December 6th

Israel to reward Abbas in phase 2 of Shalit deal? ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews by Elior Levy - December 6, 2011 - 1:00am The second phase of the Gilad Shalit prisoner swap, which will see the release of another 550 prisoners, will be completed in the next two weeks, with Israel seeking to use the occasion to boost Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' status. Sources familiar with the issue told Ynet that officials in Jerusalem are seeking to link the upcoming prisoner release to a previous Israeli pledge to Abbas, whereby Israel will release Fatah detainees rather than Hamas prisoners. » Read more

Artists call to scrap ministry prize for 'Zionist' works ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Elad Samorzik - December 6, 2011 - 1:00am Hundreds of dancers, authors, filmmakers and other artists have signed a petition calling to cancel the NIS 50,000 prize initiated by Culture Minister Limor Livnat intended to "reflect Zionist values and history" and give the prize money to "the meager coffer supporting free artistic work in Israel." The artists say a prize in the Zionism field is controversial, as its criteria do not pertain solely to artistic quality. » Read more

No peace talks with Israel without settlement freeze: Palestinian official ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua December 6, 2011 - 1:00am There would be no peace negotiations with Israel without a settlement freeze and a two- state solution, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Tuesday. "These are not Palestinian conditions, they are Israeli Phase I Roadmap obligations," Erekat said during a meeting with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman. "The Palestinian bid to get a full membership at the United Nations would continue," said Erekat, quoted by a statement issued by his office.. » Read more

PA: Settlers kidnap shepherd near Nablus ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency December 6, 2011 - 1:00am Israeli settlers on Monday kidnapped a 60-year-old shepherd after attacking him in Orif village south of Nablus, officials said. Village council head Fawzi Shehadeh said six residents of Yitzhar settlement attacked Salim Jamil Shehadeh near the local high school and took him away in a car. The settlers stole all 50 of his sheep, the councilor added. Palestinian Authority settlement affairs official Ghassan Doughlas told Ma'an the government was conducting intensive negotiations with Israeli officials to secure the shepherd's release. » Read more

Suspects in 'honor' killing deny charges ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency December 6, 2011 - 1:00am Four men accused of the honor killing of 20-year-old Ayah Ibrahim Baradiyya, whose remains were found in May 2011, told a jury on Monday that their confession was obtained through torture. The four men, an uncle and three other relatives of the victim, were attending the first court hearing in the murder trial of the young student who went missing in April 2010. “I am guiltless and I have nothing to do with this charge which I denounce. What happened was that detectives tortured me and broke my jaw to make me confess," the victim's uncle said in court. » Read more

Abbas aide: PA won't yield to 'extortion' ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency December 6, 2011 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority "will not yield to extortion," presidential adviser Nimir Hammad said Tuesday of threats by Israeli officials to withhold Palestinian money again. Hammad's comments followed reports in Israel that the government would refuse to pay Palestinian tax revenues if the PLO applied again for full UN membership. Citing political sources, Israel radio reported Tuesday that the Israeli government would consider withholding Palestinian money in the event of another UN bid. Hammad told Ma'an radio that the PA "will not yield to such extortion." » Read more

The fragility of the Palestinian economic situation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by David Brodet - (Opinion) December 5, 2011 - 1:00am The mood in the Palestinian Authority recently changed radically in the space of a few weeks. In September 2011, the attention of Palestinians and the world was directed toward the United Nations, where the Palestine Liberation Organization submitted its request to be accepted as a state by the UN and Palestinian spirits were at an all-time high. » Read more

Ultimately crippling ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Ghassan Khatib - (Opinion) December 5, 2011 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority has been plagued this year by various financial troubles that are affecting, in turn, its ability to fulfill some of its financial obligations. The most recent source of these problems has been a decline in PA revenues. The Palestinian budget is usually composed of two sources of income. One is external funding ($1.83 billion annually) from donors, and the other is made up of domestic revenues, direct ($812 million a year) and indirect ($1.442 billion annually collected by Israel). » Read more

Ultimately crippling ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Ghassan Khatib - (Opinion) December 5, 2011 - 1:00am The Palestinian Authority has been plagued this year by various financial troubles that are affecting, in turn, its ability to fulfill some of its financial obligations. The most recent source of these problems has been a decline in PA revenues. The Palestinian budget is usually composed of two sources of income. One is external funding ($1.83 billion annually) from donors, and the other is made up of domestic revenues, direct ($812 million a year) and indirect ($1.442 billion annually collected by Israel). » Read more

Not central to independence ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Yossi Alpher - (Opinion) December 5, 2011 - 1:00am Revelations concerning the Palestinian financial crisis of recent weeks touch upon three issues. The most obvious one is the seeming inability of the Palestinian Authority under Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to accumulate sufficient reserves to withstand a few weeks' shortfall in income. Put differently, it is the PA's huge reliance on donor-nation funds and on taxes collected for it by Israel. » Read more