The news below are provided by: Business Intelligence Middle East/Palestinian Territories

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• Kerry heads to Middle East to push peace from Syria to Israel

  INTERNATIONAL. The discussions on Syria come as Barack Obama is under increasing pressure from some U.S. lawmakers to do more to bring down Bashar al-Assad.
  
  

• Muslim Schindlers in focus

  SAUDI ARABIA. In mid-April, an unusual exhibition was held in London, highlighting the role Muslims played in saving Jewish lives during the Holocaust. At the exhibition, people saw love and harmony between people of different faiths.
  
  

• Shubbak 2013: Mayor of London unveils plans for international festival of Arab culture

  QATAR. London's celebration of contemporary culture from across the Arab world was first launched in 2011.
  
  

• Commentary: Mitigating distrust is central to peace

  INTERNATIONAL. A critical impediment to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the complete distrust between the two sides. What makes the conflict even more intractable is that neither side is convinced that distrusting the other can be mitigated given the history of the conflict.
  
  

• Commentary: Winning peace through hearts and minds

  INTERNATIONAL. "Other than insisting on the resumption of negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian officials, he [President Obama] must exert equal pressure, though quietly, on both sides to begin changing their public narrative on the conflicting issues that separate them."
  
  

• Obama brokers Israel-Turkey rapprochement

  INTERNATIONAL. Israel apologized to Turkey for killing nine Turkish citizens in a 2010 naval raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla and the two feuding nations agreed to normalize relations.
  
  

• Urgent job creation on a mass scale key to stability in the Arab region, says UNDP report

  INTERNATIONAL. Arab States could reap a major "demographic dividend" if they can convert their advances in education into employment opportunities for youth, says the 2013 Human Development Report.
  
  

• The Abraaj Group invests in provider of Arabic educational games

  PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. Investment will allow Anoud Games to increase its product range and expand regionally.
  
  

• Broadband MEA 2013 gathers leaders from unique emerging markets

  INTERNATIONAL. Visitors to the largest broadband event in the Middle East and Africa will gain insight into how emerging markets are progressing despite challenging circumstances.
  
  

• University Presidents launch network to support higher education reform in the Arab World

  MOROCCO. Widespread embrace of World Bank-designed University Governance Screening Card (UGSC), a tool for evaluating institutional performance.
  
  

• Palestinians win de facto U.N. recognition of sovereign state

  INTERNATIONAL. There were 138 votes in favor, nine against and 41 abstentions in the vote to upgrade the PA's observer status at the UN to "non-member state" from "entity."
  
  

• Palestinian President Abbas expects wide support for UN bid

  INTERNATIONAL. Mahmoud Abbas said a bid for UN observer status is the first step toward achieving his people's rights and has wide support among General Assembly members.
  
  

• Yasser Arafat corpse to be exhumed next week in poison probe

  INTERNATIONAL. The process of opening Arafat's grave will be medically and legally supervised by the Palestinian Authority with teams of experts from Switzerland, France and Russia.
  
  

• Mursi pushed by public on economy brokers Gaza cease-fire

  EGYPT. Faced with a struggling economy, a public quick to protest and Egypt's dependence on U.S. military aid, Mursi needs to retain the global credibility that helped his country this week sign an initial accord for an IMF loan.
  
  

• Children suffering devastating impact of Gaza crisis, says UN

  INTERNATIONAL. "This impact extends from a large number of deaths and injuries in Gaza to deep trauma and other psychological effects on children on both sides of the border."
  
  

• Analysis: A pause for negotiations in the Israeli-Hamas conflict

  INTENATIONAL. No matter how much either side might want to avoid ground warfare, negotiations are unlikely to forestall an Israeli assault because Hamas' and Israel's goals leave little middle ground.
  
  

• Analysis: Hezbollah remains wary amid Israeli operations in Gaza

  INTERNATIONAL. While Hamas is preparing for an Israeli ground assault into Gaza, many are looking in the direction of Lebanon, where Hezbollah, Iran's most capable militant proxy, could open a second front against Israel.
  
  

• Israel boosts reserves, readies for ground fight in Gaza

  INTERNATIONAL. If Israeli ground forces join the fighting, it would be the first major incursion into Gaza since the three-week operation that began in December 2008, which left more than 1,100 Palestinians and 12 Israelis dead.
  
  

• Analysis: Egypt, Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula

  INTERNATIONAL. The Rafah Crossing will illustrate Egypt's thinking with regard to the current Israel-Gaza conflict. If Egypt allows the Rafah Crossing to stay open, it would have decided to oppose Israel.
  
  

• Analysis: Considering an Israeli ground assault in Gaza

  INTERNATIONAL. Whether the current air campaign escalates to a ground assault will largely depend on the mission that the Israeli military is trying to accomplish.
  
  

• Israel warns of escalation after Tel Aviv missile firing

  INTERNATIONAL. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak signaled that Israel is ready to escalate its military operations against Gaza after at least one long-range missile was fired at Tel Aviv by Palestinian militants.
  
  

• War looms over Gaza as death toll rises

  INTERNATIONAL. The sudden conflict, launched by Israel pours oil on the fire of a Middle East already ablaze with two years of revolution and an out-of-control civil war in Syria.
  
  

• Israel hits Gaza targets as air strike kills Hamas leader

  INTERNATIONAL. Israel carried out a series of air strikes in the Gaza Strip, killing the leader of Hamas's militant wing, and said it was ready to use ground troops if needed.
  
  

• Abbas says he did not give up on right of return

  PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. Mahmoud Abbas said remarks about not returning to his home town, which is now in Israel, was a "personal position."
  
  

• Israel seizes pro-Palestinian activist ship off Gaza

  INTERNATIONAL. No one was hurt when marines boarded the SV Estelle which was rerouted to the Israeli port of Ashdod after it ignored orders to turn away from Gaza.
  
  

• World Bank warns of deepening Palestinian fiscal crisis

  INTERNATIONAL. Calls for immediate donor action coupled with freeing of untapped West Bank resources.
  
  

• France opens murder inquiry into Arafat death

  INTERNATIONAL. A French court has opened a murder inquiry into the 2004 death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, following claims by his wife that he may have been poisoned.
  
  

• Lack of sufficient services in Gaza could get worse without urgent action, warns UN

  INTERNATIONAL. Gaza's problems in water and electricity, education and health will get worse over the coming years unless remedial action is taken now.
  
  

• Gulf Capital funds education of 100 underprivileged Lebanese, Palestinian and Syrian children

  UAE. Supports "Inaash" education programme in Lebanon as part of its broader regional CSR program.
  
  

• Promoting Palestinian economic growth through trade and integration

  INTERNATIONAL. Only a dynamic and rapidly growing private sector will be able to provide the jobs needed by the expanding Palestinian population and generate the revenues required to fund essential government services.
  
  

• Opinion: The primacy of Human Development in the Arab Spring

  INTERNATIONAL. The durability of national governments in the Middle East and North Africa is now determined by the extent to which leaders can expeditiously and effectively address the primary cause of the Arab Spring.
  
  

• Middle East energy: The Levant basin - a new frontier

  LEBANON. With an estimated 1.7 billion barrels of recoverable oil and 122 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of recoverable natural gas, the Levant Basin Province in the eastern Mediterranean is an exciting new frontier for the oil and gas industry.
  
  

• Deloitte trains over 2,000 Middle East students on entrepreneurial skills

  UAE. Deloitte volunteers in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Palestine and Qatar have been facilitating business and entrepreneurial training programs to high school students in schools across the Middle East since early 2012.
  
  

• Palestinians eye Arafat autopsy after poison report

  INTERNATIONAL. New suspicions that Yasser Arafat was murdered, perhaps poisoned by radioactive polonium, prompted the Palestinian Authority to agree to exhume the body of the iconic leader.
  
  

• Arab Entrepreneurs vie for start-up funding at MIT Enterprise Forum Arab Business Plan Competition

  UAE. Of the fourteen finalist teams selected from more than 4500 applications received, seven are from Egypt, three are from Lebanon, two from Palestine, and one team each hail from Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.
  
  

• Publicis enters Palestinian market

  PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. Publicis Groupe becomes first publicly-listed international communications group to enter the Palestinian market through the acquisition of an equity stake in Zoom Advertising.
  
  

• Palestine Exchange hosts inaugural meeting of ME-IR Society's local chapter

  PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. The meeting addressed areas and mechanisms of enhancing investor relations and communications, as well as ways to attract new investors.
  
  

• New World Bank strategy for West Bank and Gaza

  INTERNATIONAL. The World Bank endorsed the Interim Strategy Note for West Bank and Gaza which provides an additional US$55 million to support development assistance.
  
  

• Abraaj Capital and the Palestine Investment Fund announce first closure of US$50 million Palestine Growth Capital Fund

  PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. Abraaj Capital, Palestine Investment Fund, Bank of Palestine, Cisco and EIB are partner investors in the Fund; US$36 million first close indicates high level of investor interest and confidence in Palestine's high growth Small and Mid-Cap sector.
  
  

• Lacoste Elysée Prize 2011 suspended after exclusion of prize nominee

  INTERNATIONAL. For 25 years, the Musée de l'Elysée has defended with strength artists, their work, freedom of the arts and of speech. With the decision it has taken today, the Musée de l'Elysée repeats its commitment to its fundamental values.
  
  

• Lacoste requests removal of Palestinian artist from photographic prize

  INTERNATIONAL. French fashion brand demands the removal of Bethlehem artist Larissa Sansour from major the prestigious Lacoste Elysée Prize.
  
  

• Palestine and its untapped potential

  UAE. Rasmala organizes the "Dynamism of Palestinian Economy" event, held at the Jumeirah Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi, with the Palestinian Business Council.
  
  

• Palestinians slam Newt Gingrich over 'invented' people

  PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. Prime minister Salam Fayyad called on Gingrich to apologise for his "vulgar, hurtful and ridiculous remarks", during a meeting with journalists.
  
  

• S&P Indices and Arab Federation of Exchanges create S&P AFE 40 Index

  INTERNATIONAL. The S&P AFE 40 is comprised of the 40 largest stocks (measured by float-adjusted market capitalisation) listed on AFE member exchanges.
  
  

• Forbes Middle East unveils ranking of Top 63 online newspapers of the Arab world

  UAE. Egypt's Al Youm Al Sabe tops ranking for second year in a row.
  
  

• Palestinians may force UN vote on membership

  INTERNATIONAL. An admissions committee for the UN Security Council adopted a report that says the 15-member body cannot make a unanimous recommendation to take the Palestinian bid further.
  
  

• US cuts off UNESCO funding after Palestinian vote

  INTERNATIONAL. The US is cutting off financial contributions to the United Nations cultural agency following its vote Monday to grant Palestinians full membership.
  
  

• Young Arab Entrepreneurs set to compete at annual INJAZ Al-Arab regional competition 2011

  UAE. Students from 12 Arab nations to vie for highly converted 'Best Company of the year Award'
  
  

• Abbas calls for UN to admit 1967 borders Palestine

  INTERNATIONAL. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas on Friday called on the United Nations to admit a state of Palestine as a full member based on the borders in 1967 before the Six-Day war with Israel.
  
  

• Palestinians aim for UN showdown despite warnings

  INTERNATIONAL. Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath said Abbas will give "some time to the Security Council to consider first our full membership request before heading to the General Assembly" to seek enhanced observer status.
  
  

• Talks the only way to end Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Obama tells UN

  INTERNATIONAL. Peace between Israel and the Palestinians can only be attained through negotiations, United States President Barack Obama told the General Assembly.
  
  

• All alone on Israel island

  INTERNATIONAL. A valuable lesson from the Arab uprisings is that Israel cannot expect lasting peace with Arab regimes if it does not have peace with Arab nations. It can't simply wall itself OFF from neighbours and expect peaceful coexistence.
  
  

• Palestinians stick with UN bid but 'open to ideas'

  PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. The Palestinians said they were determined to go to the UN next week to seek membership for their state, but would listen to diplomatic initiatives.
  
  

• Palestinian statebuilding threatened by political stagnation, says UN report

  INTERNATIONAL. "I am very worried about the disconnect between what the PA has achieved on the ground and where the political process stands," said UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO), Robert Serry.
  
  

• US risks being 'toxic' over Palestinian veto, says Saudi prince

  INTERNATIONAL. "Saudi Arabia would no longer be able to cooperate with America in the same way it historically has," former Saudi ambassador, Prince Turki al-Faisal said.
  
  

• Analysis: Challenges following the attack on the Israeli embassy in Cairo

  INTERNATIONAL. Analyst Kamran Bokhari examines Israel's regional challenge and Egypt's domestic challenge following an attack on the Israeli Embassy in Cairo.
  
  

• Turkish PM says not visiting Gaza during Arab Spring tour

  INTERNATIONAL. "My visit to Gaza is out of the question. But I want to say that I long to visit Gaza," Erdogan said in televised remarks.
  
  

• Middle East envoy Blair 'cooking something' to stop statehood bid, says Abbas

  INTERNATIONAL. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas vowed to move forward with a campaign for full membership in the United Nations
  
  

• Palestinians expect 140 countries to back statehood bid

  INTERNATIONAL. Palestinian officials have said they are pursuing recognition at the UN for statehood due to a failure to restart negotiations with Israel.
  
  

• Independent panel of inquiry into Gaza flotilla incident releases report

  INTERNATIONAL. Israel's interception of the vessels was "excessive and unreasonable," while the flotilla acted "recklessly" in attempting to breach the naval blockade.
  
  

• Geopolitical analysis: Arab-Israeli crisis approaching

  INTERNATIONAL. For Hamas, this is emerging as the perfect moment, and it is hard to believe that even the Saudis can restrain them. As for the Israelis, what will happen depends on what others decide - which is the fundamental strategic problem that Israel has.
  
  

• Palestinians set date for UN statehood bid

  PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. The Palestinians are to present their bid for UN membership on September 20, despite Israeli and US opposition.
  
  

• Palestinians say October poll 'only in West Bank'

  PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. Local elections had originally been scheduled for July 9 but following a surprise reconciliation deal the date was put back to October 22.
  
  

• Natural gas issues inflame Palestinian-Israeli dispute

  INTERNATIONAL. Massive potential natural gas fields off the Gaza Strip in the Mediterranean are complicating Israeli and Palestinian peace negotiations.
  
  

• Suzanne Al Houby becomes first Arab woman to conquer Everest

  UAE. Palestinian-born and UAE-based mother of two successfully reaches world's highest peak.
  
  

• Obama sticks to Middle East vision

  INTERNATIONAL. President Barack Obama on Sunday refused to back away from his new Middle East peacemaking vision that has angered Israel, as he addressed the Jewish state's staunchest American supporters.
  
  

• Abbas makes case for Palestinian Statehood in NY Times Op-Ed

  INTERNATIONAL. Palestinians will request international recognition as an independent state within the 1967 borders at September's meeting of the UN General Assembly.
  
  

• Corruption risks in Egypt, Middle East increased in run-up to revolutions

  INTERNATIONAL. Egypt's performance on key anti-corruption and transparency measures fell consistently through 2010, finds study.
  
  

• Fatah, Hamas in unity government 'understanding'

  EGYPT. Rival Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah reached an "understanding" in Cairo to set up a transitional unity government and to hold elections.
  
  

• UN political chief urges 'bold and decisive' steps to revive Middle East peace talks

  INTERNATIONAL. UN Political Affairs chief B. Lynn Pascoe briefs the Security Council on the situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
  
  

• Euphoria sweeps Arab World

  LEBANON. As news spread of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's ouster, jubilant crowds took to the streets from Gaza to Beirut in celebration.
  
  

• Report proposes Master Plan for Water for Peace in the Middle East

  INTERNATIONAL. The Middle East is likely to plunge into serious humanitarian crisis due to depletion of water resources, unless remedial measures are introduced urgently, says a new Strategic Foresight Group report.
  
  

• Egypt crisis 'means Israel must resume peace talks'

  INTERNATIONAL. Israel must relaunch peace talks with the Palestinians in light of the massive protests rocking Egypt, a senior Israeli politician said.
  
  

• Wataniya Mobile IPO subscription 1.5 times oversubscribed

  PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. Subscription for Wataniya Mobile's Initial Public Offering of shares has successfully closed.
  
  

• Wataniya Mobile IPO open for subscription

  PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. Expected to be largest IPO in Palestine since 2000.
  
  

• 90% of Palestinians would not back peace process if settlement building restarted

  UAE. 49% believe the peace process will continue even if West Bank settlement building restarts, reveals YouGov Siraj survey.
  
  

• Wataniya Mobile to offer shares in IPO, list on Palestine Exchange

  PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. Offer to Launch 7 November; Shares priced at US$1.30; Appoints HSBC and Arab Bank.
  
  

• Middle East direct talks resume in Washington

  INTERNATIONAL.The first round of talks, hosted by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, was held in the State Department.
  
  

• Palestinian economy in modest growth, says UN report

  PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. GDP rose by 6.8% in 2009. Per capita GDP was 30% lower than it was a decade ago and at least 30% of the Palestinian work force remains jobless.
  
  

• Boeing reaffirms support for Middle East community education initiatives

  UAE. More than 2,000 people in the UAE, Qatar, Palestinian Territories and Jordan benefit from skills and entrepreneurship training.
  
  

• Direct negotiations between Israel, Palestinians to resume

  INTERNATIONAL. Direct bilateral talks have not been held since late 2008, but indirect, or proximity, talks resumed in May this year with the former US senator George Mitchell shuttling between the sides.
  
  

• Middle East Quartet calls for Israel, Palestinian talks

  INTERNATIONAL. Quartet invited Israel and the Palestinians to reopen direct negotiations on September 2 in Washington aimed at creating a Palestinian state.
  
  

• PADICO Holding reports 2% net profit rise in first half 2010

  PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. Operational income grows 49% on significant improvement in operational revenues of subsidiaries.
  
  

• Abraaj Capital opens Palestine office, appoints country Manager

  UAE. The appointment of Fayez Husseini provides on-the-ground expertise for Abraaj Capital's US$50 million Palestine Growth Capital Fund, which is dedicated to investing in dynamic Palestinian SMEs.
  
  

• Annual ROI at the Palestine Securities Exchange ranged 5%-7%

  PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. Distributed dividends exceeded US$630 million during the period 2006-2010, according to Ahmad Aweidah, CEO of the PSE.
  
  

• 'High Time' for direct talks with Palestinians, says Netanyahu

  INTERNATIONAL. He says there is a need to engage in direct dialogue in order to reach a "political settlement of peace."
  
  

• Palestinian film-maker and Lebanese theatre artist chosen by global icons for year of mentoring in Rolex Arts Initiative

  INTERNATIONAl. Two Arab women among 6 protégés out of 120 nominees worldwide.
  
  

• UAE investors lured by strong economic growth in Palestine

  UAE. High-level two-day road show to highlight investment opportunities in Palestine.
  
  

• The Ministry of Education of Palestine and Microsoft Corp Enhance ICT

  PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. The MoE of Palestine and Microsoft Corporation has announced a partnership to deploy Microsoft's free Live@Edu services.
  
  

• Investor perception breakthrough for Palestinian companies

  PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. The Palestine Securities Exchange has completed its first ever London road show on 17-19 March 2010.
  
  

• Dubai police says it has DNA identity of Hamas man's killer

  UAE. Dubai police said on Friday they have DNA proof of the identity of at least one of the killers of senior Hamas militant Mahmoud Mabhouh in the emirate last month.
  
  

• The Jerusalem Fund dedicates Palestine Diabetes Institute in Al-Bireh

  INTERNATIONAL. The Palestine Diabetes Institute is a Jerusalem Fund initiative that has been four years in the making with major participation from the NAAMA Foundation and Physicians for Peace.
  
  

• Abraaj Capital, PIF launch US$50 million private equity fund for Palestine SMEs

  PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. The private equity fund will focus on investing in small- and medium-sized enterprises in Palestine across a range of sectors and stages of maturity.
  
  

• UAE-Palestine Polo Cup raises more than AED1.3 million for Welfare Association

  UAE. The first-ever UAE-Palestine Polo Cup held on Friday met with resounding success and raised over AED1.3 million (US$354.002) in funds to benefit the neediest residents of the West Bank and Gaza.
  
  

• Turkey threatens diplomatic action over Israel's treatment of its ambassador

  INTERNATIONAL. The dispute comes after the deputy minister, Danny Ayalon, summoned the ambassador, Oguz Celikkolits, to rebuke him over a TV series.
  
  

• Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and PICTI host five awareness campaigns

  PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. The workshops focused on the importance of business plans and finanacial planning, aimed also at educating entrepreuenrs about incubation services PICTI offers and what it takes to be incubated.
  
  

• Fidessa partner with Mubasher Financial Services

  INTERNATIONAL. This partnership gives the 400-plus brokers and 2,300 buy-sides already on the network a direct route into any of the GCC markets, as well as a number of other Middle Eastern exchanges.
  
  

• 204 Palestinian women said yes to strong and healthy bones

  PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. 204 Palestinian women in four districts around the West Bank turned up for the three-day educational camps organised by the Palestinian Osteoporosis Prevention Society.
  
  

• Palestinian President Abbas says he will not seek re-election

  PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. Officials said the decision is linked to his frustration with the US position on Israeli settlements
  
  

• Little hope of breakthrough on stalled Middle East peace talks

  INTERNATIONAL. The US leader is to hold a three-way meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.