News Analysis: Tensions simmering in West Bank over high living cost ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua by Yang Lina - September 6, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Protests against the high cost of living increasingly erupted all over the West Bank over the past few days, during which some demonstrators burned Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's posters while others attempted to set themselves ablaze. » Read more

Study: Gap grows between Israeli Arabs, Palestinians ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Ilene Prusher - September 5, 2012 - 12:00am Palestinians in the West Bank and Israeli Arabs show increasing signs of wanting to keep their distance from each other, and maintain different narratives about the history of the conflict, according to a new study conducted by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev researchers. Among some of the findings that researchers found most remarkable, 60 percent of Israeli Arabs surveyed said they would not want their daughter to marry someone from the West Bank, while 41% of West Bankers had the same attitude to their daughter marrying an Arab with Israeli citizenship. » Read more

Amid some boos, Democrats return Jerusalem-as-capital language to party platform ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) by Ron Kampeas - September 5, 2012 - 12:00am CHARLOTTE, N.C. (JTA) -- At President Obama's behest, and to boos from some delegates, Democrats on Wednesday night inserted a few lines into their party platform affirming Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Two of the lines had appeared in the 2008 party platform but had been dropped for some reason when this year’s platform was released Monday night; no one could quite explain the omission. » Read more

French to exhume Arafat's remains ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent by Matthew Kalman - September 6, 2012 - 12:00am Three French investigating magistrates will travel to Ramallah in the West Bank to exhume the remains of the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat so they can take tissue samples to determine what killed him. » Read more

State settles with family of Palestinian left to die by Israel Police, will pay damages ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Chaim Levinson - September 6, 2012 - 12:00am The State of Israel will compensate the family of a Palestinian who was left to die by Israeli police officers four years ago, in a compromise agreement obtained by Haaretz on Thursday. » Read more

Hamas training diplomats, challenging PLO monopoly abroad ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters September 6, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA CITY (Reuters) -- Hamas has begun a training program for diplomats in the Gaza Strip where it rules, a senior official of the Islamist group said, raising the specter of divisions in the Palestinian national movement spreading to its representation abroad. » Read more

PA says suspects in custody after colonel shot dead in Jenin ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency September 6, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Palestinian security services have detained suspects believed to be behind Wednesday's deadly shooting of a top security commander in Jenin, a security spokesman says. "There are some suspects who were detained for investigation, and there are security organizations working with us in the investigation process," Adnan al-Dmeiri said Thursday. » Read more

Hamas: An Islamist party tries to regain its luster ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Christa Case Bryant - September 5, 2012 - 12:00am Hamas has refashioned its government in an apparent bid to adapt to the sweeping changes in the Arab world and bolster its support among Gazans who, six years after bringing Hamas to power, are largely disillusioned and desperate for better lives. Over the weekend, the Islamist rulers of Gaza replaced seven of their 14 government ministers, including those in charge of housing, justice, and finance, in what officials and analysts say was a move to put more popular, competent officials in power. » Read more

President says Palestinian Spring has begun ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency September 6, 2012 - 12:00am CAIRO (Ma'an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday that the "Palestinian Spring" had begun, as Palestinians took to the streets across the West Bank in protest over rising prices. "The Palestinian spring has begun, and we are in line with what the people say and what they want," Abbas said, addressing a meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo. The president said the protesters' demands to reduce costs of basic goods and for regular payment of salaries were "right and fair." » Read more

Jerusalem omission's silly significance ATFP World Press Roundup Article from CNN by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) September 5, 2012 - 12:00am (CNN) -- The flip-flop over the non-mention, and now inclusion, in the Democratic platform of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel reflects just how silly and sensitive matters can become in an election year. » Read more