be part of a wide-ranging and sometimes covert campaign by Israel to curb Hamas, with which it has regularly clashed in the Gaza Strip. » Read more

Palestinians determined to seek independence despite U.S. objection ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua April 20, 2011 - 12:00am The Palestinian leadership on Wednesday reiterated that it will seek state's recognition from the United Nations despite U.S. opposition. Yasser Abed Rabbo, a Palestine Liberation Organization official, said the Palestinians want the world to recognize their state on the lands that Israel has occupied in 1967 because "the United States failed to resume serious peace negotiations" between Israel and the Palestinians. On Tuesday, the U.S. said it rejected the Palestinian plan for the recognition, saying that the Palestinian state must come through a negotiated agreement with Israel. » Read more

PNA faces double fiscal crisis: officials ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Emad Drimly - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) faces a double fiscal crisis due to a lack of international funds, which affected its budget, as well as the ability of the staff unions to improve its employees' wages and pay their financial receivables, officials said on Tuesday. Ahmed Majdalani, the PNA labor minister told Xinhua that over the past few years, the PNA has been suffering from a real fiscal crisis due to the lack of international funds offered to the PNA by donor countries, adding that "this had left a large gap in the budget." » Read more

Four Arab lawyers suspected of passing messages for Islamic Jihad ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Nir Hasson - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am Four Arab lawyers working in Jerusalem have been arrested in recent weeks for allegedly passing information from prisoners from Islamic Jihad jailed in Israel to the group's officials in Gaza, according to details that emerged Wednesday after a gag order was lifted. Among the four is Suhir Ayoub, a 42-year-old female lawyer from Acre in northern Israel. » Read more

PA official: Settler shoots Palestinian near Nablus ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 20, 2011 - 12:00am A Palestinian man was moderately injured Tuesday after settlers opened fire south of Nablus, officials said. Ghassan Doughlas, a Palestinian Authority official who monitors settlements in the West Bank, told Ma'an that a group of settlers from the illegal Brakha settlement, near Burin village in the northern West Bank, fired at civilians and tried to break into a house. Other villagers intervened but one Palestinian was shot in the hand and stomach, the official said. The victim, who was not immediately identified, was taken to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, Doughlas said. » Read more

Netanyahu owes speech to Israelis, not Americans ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Uri Avnery - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am Here is a sensational news item: Next month, the prime minister will deliver a speech to the U.S. Congress. In all probability, this will be a polished, excellent address, one crafted in Benjamin Netanyahu's characteristic style and language. » Read more

Fatah: Door remains open for Hamas ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 20, 2011 - 12:00am The head of Fatah’s unity delegation said Tuesday that the party would "keep the door open" for Hamas to sign a unity deal, despite the expected announcement of a newly appointed Palestinian Authority cabinet next week. Speaking with Ma'an the day after President Mahmoud Abbas told reporters that a new PA cabinet would be formed, Azzam Al-Ahmad said the move would come on Abbas' return from Paris at the end of the week. » Read more

Itamar murders don’t justify stripping Palestinians' rights ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - April 20, 2011 - 12:00am The Israeli settlement enterprise does not need the murder of Jewish families in order to strip Palestinian families of their land and endanger the future of both peoples. But when such a murder "falls into its hands," the settlement enterprise knows how to make the most out of it, by building new neighborhoods and outposts, blaming Palestinian nature and education, and dropping biblical terms like "bitter enemies" and "Amalek." » Read more

Abbas: We will head to the UN in September ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency April 20, 2011 - 12:00am President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated Tuesday his intention to seek UN recognition of a Palestinian state by September, saying he believed he would have the backing of the US administration. In an interview with the daily newspaper Al-Ayyam, the second in as many days, the president said he would shortly ask his American counterpart, "if he is capable of honoring his promise [for a Palestinian state in September] or not." » Read more