July 15th

ATFP Expressed Deep Concern Over Palestine Split, Urges Preserving of Palestinian Unity and Statehood Goal Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - June 21, 2007 - 12:00am Washington, D.C., June 22 – The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) today expressed deep concern over the serious implications from the military take-over in Gaza. ATFP declares its full support for President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad as they pursue Palestinian unity, independence and statehood. ATFP urges the Bush administration to initiate prompt implementation of political and economic policies that help lay the foundation of a future state of Palestine. Read more

Palestinian-Americans Gather to Provide U.S. Perspective on Palestinian Political Situation Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - June 29, 2007 - 12:00am Washington, D.C., June 30 -- The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) participated on June 28 in a Town Hall Meeting on Palestine at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. with representatives of the Greater D.C.-area Palestinian-American community. Read more

ATFP Welcomes Presdential Speech on Palestine, Emphasizes Importance of Implementing Assistance Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - July 15, 2007 - 12:00am Washington, D.C., July 16 – The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) today welcomed the speech by U.S. president George Bush in which he reiterated U.S. support for the establishment of a Palestinian state. Following his speech, President Bush and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas spoke by telephone in a half hour conversation about U.S. steps meant to strengthen Palestinian moderates and the prospects for Israeli-Palestinian peace. Read more

A Paradigm Shift In Print by Ziad Asali - Common Ground News Service (Opinion) - May 2, 2007 - 12:00am A recurrent excuse that has acted as an obstacle to the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations over the years is that of either the political weakness of the Israeli leader or the political irrelevance of the Palestinian leader, whomever they may be. The underlying assumption of these excuses is that the Israeli and Palestinian publics would not support the peace overtures of a weak Israeli or Palestinian leader. Such an assumption, however, could not be further from the truth. » Read more

Parallel Policies: Advocating Peace in the Middle East for the Next Generation Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - July 15, 2007 - 12:00am Washington, DC, July 16 - The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP), Americans for Peace Now (APN), and the Middle East Institute (MEI) held a briefing today at the Rayburn House Office Building entitled “Parallel Policies: Advocating Peace in the Middle East for the Next Generation”. Read more

ATFP Welcomes $228 Million Middle East Investment Program Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - July 24, 2007 - 12:00am Ramallah, West Bank —The American Task Force on Palestine today welcomed the launch of the Middle East Investment Initiative Program, which will generate $228 million dollars in loans to small and medium-sized Palestinian businesses.  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, U.S. Under Secretary for Public Affairs Karen Hughes and President of the American Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) Rob Mosbacher, Jr. today put into motion the plans approved by President George W. Read more

ATFP Welcomes Mr. Ghaith Al-Omari as New ATFP Advocacy Director Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - July 31, 2007 - 12:00am Washington, D.C., August 1 – The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) is happy to announce the appointment of Mr. Ghaith Al-Omari as the new ATFP Advocacy Director. Mr. Al-Omari and the newly established ATFP Advocacy Department will focus on further developing and institutionalizing contacts and networks within the U.S. official and unofficial policy community and will be part of the policy formation process in ATFP. Read more

ATFP, APN Launch Joint Internship Program for 2008 Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - August 21, 2007 - 12:00am Washington, D.C.—The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) and Americans for Peace Now (APN) today announced the initiation of a new joint internship program that will offer students a unique perspective of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – from two leading advocacy organizations – that spans borders, dispels prejudice, and promotes a two-state solution. Students who take part in the internship program will divide the term of their internships Read more

ATFP Carnegie Briefing Explores Issues of Palestinian Unity, Hamas and Fall Mideast Meeting Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - October 2, 2007 - 12:00am Washington, D.C., October 3 -- The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) held a briefing today at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The briefing, moderated by Ambassador Samuel Lewis, was titled "Palestinian Unity: The Question of Hamas". ATFP Advocacy Director Mr. Ghaith Al-Omari and Dr. Read more

ATFP Expresses Deep Concern about Proposed New Jerusalem Road Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - October 11, 2007 - 12:00am Washington, D.C., October 12 -- The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) today voiced deep concern regarding reported plans by the government of Israel to construct a new road that would connect occupied East Jerusalem with the West Bank city of Jericho. The new road would set the stage for the development of a new area of settlement known as “E-1” that could cut off Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank. Read more