American Elections | The American Task Force on Palestine

For Sheldon Adelson, political and Jewish giving are all of a piece
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
by Ron Kampeas - August 7, 2012 - 12:00am

Call it the Adelson conundrum: What happens when the guy who acts as if he owns the room really does? In March at TribeFest, the annual gathering of young adults organized by the Jewish Federations of North America at the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas, Sheldon Adelson walked in on a surrogate debate between Matt Brooks, who directs the Republican Jewish Coalition, and his counterpart at the National Jewish Democratic Council, David A. Harris.

Obama: real actions, not bluster, in support of Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Edgar M. Bronfman - (Opinion) August 6, 2012 - 12:00am

I have always held the well-being of the Jewish people close to my heart. On its behalf, I have engaged countless heads of state on matters relating to the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

A difference beyond question
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Richard Cohen - (Opinion) August 6, 2012 - 12:00am

Before the Jews of Hungary were emancipated in the 19th century, they were not permitted to own land. By the end of the century, they were on their way to owning fully one-fifth of Hungary’s large estates and were hugely successful in business and the arts. The Jews of Germany had a similar history.

Palestinian freedom counts for nothing - or so it seems
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Hill
by Mustafa Barghouthi - (Blog) August 2, 2012 - 12:00am

Gov. Romney’s visit to Israel – and occupied East Jerusalem – very nearly succeeded in erasing Palestine from the agenda. Save for a short visit with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, Palestine was largely a non-matter. And Romney did not publicly raise Palestinian rights a single time.

Capitalism, not culture, drives economies
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Fareed Zakaria - (Opinion) August 1, 2012 - 12:00am

Mitt Romney has explained that his comments abroad were simply truth-telling. “I tend to tell people what I actually believe,” he said. With regard to one much-debated comment — on the cultural differences between Israelis and Palestinians — many agree with him. The Wall Street Journal editorial page and columnists including Marc A. Thiessen and John Podhoretz all applauded. Podhoretz wrote: “Anyone who publicizes his remark is helping Romney win the election.”

Is Romney ready for prime time?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Douglas Bloomfield - (Opinion) August 1, 2012 - 12:00am

Mitt Romney’s overseas tour got off to a poor start in London, where he succeeded in insulting nearly the entire country, but did little harm beyond getting a headline in the country’s largest newspaper calling him “Mitt the twit,” and sullying his reputation as not being ready for prime time.

Palestinian Divisions Displayed During Romney, Haniyeh Visits
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Ayyam
by Hani al-Masri - (Opinion) August 1, 2012 - 12:00am

As is customary for American presidential candidates, Republican candidate Mitt Romney visited Israel. The aim of the visit was to show that he was the “closer friend” to Israel [compared to President Barack Obama].

Who’s a better friend to Israel?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Yaakov Katz - (Analysis) July 31, 2012 - 12:00am

Like a kid at the circus, Israel just can’t get enough of the different acts. First it was Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who came to Israel earlier this month and in some of the harshest rhetoric yet by a senior member of the Obama administration, declared that the US would use “all elements of American power” to stop Iran.

White House says status of Jerusalem to be decided by Israeli-Palestinian negotiations
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
July 31, 2012 - 12:00am

WASHINGTON, July 30 (Xinhua) -- The White House said on Monday that the status of Jerusalem should be settled through negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Commenting on the recent assertion by Mitt Romney, the Republican candidate in the 2012 U.S. presidential election, that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, White House spokesman Josh Earnest reiterated: "It's the view of this administration that the capital is something that should be determined in final status negotiations between the parties."

China joins criticism of Romney, saying comments on Jerusalem could enflame tensions
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
July 31, 2012 - 12:00am

China criticized Mitt Romney on Tuesday, saying the U.S. presidential candidate’s statement that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel could worsen an already tense Mideast situation, or even re-ignite a war between Palestinians and Israelis. A commentary Tuesday by the official Xinhua News Agency said Romney’s “hawkish remarks” ignored the sensitive nature of Jerusalem. It said the comments disregarded the Palestinians’ claim to the war-won eastern sector of the city, which was annexed by Israel in 1967 in a move that is not internationally recognized.

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