Call for Partners in Peace Internship Applications Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - March 25, 2008 - 12:00am Americans for Peace Now (APN) and the American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) are seeking applications to a joint internship program that will offer interns a unique perspective of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – from two leading advocacy organizations – that spans borders, dispels prejudice, and promotes a two-state solution. Read more

Back To Constructive Chaos ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Zvi Barel - July 15, 2008 - 3:18pm A miracle happened. Egypt--not the United States, a European state or an international organization, let alone the Arab League--weaved a negotiated agreement between Israel and Hamas. What has changed? » Read more

ATFP hosts two exceptional delegations from Palestine Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - April 23, 2008 - 12:00am The American Task Force on Palestine continued its advocacy work this month, hosting two Palestinian NGO delegations. On April 10, ATFP’s Board of Directors met with the “NGO Mapping Project” which identifies efficient and moderate Palestinian NGO’s for the international community. Read more

Ramallah Readies For Obama Visit ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post by Khaled Abu Toameh - July 15, 2008 - 3:17pm Palestinian Authority officials on Monday welcomed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's plans to visit Ramallah next week, saying they would brief him on the situation in the PA territories and the status of peace talks with Israel. The officials, however, warned that Obama's meeting with PA President Mahmoud Abbas, slated for July 23, did not mean that the Palestinians favor Obama over his Republican rival John McCain. » Read more

The Perils Of Unconditional Engagement In Print by Ghaith al-Omari - Middle East Progress (Opinion) - May 1, 2008 - 12:00am The issue of whether or not to engage Hamas boils down to the following question: would such engagement help moderate the organization, or would it simply improve Hamas? chances of dominating the Palestinian political scene and encourage extremism throughout the Middle East? For now, any engagement that goes beyond achieving de-escalation in Gaza would serve to bolster Hamas at the expense of those working toward a two-state solution. » Read more

Mideast Conflict: Need For A New Perspective In Print by Ziad Asali - Arab News (Opinion) - May 6, 2008 - 12:00am Peace is not easy. Achieving it requires summoning the deepest forms of courage. It means examining one?s darkest prejudices that dehumanize and demonize the other. The quest for mutual recognition of humanity and dignity is an arduous task. The question facing both Israelis and Palestinians is: Do they prefer to cling to the pain of past injuries and the suffering of their forefathers, or will they determine to move forward and build a better future for their children? » Read more

Israeli Army Arrests 8 Palestinians In Nablus ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Kuwait News Agency (kuna) July 15, 2008 - 3:15pm The Israeli Army arrested 8 Palestinians in Nablus, Tuesday, who Israel claims are affiliated with Hamas Movement. Palestinian security sources said Israeli forces arrested the former head of a charitable society in the city, Dr. abdulhaleem Al-Hanbali, after storming his house and also arrested two members of Nablus Municipality, Kholoud Al-Masri and her husband and Husam Qataloni and his son. A Nabuls Municipality statement said Israeli forces arrested 6 members out of a staff of 15 and claim they are affiliated with Hamas. » Read more

Yasser Abd Rabbo Cautions Against ?Partition of West Bank? Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - April 24, 2008 - 12:00am Washington, DC, April 25 -- In a speech in Washington today, Yasser Abd Rabbo, a PLO Executive Committee Member and Policy Adviser to Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, reiterated the Palestinian commitment to peace with Israel and praised Bush Administration efforts to reach an agreement. He repeatedly cautioned Israel against seeking “the partition of the West Bank,” which he said Palestinians “will never accept.” Read more

ATFP hosts book event featuring Aaron David Miller Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - April 24, 2008 - 12:00am On Friday, April 18, the American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) hosted a discussion with veteran US peace negotiator Aaron David Miller about his new book “The Much Too Promised Land: America’s Elusive Search for Arab-Israeli Peace” (2008, Bantam Books). Miller served as an adviser to six secretaries of state and is now public policy fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Read more

Palestinian Officials To Washington Amid Low Expectations For Peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Kuwait News Agency (kuna) July 15, 2008 - 3:12pm Palestinian negotiators arrive to Washington on Tuesday to hold talks with US officials in what could be a last bid to overcome the stalemate in a peace process that seems out of reach before the end of the year. "The meeting in Washington is to talk to the Americans about what can be achieved before President George W. Bush leaves office," said the Director of Middle East Democracy at Brookings Tamara Cofman Wittes in an interview with KUNA. » Read more