Guarded praise for Palestinian deal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC World News
May 5, 2011 - 12:00am

Palestinian and Israeli papers have given a cautious welcome to the unity deal signed by the two main Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas, in Cairo on Wednesday. In the pro-Fatah Palestinian press, there is praise for Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal's call for a Palestinian unity state in the West Bank and Gaza while a paper affiliated to Hamas warns that the success of the agreement depends on its implementation on the ground.

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Fayyad says unity deal must be implemented swiftly
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
May 5, 2011 - 12:00am

Caretaker West Bank Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Wednesday welcomed a surprise unity accord between Fatah and Hamas but stressed the deal must be implemented on the ground immediately. His words were echoed by fellow Third Way party member and PLO leader Hanan Ashrawi, who said the move "reinforces today’s pursuit of democracy in the Middle East, and marks an important step towards Palestinian statehood and lasting peace."

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Fatah, Hamas proclaim landmark reconciliation pact
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Maggie Michael - May 4, 2011 - 12:00am

Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have proclaimed a landmark, Egyptian-mediated reconciliation pact aimed at ending their bitter four-year rift. The ceremony took place Wednesday at the Egyptian intelligence headquarters in Cairo. Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says the accord ends "four black years" that hurt national Palestinian interests. He also said at the ceremony that he would soon visit Hamas-held Gaza Strip. The pact provides for the creation of a joint caretaker Palestinian government ahead of national elections next year.

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Blair: Palestinians must recognize Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Ibrahim Barzak, Amy Teibel - May 4, 2011 - 12:00am

Mideast envoy Tony Blair says the international community supports Palestinian reconciliation but will demand that the new unity government recognize Israel's right to exist and renounce violence. Wednesday's announcement could signal trouble for the new alliance between the Islamic militant group Hamas and the Western-backed Fatah movement. Hamas says it will never recognize Israel.

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Palestinian Gambit May Keep International Funding Flowing
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
by Felice Friedson, Arieh O'Sullivan - May 4, 2011 - 12:00am

The Palestinian leadership is maneuvering to appoint technocrats to the planned national unity government to ensure that international funding continues, despite a ban on funneling money to Hamas as a recognized terrorist organization.

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Palestinian official: U.S. not oppose reconciliation deal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
May 4, 2011 - 12:00am

The United States has not notified the Palestinian leadership of any objection to a national agreement that rival Palestinian groups will sign Wednesday in Cairo, a Palestinian official said. On Tuesday, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talked over the phone and there were no U.S. signs that the agreement between Hamas and Fatah is rejected, said Yasser Abed Rabbo, a member of Palestine Liberation Organization's Executive Committee.

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Gaps between Hamas, Fatah loom large despite unity deal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Avi Issacharoff - May 4, 2011 - 12:00am

The reconciliation agreement between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority is to be signed Wednesday morning in Cairo, creating an interim unity government and paving the way to elections in a year. The accord restores relations between the two, which were severed when Hamas forcibly took over the Gaza Strip in June 2007.

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Lebanon welcomes Palestinian reconciliation, calls for Int'l support
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
May 4, 2011 - 12:00am

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Wednesday welcomed the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas, calling for international support to the deal. The reconciliation between the two parties was a blessed step to protect the Palestinian people and establish an independent state, Hariri said in a statement.

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Jordan welcomes Hamas-Fatah reconciliation deal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
May 4, 2011 - 12:00am

Jordan's Minister of State for Communications and Media Affairs Taher Adwan said Wednesday Jordan welcomes the reconciliation deal signed between Fatah and Hama, the state-run Petra news agency reported. "Jordan supports any efforts that help end the divide between Gaza and Ramallah that harmed the Palestinian issue," Adwan said in a statement. The Jordanian government hopes that the deal will enhance Palestinian, Jordanian, Arab and international efforts to attain the desired peace and create an independent Palestinian state, said Adwan.

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Fatah-Hamas deal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
(Editorial) May 4, 2011 - 12:00am

It is Netanyahu who must now choose between illegal settlements and peace ISRAELI Premier Benjamin Netanyahu’s response to the Fatah-Hamas peace deal was to threaten Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas, saying he needed to choose between peace with Israel and peace with Hamas.

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