Palestinians to High Court: Israel's West Bank land claim will cut Bethlehem off from south
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amira Hass - March 12, 2013 - 12:00am


The Israeli government is seeking a ruling from the High Court of Justice on Wednesday that would permit it to declare ownership of a large swath of land in the West Bank settlement of Efrat.


Hamas threatens to issue own passports for Gaza people
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
March 12, 2013 - 12:00am


Hamas accused Tuesday the rival Fatah movement of "depriving thousands of Gaza people of passports, " threatening to issue its own version of Palestinian travel documents. Ibrahim Salah, spokesperson of the Hamas interior ministry, accused the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) in the West Bank, where President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party holds sway, of " depriving thousands of Gaza people of passports."


Hamas urges collaborators to hand themselves in
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
March 12, 2013 - 12:00am


The Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza has a list of collaborators who will be detained if they do not turn themselves in, a security official said Tuesday. "Collaborators must contact dignitaries to help them turn themselves over to security services," said Muhammad Lafi, of the Internal Security Service. Informers who give themselves up by April 11 will not be detained or sent to interrogation centers, Lafi told reporters in Gaza City.


No Prospects for Palestinian Currency
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor
by Omar Shaban - (Opinion) March 12, 2013 - 12:00am


Reinstating the Palestine pound has long been a dream for Palestinians. Nevertheless, amid the Palestinians’ eagerness to consolidate their sovereignty and in view of the reality of the Palestinian economy that is controlled by Israel, not to mention the losses and challenges that could result from such a step, it seems that this Palestinian dream still has a long way to go before becoming a reality.


More and More Married Palestinians Women Enrolling in Universities
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from ABC News
by Hani al-Madhoun - March 12, 2013 - 12:00am


On Facebook, I spotted pictures of my older sister Hannah in the forefront of a peaceful protest to promote national unity and offer political prisoners some support and encouragement, as a large number of them are on a hunger strike. It was a surprise to me, because when I left Gaza years ago she was just a mother with a high school degree. She was caring for three kids and to my knowledge she showed no interest in going back to school or getting involved in political issues.


PA: 50,000 drug addicts in East Jerusalem, West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
March 11, 2013 - 12:00am


The Palestinian Authority minister of health said Sunday that there are an estimated 50,000 drug addicts in East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. Hani Abdin told Ma'an that the figures have encouraged the ministry to exert efforts to raise awareness about drug addiction and work with partner organizations to fight drug use.


Hamas’s Desengaño With Morsi
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
by Hussein Ibish - (Opinion) March 11, 2013 - 12:00am


English has by far the largest vocabulary of any language, but there are still times when we have to look beyond its confines to convey a particular meaning. There is a Spanish word, desengaño, which connotes a combination of disappointment, disenchantment, disillusionment and despair, for which we have no precise English equivalent. And this, surely, best sums up the current attitude of the Hamas rulers in Gaza towards Egypt's new government.


Is Hamas Considering Recognition Of Israel?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Monitor
by Shlomi Eldar - (Analysis) March 11, 2013 - 12:00am


Both Israel and the Palestinian Authority are busy preparing for President Barack Obama’s visit, but as it turns out, Hamas is also keeping a close watch on the American president’s visit.


Palestinians protest against Israel's block over Palestinian family reunion
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
March 10, 2013 - 1:00am


The Israeli army prevented Saturday a symbolic wedding party which aimed at protesting against the Israel's block over family reunion of the Palestinians living in West bank and Israel. The pride is a Palestinian woman from the Israeli city of Nazareth and the groom is a Palestinian young man from Ramallah. Witnesses said that the Israeli army erected blocks on the road linking Ramallah and Jerusalem to prevent the wedding convoy reaching the town of Hezma where the wedding is due to be held.


Foul sewage flooding raises Palestinian ire
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Jazeera English
by Mohammed Omer - March 9, 2013 - 1:00am


Gazans are crying foul after Egypt stepped up its campaign to wipe out an underground network of transportation tunnels by blasting raw sewage down them, sometimes with deadly results for Palestinian workers.



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