Abbas: Meshal approved an agreement recognizing two-state solution
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - December 13, 2012 - 1:00am

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas came out on Thursday in criticism of Hamas leader Khaled Meshal, who said last week during his visit to Gaza that the organization will never recognize Israel, and called for its destruction. Speaking to Turkish reporters in Ankara, Abbas said that he does not agree with Meshal's statements. "We recognized Israel in 1993," he said. "There is an agreement between Fatah and Hamas that recognizes the two-state solution. Meshal approved this agreement."

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Abbas blasts Mashaal: We already recognized Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Elior Levy - December 13, 2012 - 1:00am

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas blasted Hamas Politburo Chief Khaled Mashaal for asserting that his group will never recognize Israel, hinting that the statement hinders the chances of the two-state solution, according to the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet.

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Gaza government to rebuild ministries, headquarters
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
December 13, 2012 - 1:00am

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- The government in Gaza will start rebuilding ministries and headquarters destroyed in Israel's 8-day bombardment of the Gaza Strip, the cabinet said Wednesday. A ministerial committee has been appointed to survey the damage and assess reconstruction needs, cabinet secretary-general Abdul-Salam Siyam said. Offices of ministries destroyed in the war have been moved to apartments and other buildings to continue providing services to citizens, Siyam said in a statement.

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Hamas Gains Allure in Gaza, but Money Is a Problem
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Steven Erlanger - December 13, 2012 - 1:00am

GAZA CITY — Hamas has been riding high of late, after its professed victory in the recent conflict with Israel and the overthrow last year of Egypt’s president, Hosni Mubarak, an avowed enemy.

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Hamas official: Mashaal will not run for re-election
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
December 12, 2012 - 1:00am

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Hamas' chief-in-exile Khaled Mashaal will not run for re-election as leader of the Islamist movement, a group official said Wednesday, reiterating a position outlined several months ago.

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Almost the last call
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amira Hass - (Opinion) December 12, 2012 - 1:00am

It is difficult to compete with the phallus that the Hamas movement displayed publicly during its celebrations in Gaza at the end of last week, especially when those dragged into the competition were nondescript functionaries in ties, the remnants of the fatigued Palestine Liberation Organization's leadership. In this competition, European countries waver between the role of observer from the sidelines and that of the functionary's prompter.

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Hamas bans Israeli-provided internet service in Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
December 11, 2012 - 1:00am

GAZA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Hamas authorities on Tuesday ordered telecommunication companies, mobile stores and internet providers to stop offering services obtained from Israel. In a statement, the ministry said offering services from Israeli companies is banned, especially 3G and WiFi services. Hamas justified its decision that the Israeli internet providers allow access to pornographic websites, which local internet companies in Gaza blocked upon an earlier order from Hamas.

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Gaza: 'My child was killed and nothing has changed'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Harriet Sherwood - (Opinion) December 11, 2012 - 1:00am

The morning ritual goes like this: three-year-old Ali Misharawi wakes up and reaches for his father's mobile phone. He kisses and strokes the face of his baby brother, Omar, on its small screen. Then he starts asking questions. Why is Omar in paradise? Why did you put my brother into the ground? Why can't I play with him any more?

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Talk about Reconciliation Following Meshaal’s Visit
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Hayat
by Elias Harfoush - (Opinion) December 11, 2012 - 1:00am

If this is the road to the Palestinian reconciliation, as promised by the head of Hamas’ politburo Khaled Meshaal, then this will most certainly be a difficult road ridden with conflicting positions and campaigns.

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Hamas chief ends Gaza visit with Palestinian unity call
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Nidal al-Mughrabi - December 10, 2012 - 1:00am

GAZA, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal ended his first visit to the Gaza Strip on Monday with a pledge his Islamist movement would strive to heal political rifts with Palestinian rivals who hold sway in the occupied West Bank. His comments reinforced promises he and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the rival Fatah movement, made to each other in a telephone conversation a month ago, to forge ahead with a stalled unity deal opposed by Israel.

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