September 25th

Hamas head Mashaal says he will resign ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Ibrahim Barzak - September 24, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The supreme leader of the Palestinian Islamic militant group Hamas has decided to step down, clearing the way for the movement to choose a new head for the first time in more than 15 years, two senior officials said Monday. Khaled Mashaal told a recent meeting in Cairo of Hamas' leadership that he would not run in upcoming elections for the top position, said Izzat Risheq, a confidant of Mashaal who attended the gathering. Moussa Abu Marzouk, Mashaal's deputy, also confirmed the decision. » Read more

Israel: Syrian mortars accidentally land in Golan ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press by Daniel Estrin - September 25, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — Several mortars fired by Syrian government troops targeting rebels hit the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Tuesday but no one was hurt in the shelling, the Israeli military said. The incident marks the second time Syrian mortars have landed on the border area since Syria's crisis erupted 18 months ago. In July, mortar shells fell about one kilometer (half a mile) from the Golan boundary. » Read more

Israeli DM's West Bank pullout bid ires right-wingers: report ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua September 24, 2012 - 12:00am   JERUSALEM, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday floated a controversial West Bank pullout plan which included unilaterally leaving areas beyond several large settlement blocs, with details that immediately drew fire from both his right flank and official Palestinian sources. » Read more

Palestinian leaders dismiss Barak's proposal for partial withdrawal ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency September 25, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Palestinian leaders on Monday dismissed a proposal by Israel's defense minister suggesting a partial withdrawal from the occupied West Bank. Ehud Barak told the newspaper Israel Hayom that in the absence of peace talks, smaller illegal settlements in the West Bank should be evacuated, with the major settlement blocs remaining under Israeli control. Barak's proposal was swiftly shot down by Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor, who said the army will remain in the West Bank until a peace agreement is reached. » Read more

Before Palestinians Act at U.N., Israeli Officials Urge Other Steps ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Jodi Rudoren - September 24, 2012 - 12:00am JERUSALEM — With the Palestinians planning to make their case this week to upgrade from organizational status to nonmember status at the United Nations General Assembly, one senior Israeli minister condemned the move as “the easy and wrong way out” on Monday, while another said the time had come for Israel to consider its own unilateral move toward a separate state: annexing parts of the West Bank and withdrawing from others. » Read more

Abbas set for scaled-down bid at U.N. ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Joel Greenberg - September 24, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH, West Bank — There is no fanfare this time, no campaign in support of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as he heads this week to the United Nations to ask for an upgrade of the Palestinians’ status there to a non-member state. » Read more

September 24th

Two pipes for two peoples: The politics of water in the West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - (Opinion) September 24, 2012 - 12:00am The IDF's Civil Administration is preventing the Palestinian Authority from laying a water pipe that would alleviate the acute water shortage for more than 600,000 Palestinians in the West Bank. The reason given for preventing the pipe's construction is that a section of less than two kilometers of it, laid on the margins of Route 50, would disrupt Jewish passenger traffic on the road. » Read more

'We want the PA to have stability and prosperity, even if we have to fund it' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times of Israel by Raphael Ahren - (Interview) September 23, 2012 - 12:00am s the director-general of Strategic Affairs Ministry, Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser has spent a lot of time researching Palestinian incitement against Israel and Jews. Under his tutelage, the ministry earlier this year published an Incitement Index, which listed numerous examples of statements made by senior Palestinian Authority officials who ostensibly demonized Israel, insulted Jews, marginalized the Holocaust and radiated a general unwillingness for peace and reconciliation. » Read more

Protesters Signal Political Crisis For the Palestinian Authority ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor by Lena Odgaard - (Opinion) September 23, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH – A World Bank report released Wednesday urged international donors to react quickly to a deep fiscal crisis in the Palestinian territories. The Palestinian Authorities have been under significant pressure this month due to a sudden eruption of continuous protests as thousands took to the streets in a cry of despair over increasing living expenses. » Read more

Asharq Al-Awsat talks to Hamas Deputy Leader Musa Abu-Marzuq ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat by Salah Jumaa - (Interview) September 24, 2012 - 12:00am Asharq Al-Awsat, Dr. Musa Abu-Marzuq, Deputy Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau spoke about the situation in the Gaza Strip, the prospects of inter-Palestinian reconciliation and elections. Musa Abu Marzuq also touched upon numerous other topics including Muslim Brotherhood President Mohamed Mursi in Egypt, the worldwide Muslim protests against the US film that insulted the prophet and the killing of the US ambassador to Libya. The following is the full text of the interview: » Read more