Israel Wants to Strengthen the Palestinian Economy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
by Linda Gradstein - September 23, 2012 - 12:00am


Palestinians say Measures Fall Short of What is Needed


Ayalon calls on donor states to cut off Palestinian Authority funding
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times of Israel
by Gabe Fisher - September 23, 2012 - 12:00am


Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon called for international donors to halt funding to the Palestinian Authority, alleging that much of the money is ultimately used to support terrorism.


IMF: Palestinian economy 'facing serious risks'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
September 20, 2012 - 12:00am


BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian economy is facing serious risks, with a slowdown in growth and rise in unemployment in both Gaza and the West Bank, the International Monetary Fund said Thursday. 


World Bank: Palestinian fiscal crisis is deepening
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Amy Teibel - September 19, 2012 - 12:00am


JERUSALEM — The World Bank warned Wednesday of a deepening fiscal crisis in the Palestinian territories and appealed to donors to act urgently to prop up the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.


Pro-Hamas bloc wins control of UN agency union
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Ibrahim Barzak - September 18, 2012 - 12:00am


GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — A pro-Hamas bloc has won control of a union representing Palestinians working for a UN agency in Gaza. The bloc won 25 out of 27 union seats in a late Monday vote among 10,000 staffers with the U.N. Relief and Works Agency. The development underscores Hamas' influence among Gaza's professionals even though it has been criticized lately for ignoring the needs of the poor.


News Analysis: Various scenarios await Abbas amid a series of Palestinian crises
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
September 18, 2012 - 12:00am


RAMALLAH, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is nowadays busy with preparing to go for a second risky trip to the United Nations in New York next week for the bid of recognizing a non-member Palestinian state in the UN General Assembly.


Palestinian trade unions divided over strike action
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
September 17, 2012 - 12:00am


BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Palestinian trade unions are divided over whether to continue strike action in protest against rising living costs, unionists said Sunday. Transport union leader Nasser Younis told Ma'an that strike action was not a goal in itself but a means to pressure the Palestinian Authority to listen to their demands.


Palestinian economic protests point to uncertain future for PA, Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
by Ben Sales - (Opinion) September 16, 2012 - 12:00am


TEL AVIV (JTA) – Could the Palestinian Authority's budget woes end up costing Israel? Growing economic protests in the West Bank could lead to increased regional instability and perhaps even the end of the Palestinian Authority, experts are warning. At this point, however, they say the protests are unlikely to result in an eruption of violence against Israel.


Zahhar: Gaza more secure than West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
(Interview) September 15, 2012 - 12:00am


BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) – Seven years after Israel disengaged from the Gaza Strip, several things have changed both at the political and the economic level, Hamas official Mahmoud Zahhar said Friday. Speaking to Ma’an, Zahhar asserted that “Gaza is free of occupation, and contiguity with the outside world is easier as visitors from all over the world visited the coastal enclave.”


Protests renew in Ramallah despite Palestinian PM's measures to ease economic crisis
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
September 12, 2012 - 12:00am


RAMALLAH, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Despite Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's declaration to introduce easing measures against the high cost of living, a new demonstration was organized in the city of Ramallah Tuesday night calling for the immediate end of the economic crisis. In Ramallah, hundreds of angry protesters marched towards the headquarters of President Mahmoud Abbas. They held banners calling for a final resolution to the economic crisis.



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