Blue and white elephant
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Eytan Gilboa - (Opinion) September 19, 2012 - 12:00am

Ahead of the November presidential elections, it appears that the Democrats and Republicans are in a competition to show which party supports Israel more. The Republicans are attacking the Democrats over Obama's attitude toward Israel, while the Democrats are trying to return fire. On the surface this seems harmless, but actually it is a very negative and worrying development.

»

Don't Expect a Romney Intifadeh, the Palestinians Are Used to Disappointment
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Time Magazine
by Tony Karon - (Opinion) September 19, 2012 - 12:00am

It seems the writing is on the wall for the Palestinians: should Governor Mitt Romney win November’s presidential election, they have no credible reason to expect any help from the U.S. in realizing their national aspirations. In a recent Florida session with donors, a tape of which was posted by Mother Jones, the Republican nominee made clear he believes that a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — the standing policy of the U.S.

»

Peaceniks in Palestine
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
by Maen Areikat - (Opinion) September 19, 2012 - 12:00am

The leaked statements by Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney once again betray the dangerous relationship between U.S. domestic politics and U.S. national strategic interests. To be clear, this is not the first time U.S. presidential candidates and party institutions made statements contradicting long-standing U.S. policy to improve their electoral chances. The examples are too many to mention and they all end up back-pedaling once they assume office.

»

The Answers to Mitt Romney's Israel-Palestine Apathy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Atlantic
by Zvika Krieger - (Opinion) September 19, 2012 - 12:00am

Just as Mitt Romney's campaign advisors promised this week that his campaign would start having real policy discussions, we receive the candidate's most substantive treatment of the Middle East to date, in the form of a leaked video from a recent closed-door fundraiser. His main thesis seems to be that, for Israelis and Palestinians, "the pathway to peace is almost unthinkable to accomplish." He provides two general arguments to support his claim, both of which are problematic.

»

Bibi's Blunder
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
by David Rothkopf - (Opinion) September 18, 2012 - 12:00am

Starting Sunday evening, we marked the beginning of the Jewish New Year. Numerologists with too much time on their hands noted that the digits of the year 5773 add up to the same numerical value as the word tovah, meaning good. That is supposed to be an omen, I suppose. But ever since Madonna embraced Kabala, I've been dubious about it. I like my omens more concrete and, where possible, drenched in irony.

»

Handle With Care
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) September 18, 2012 - 12:00am

In a testy exchange with the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, James Baker, then the U.S. secretary of state, set a standard in fantasy counterfactuals that I was sure could never be topped.

»

SECRET VIDEO: On Israel, Romney Trashes Two-State Solution
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Mother Jones
by David Corn - September 18, 2012 - 12:00am

At the private fundraiser held May 17 where Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney candidly spoke about political strategy—noting that he saw half of the American electorate as freeloaders and "victims" who do not believe in personal responsibility—he discussed various foreign policy positions, sharing views that he does not express in public, including his belief that peace in the Middle East is not possible and a Palestinian state is not feasible.

»

Oh, Mitt.....
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
by Daniel W. Drezner - (Opinion) September 18, 2012 - 12:00am

So yesterday David Corn at Mother Jones made some waves when he released a video of Mitt Romney locking up the Ayn Rand Institute's vote explaining that he had no chance of winning the  "47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government." Well, this morning, the foreign policy shoe dropped from the Romney video.  Here's the excerpt of Romney musing about the two-state situation for Israel and Palestine: 

»

Middle East Comments Could Vex a Romney Administration
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by David E. Sanger - (Opinion) September 18, 2012 - 12:00am

BOSTON — No one has ever had any illusions about where Mitt Romney stands on the two hottest disputes in the Middle East: the argument over the creation of a Palestinian state, and the debate over what can be done to assure that Iran does not get a nuclear weapon.

»

Not just Romney: Many in Middle East are losing faith in a two-state solution, too
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Christian Science Monitor
by Christa Case Bryant - September 18, 2012 - 12:00am

Jerusalem A newly leaked video shows presidential hopeful Mitt Romney questioning the longstanding US road map for peace in the Middle East – and, in fact, if the Palestinians want peace at all.

»


American Task Force on Palestine - 1634 Eye St. NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20006 - Telephone: 202-262-0017