UK, France may back PA's bid for state ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews May 5, 2011 - 12:00am In a sign of Britain's impatience with Israel British Premier David Cameron told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday that Britain may endorse a unilateral declaration of state by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas if Israel declines to take part in substantive peace negotiations with the Palestinians to create a two state solution. "Britain's clear and absolute preference is for a negotiation to take place between Israel and the Palestinians which leads to a two state solution which everyone endorses," a senior diplomatic source was quoted by the Guardian as saying. » Read more

Palestinian unity is an opportunity, not a threat ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz (Editorial) May 4, 2011 - 12:00am The word “reconciliation” is so distant from the Middle Eastern reality that its use is taken as either a joke or threat. The signing ceremony in Cairo yesterday between Fatah and Hamas is likely to mark a turning point, not only for the concept, but also for the Palestinian and regional situation. » Read more

U.S. to Palestinians: Unity deal must advance prospect of peace with Israel ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters May 4, 2011 - 12:00am The White House on Wednesday urged Palestinians to ensure that a reconciliation deal between rival factions is implemented in a way that advances the prospect for peace with Israel rather than undermining it. "It's important now that Palestinians ensure implementation of that agreement in a way that advances the prospects of peace rather than undermines them," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said, after the secular Fatah and Islamist Hamas groups signed an agreement to formally end a 4-year rift. » Read more

Poll: East J'lem residents prefer Israeli citizenship ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Elior Levy - May 5, 2011 - 12:00am A recent survey conducted by Pechter Middle East Polls, in partnership with the Council on Foreign Relations, ahead of the possible Palestinian bid for statehood in September, revealed that given a choice, the majority of east Jerusalem residents would prefer to remain Israelis. The survey sampled 1,039 Palestinians living in all 19 neighborhoods of east Jerusalem, and was supervised by Dr. David Pollock. » Read more

Hamas and Fatah may have reunited, but their work is just beginning ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amos Harel, Avi Issacharoff - (Opinion) May 5, 2011 - 12:00am After an almost four-year split between Fatah and Hamas, the leaders of the two rival organizations, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and the head of Hamas’ political bureau, Khaled Meshal, signed an accord in Cairo on Wednesday. » Read more

Washington Watch: Can this marriage of convenience survive? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by D. Bloomfield - (Opinion) May 4, 2011 - 12:00am If past Fatah-Hamas reconciliations are any indicator, this one will have the life expectancy of a fruit fly. No sooner did the secular Fatah try to sell the agreement as a move toward peace than the Islamist Hamas declared just the opposite. » Read more

Israelis differ on Fatah-Hamas accord ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua May 4, 2011 - 12:00am An Israeli Foreign Ministry report leaked to Ha'aretz daily on Wednesday said the country could benefit from a Fatah-Hamas unity government, while Israeli officials continued to express their opposition to the internal Palestinian reconciliation deal. According to the document that was leaked to the Ha'aretz daily, "the Palestinian move is not only a security threat but also a strategic opportunity to create genuine change in the Palestinian context." » Read more

Rattling the Cage: Abbas yes, Hamas no ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Larry Derfner - (Opinion) May 4, 2011 - 12:00am As someone who wants the world to pressure Israel into ending the occupation, who hopes the UN recognizes Palestine in September, and who roots for Palestinian leaders Mahmoud Abbas and Salam Fayyad, I say their agreement Wednesday to form a unity government with Hamas was a blunder. It was a blunder even before Hamas leaders in Gaza denounced America’s killing of the “holy warrior” Osama bin Laden. » Read more

Jordan welcomes Hamas-Fatah reconciliation deal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua May 4, 2011 - 12:00am Jordan's Minister of State for Communications and Media Affairs Taher Adwan said Wednesday Jordan welcomes the reconciliation deal signed between Fatah and Hama, the state-run Petra news agency reported. "Jordan supports any efforts that help end the divide between Gaza and Ramallah that harmed the Palestinian issue," Adwan said in a statement. The Jordanian government hopes that the deal will enhance Palestinian, Jordanian, Arab and international efforts to attain the desired peace and create an independent Palestinian state, said Adwan. » Read more

Lebanon welcomes Palestinian reconciliation, calls for Int'l support ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua May 4, 2011 - 12:00am Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Wednesday welcomed the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas, calling for international support to the deal. The reconciliation between the two parties was a blessed step to protect the Palestinian people and establish an independent state, Hariri said in a statement. » Read more