Qatar pledges millions in aid for Gaza rebuilding
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency September 26, 2012 - 12:00am GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Qatar is planning to provide half a billion dollars in assistance to the Gaza Strip over the coming three years to rebuild infrastructure destroyed in Israeli attacks. In a visit to the enclave Tuesday, Qatari ambassador Muhammad al-Imadi said the Gulf country's emir created a special committee to distribute some $450 million for infrastructure, development and education projects. |
Finance minister tells donor conference: Peace at risk
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency September 24, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian Authority finance minister warned on Sunday that if the government's fragile financial situation persists, the peace process between Israel and Palestinians is at risk. Nabil Kassis was addressing a meeting of donors to the PA, the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee, in New York. |
PA threatens to sue union over transport strikes
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency September 24, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- The Palestinian Authority will go to the Supreme Court of Justice if the public transport workers union proceeds with strikes this week, a Palestinian minister said on Sunday. The union has confirmed it will proceed with planned strikes this week after it was not satisfied by the government's response to their demands. Workers will go on strike Monday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and all day Wednesday. |
Israel working to avert collapse of ailing Palestinian economy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Avi Issacharoff - September 24, 2012 - 12:00am Israel has taken significant steps to ease the Palestinian Authority's financial difficulties, fearing that instability in the West Bank threatens the PA's future, and that the Israel Defense Forces could eventually become the target of demonstrations there. |
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. |
Palestinian protests in West Bank highlight link between economy and security
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Amira Hass - September 18, 2012 - 12:00am Zakaria Zbeidi's continued arrest by the Palestinian authority has a great deal of impact and is condemned abroad, specifically by pro-Palestinian activists. Zbeidi's arrest, without a proper investigation, indictment and when allegations against him are constantly altered, is not exceptional. This is the Palestinian version of the Israeli administrative detention (extrajudicial arrest). |
IMF issues warning on Palestinian economy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Financial Times by Tobias Buck - September 18, 2012 - 12:00am The Palestinian economy is heading for a further slowdown in growth and a spike in unemployment just as it faces a “high risk” of continuing social unrest, according to the International Monetary Fund. The conclusions of the most recent IMF fact-finding mission make alarming reading both for Palestinian leaders and western governments amid growing concern over the viability of the Palestinian Authority and with peace talks with Israel frozen. |