US MEDIA OPINION PIECES

US NEWS ARTICLES

US WIRE SERVICE NEWS ARTICLES

• Miami Herald: Middle East: The Tragedy Continues, by Daoud Kuttab (19 May 2008).
  This op-ed by Mr. Daoud Kuttab calls for Palestinians to take responsibility for their PR failures.

Palestinians to get $20 million in US aid, but leadership in disarray
By Christa Case Bryant | Staff writer
Date: 01.30.09
http://features.csmonitor.com/globalnews/2009/01/30/palestine-to-get-20-million-in-us-aid-but-leadership-in-disarray/

Palestinian Rival Says It Is Attacked by Hamas
By SABRINA TAVERNISE
Published: January 22, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/world/middleeast/23revenge.html

Will all Palestinian factions honor Hamas's cease-fire?
By Shane Bauer | Contributor to The Christian Science Monitor
from the January 21, 2009 edition
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0121/p11s01-wome.html

Control Of Gaza Subject Of Debate - Many Wonder if Fatah Will Assume Leadership Role
By Craig Whitlock, Washington Post Foreign Service
Wednesday, January 21, 2009; A03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/20/AR2009012004066.html

Palestinian Authority is left weakened
By Richard Boudreaux
January 20, 2009 in print edition A-6
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/01/20/news/fg-losers-gaza20

NEWS ANALYSIS: Mahmoud Abbas seen as big loser after fight between Israel and Hamas
By Joel Greenberg | Tribune correspondent
10:16 PM CST, January 19, 2009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-gaza-west-bank_greenbergjan20,0,1595186.story

• New York Times: Israel Aids Palestinians With Arms, by Isabel Kershner (6 September 2008).
  Quote from article "Some 900 assault rifles were transferred to the Palestinian Authority in late August with Israel’s approval, an Israeli security official said Friday, as part of a drive to build the capacity of Palestinian security forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank."

• New York Times: As a Gesture to Abbas, Israel Says It Will Release About 150 Palestinian Prisoners, by Ethan Bronner (7 August 2008).
  This article describes various Palestinian prisoners, the specific political reasons they were imprisoned, and their possible roles in future Palestinian politics, but does not mention that large numbers of Palestinians are jailed without trial or charges as per Defence (Emergency) Regulations.

• Chicago Tribune: WEST BANK: Abbas: No asylum for Gaza supporters (4 August 2008).
  "RAMALLAH — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday refused to grant West Bank asylum to forces who fled weekend faction fighting in Hamas-ruled Gaza. Abbas ordered nearly 200 fighters back to Gaza from Israel, insisting a Fatah presence must be retained in the territory."

• Christian Science Monitor: Fatah, Hamas rift widens amid new violence, by Rafael D. Frankel and Joshua Mitnick (4 August 2008).
  

• Washington Post: Rights Group Reports Torture by Palestinian Security Forces, by Linda Gradstein (30 July 2008).
  

• Christian Science Monitor: Palestinian hostilities flare in Gaza, by Joshua Mitnick and Rafael D. Frankel (28 July 2008).
  

• Washington Post: Arab Aid to Palestinians Often Doesn't Fulfill Pledges, by Glenn Kessler (27 July 2008).
  This article describes how Arab countries have failed to fulfill their pledges of financial support for the PA. The main reason is distrust of the PA and resentment of how Israel still controls everything. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the PA have put much pressure on these countries but have had little success.

• Christian Science Monitor: Palestinians: Let us tame wild Jenin, by Ilene R. Prusher (11 July 2008).
  This article describes how Israeli raids have undermined Abbas's PA asserting its authority in line with the demands on the PA from the peace process, thus undermining the peace process.

• Washington Post: As Israeli Siege Strangles Gaza Strip, Hamas, Smugglers Profit Off Tunnels, by Griff Witte (18 June 2008). This article describes the tunnel system through which goods are smuggled into Gaza to relieve the suffering caused by the Israeli seige. The article also describes those who are profiting off the tunnel system including Hamas, while the people continue to suffer. The article also describes that Hamas's popularity is diminishing because of the seige.

• Boston Globe: Hamas rules a poor, more pious Gaza, by Ethan Bronner (15 June 2008).
  New York Times: A Year Reshapes Hamas and Gaza, by Ethan Bronner (15 June 2008).
  These articles describe how Hamas rule over Gaza has made Gaza more efficient (but not easier to live in mostly due to the Israeli blockade), and how rule has changed Hamas (made it more practical and strengthened its internal moderates who are more open to living next to Israel if Israel gives in on certain points). The article also describes how Israel's blockade has not worked in its goal to weaken Hamas.

• New York Times: The Day After Peace: Designing Palestine, by James Bennet (15 May 2008).
  This article describes a plan for a Palestinian State put together by American professional city planners that includes a transportation-communications-utility arc stretching from Jenin in the north through to Jerusalem in the center and onto Nablus in the south and then across to Gaza, reactions to it from an array of Palestinians, Israelis and others both technically and politically.

Watching Gaza divisions, Palestinian refugees in Lebanon try to prevent spill-over into camps
By SAM F. GHATTAS | Associated Press Writer
6:03 AM CST, February 7, 2009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-ml-lebanon-palestinians,0,5525124.story

In Lebanese camp, fears over Palestinian divisions
By SAM F. GHATTAS, ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
February 7, 2009 3:42 a.m. PT
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1107ap_ml_lebanon_palestinians.html

In Lebanese camp, fears over Palestinian divisions
By SAM F. GHATTAS, The Associated Press
Saturday, February 7, 2009; 6:42 AM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/07/AR2009020700564.html

Gazans say it doesn't matter who wins Israeli vote
By BEN HUBBARD, Associated Press Writer
February 6, 2009 - 3:29 p.m. EST
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/shared-gen/ap/Middle_East/ML_Israel_Election_Hamas.html?cxntlid=inform_sr

Palestinians say it doesn't matter to them who wins Israeli election, all are enemies
By BEN HUBBARD | Associated Press Writer
2:29 PM CST, February 6, 2009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-ml-israel-election-hamas,0,7293393.story

Gazans say it doesn't matter who wins Israeli vote
By BEN HUBBARD, The Associated Press
Friday, February 6, 2009; 3:29 PM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/06/AR2009020602465.html

Hamas to respond to truce proposals Saturday: Egypt
Writing by Alaa Shahine, Reuters
Thursday, February 5, 2009; 5:52 AM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/05/AR2009020500512.html

Abbas government announces $600 million Gaza aid project
By Ali Sawafta, Reuters
Wednesday, February 4, 2009; 11:48 AM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/04/AR2009020401059.html

Hard-liners strengthened by Gaza war
By STEVEN GUTKIN and KARIN LAUB, The Associated Press
Saturday, January 31, 2009; 1:28 PM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/31/AR2009013101023.html

Hamas wants new leadership for Palestinians
By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Reuters
Friday, January 30, 2009; 9:56 AM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/30/AR2009013001273.html

Hamas calls for Palestinian reconciliation
By ALBERT AJI, Associated Press Writer
January 22, 2009 - 5:29 p.m. EST
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/Middle_East/ML_Palestinian_Politics.html?cxntlid=inform_artr

Hamas dismisses reconciliation talks with Fatah
Associated Press
January 22, 2009 - 7:40 a.m. EST
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/Middle_East/ML_Palestinians_Politics.html?cxntlid=inform_sr

Hamas calls for Palestinian reconciliation, but insists fight against Israel must go on
By ALBERT AJI | Associated Press Writer
4:29 PM CST, January 22, 2009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-ml-palestinian-politics,0,4453564.story

Syria-based Hamas official dismisses reconciliation talks with rival Fatah group
By Associated Press
6:40 AM CST, January 22, 2009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-ml-palestinians-politics,0,6531192.story

Hamas calls for Palestinian reconciliation
By ALBERT AJI, The Associated Press
Thursday, January 22, 2009; 5:29 PM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/22/AR2009012201998.html

Hamas dismisses reconciliation talks with Fatah
The Associated Press
Thursday, January 22, 2009; 7:40 AM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/22/AR2009012200756.html

• Washington Post
  Fatah group mulls talks with Hamas, Reuters (11 October 2008).
• Washington Post
  Fatah says Hamas stalling on Palestinian unity plan, by Douglas Hamilton, Reuters (9 October 2008).
• Washington Post
  Egypt briefs Hamas on plan to end Palestinian split, by Will Rasmussen, Reuters (8 October 2008).
• Washington Post
  Hamas takes its turn at reconciliation talks, by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Reuters (7 October 2008).
• Chicago Tribune: Hamas lawmakers: Abbas term ends in January, he must call new presidential election,
  Washington Post: Hamas lawmakers: Abbas term ends in January,
  both article-versions by Ibrahim Barzak, Associated Press (6 October 2008) - Abbas's four year term is up and the Hamas-dominated Parliament is unlikely to vote him an extension to the time of the Parliament elections next year.
• Chicago Tribune Israel allows shipment of 1,000 rifles to reach Palestinian security forces in the West Bank,
  Washington Post Israel allows weapons transfer to Palestinians,
  both article-versions by Matti Friedman, Associated Press (5 September 2008) - to strengthen Abbas.
• Chicago Tribune Hamas forces doctors to work as rival Fatah calls for strike, Gaza hospitals partly paralyzed,
  Washington Post Gaza hospitals strain under pressure of strikes,
  both article-versions by Ibrahim Barzak, Associated Press (4 September 2008) - union is Fatah, and strike is against Hamas policies.
• Washington Post
  Gaza strike deepens Palestinian rift: U.N. envoy, by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Reuters (2 September 2008) - describes the dispute between Hamas and a Fatah-led union in Gaza, and UN concerns this might have negative impact on medical services in Gaza.
• Boston Globe
  Washington Post:
  Islamic Jihad warns of rising Fatah-Hamas tensions, by Mohammed Assadi, Reuters (29 August 2008).
• Washington Post
  Mideast running on different clocks at Ramadan, by Katarina Kratovac, Associated Press (28 August 2008) - Fatah and Hamas set clocks back differently as another way to oppose each other.
• Washington Post
  Around the World: Hamas Breaks Strike in Gaza, from News Services (28 August 2008) - The ruling Hamas movement replaced hundreds of striking teachers with its own supporters Wednesday, purging Gaza Strip schools of political rivals. The teachers' union, which called the strike, is one of the last remaining strongholds of the Fatah movement in the coastal territory.
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
  Washington Post:
  Gaza travellers hit by passport shortage, by Ibrahim Barzak, Associated Press (21 August 2008) - hold up is due to PA inaction - claim shortage of paper, but they are still handing out passports in the West Bank..
• Washington Post
  Campaign to silence dissent in West Bank, Gaza, by Mohammed Daraghmeh, Associated Press (12 August 2008).
• Washington Post
  Israeli-Palestinian hatreds envenom West Bank city, by Alistair Lyon, Reuters (7 August 2008) - describes the situation in Hebron where settlers have taken over the towncenter and abuse the Palestinian natives and the Israeli military won't do anything about it, and instead undermine Palestinian police with almost daily raids which aggravates the Hamas-Fatah rivalry.
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  WORLD IN BRIEF: Hamas claims Gaza rivals neutralized, from News Services (5 August 2008) - Hamas claimed to have uprooted the last major pocket of armed resistance to its 14-month rule in the Gaza Strip, saying it seized mortars, grenade launchers and other weapons from a once powerful Palestinian clan allied with the rival Fatah movement. Dozens of members of the Hilles clan were being held by the Islamic militants of Hamas, while dozens more who fled to Israel to avoid capture during weekend fighting were given asylum Monday in the Fatah-ruled West Bank. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of Fatah, earlier had asked Israel to send the men back home, apparently fearing a mass flight of Fatah supporters from Gaza.
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  Hamas warns of uprising against Fatah in West Bank,
  Chicago Tribune
  Hamas official warns group could take over West Bank from Fatah if provoked,
  both articles by Diaa Hadid, Associated Press (5 August 2008).
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  WORLD IN BRIEF: Fighters ordered to return to Gaza, from News Services (4 August 2008) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas refused to grant West Bank asylum to Fatah forces who fled bloody weekend factional fighting in Hamas-ruled Gaza, despite fears for their safety. Abbas ordered nearly 200 fighters back to Gaza from Israel, insisting a Fatah presence must be retained in the territory..
• Washington Post
  Fatah activists from Gaza to be sent to West Bank, Associated Press (4 August 2008).
• Washington Post
  Israel sends Gazans who fled Hamas to West Bank, by Mohammed Assadi, Reuters (4 August 2008) - the Gazans were Fatah military personnel.
• Washington Post
  Israel to send Gazans who fled Hamas to West Bank, by Avida Landau, Reuters (4 August 2008) - the Gazans were Fatah military.
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  WORLD IN BRIEF: Hamas, Fatah make war, from News Services (3 August 2008) - The worst intra-Palestinian violence in more than a year left nine people dead and scores injured in Gaza as the ruling Hamas party cracked down on a clan loyal to its rival, Fatah. Israel stepped in to help Fatah by allowing 180 of its men into Israel and treating and hospitalizing two dozen of its wounded. A spokesman for the Hamas police in Gaza said that among the dead were two Hamas policemen and seven members of the clan, but other reports said another Hamas police officer had been killed as well. The Hamas spokesman put the number of wounded at 90, including at least a dozen children. Witnesses reported a day of fierce street fighting in the Shejaia neighborhood of Gaza City, although by nightfall quiet had been restored..
• Washington Post
  Fleeing Hamas, Fatah men enter Israel, by Ibrahim Barzak, Associated Press (3 August 2008).
• Chicago Tribune,
  Hamas police surround Fatah stronghold in Gaza, says it is closing in on suspects of bombing,
  Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
  Washington Post:
  Hamas says it is closing in on bombing suspects,
  all 3 article-versions by Ibrahim Barzak, Associated Press (2 August 2008).
• Washington Post
  Nine killed, 95 hurt in Hamas-Fatah violence in Gaza, by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Reuters (2 August 2008) - describes how effort to stop rocketeers in name of the truce is also about Hamas-Fatah rivalry for control of Palestine.
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  Blast rockets Hamas training camp in Gaza, 5 hurt,
  Chicago Tribune
  Palestinian security: Huge blast rocks Hamas training base in southern Gaza, 5 hurt,
  both articles by Ibraham Barzak, Associated Press (29 July 2008).
• Washington Post
  Hamas, Fatah pursue war of words over detentions, by Mohammed Assadi, Reuters (29 July 2008).
• Boston Globe
  Palestinian factions arrest rivals, by Wael al-Ahmed, Reuters (28 July 2008).
• Washington Post
  Report: Torture widespread in Palestinian jails, by Karin Laub and Dalia Nammari, Associated Press (28 July 2008).
• Chicago Tribune
  Gaza Strip: Blasts kill 5, including Hamas official, Associated Press (27 July 2008).
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
  Washington Post:
  Gaza tense after deadly explosion, Hamas crackdown,
  both articles by Ibrahim Barzak, Associated Press (27 July 2008).
• Washington Post
  Fatah-Hamas tensions surge after Gaza bombings, by Wael al-Ahmed, Reuters (27 July 2008).
• Boston Globe
  Hamas arrests 160 Fatah supporters after fatal Gaza blast, Reuters (27 July 2008).
• Washington Post
  Raids, budget shortfall _ a double blow for Abbas, by Karin Laub, Associated Press (27 July 2008).
• Washington Post
  WITNESS: Return to Gaza, Reuters (27 July 2008). This article is written by a journalist who is returning to Gaza after 8 years away. She describes how life in Gaza has changed under Hamas and under Israeli blockade.
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  WORLD IN BRIEF: Blast reignites sectarian violence, Mystery explosions leave four dead, from News Services (26 July 2008) - mystery explosions in Sunni area and in Gaza brought on sectarian violence in those areas amongst Israel's enemies, and no one blamed Israel.
• Boston Globe
  Explosion in Gaza City kills 4, by Mohammed Salem, Reuters (26 July 2008).
• Washington Post
  Hamas seizes Abbas-run agency in Gaza crackdown, Reuters (26 July 2008).
• Washington Post
  Unexplained explosions kill 5, wound 20 in Gaza, by Ibrahim Barzak, Associated Press (25 July 2008).
• Washington Post
  Gazan bombers target Hamas gunmen, 4 dead, by Mohammed Salem, Reuters (25 July 2008).
• Washington Post
  Blasts at Gaza cafe, politician's house: Hamas, by Mohammed Salem, Reuters (24 July 2008).
• Washington Post
  Hamas chief calls for Palestinian dialogue, Reuters (13 July 2008).
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
  Chicago Tribune
  Philadelphia Inquirer,
  San Francisco Chronicle,
  Washington Post:
  Tiff over term could hurt Palestinian president, Mohammed Daraghmeh, Associated Press (8 July 2008).
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
  Chicago Tribune,
  Philadelphia Inquirer,
  San Francisco Chronicle,
  Washington Post:
  Palestinian leader meets Islamic Jihad, not Hamas, by Bassem Mroue, Associated Press (7 July 2008).
• Washington Post
  Abbas Fatah envoys in Gaza but Hamas talks uncertain, by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Reuters (17 June 2008).
• Washington Post
  Qaeda groups active in Gaza after year under Hamas, by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Reuters (10 June 2008).
• Washington Post
  Hamas leader cautious on reconciliation with Abbas, by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Reuters (9 June 2008).
• Washington Post
  Hamas, Fatah delegates meet Senegal's Wade: media, by Alistair Thomson and Diadie Ba, Reuters (7 June 2008).