ATFP Warns Against Israel’s Plans for New West Bank Settlement
Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - February 4, 2009 - 1:00am

Washington, DC, Feb. 4 – The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) today warned that plans for a new Israeli settlement in the West Bank poses a serious threat to progress towards a peace agreement. The proposed new settlement in the so-called “Binyamin region” of the occupied West Bank is located to the east of the separation barrier and would violate both Israel’s Roadmap obligations and commitments by former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to former US President George W. Bush.


The New York Times profiles how the Israeli incursion has affected the small Gazan farming village of El Atatra (1). Israel prepares to defend itself against possible war crimes charges from the International Criminal Court (2) (8). An op-ed in The Washington Times analyzes Obama’s recent television interview with Al-Arabiya (3). UN officials report that Hamas policeman have seized a large amount of aid intended for Gaza civilians (4). National security dominates the debate as candidates prepare for Israeli general elections next week (5). Mahmoud Abbas’ Palestinian Authority announces a $600 million reconstruction program for Gaza (7). Mideast envoy George Mitchell requests to have a regional office for dealing effectively with day-to-day developments (9). A top Hamas official tells The Jerusalem Post that a ceasefire agreement is likely to be reached by the end of the week (11).

War crimes accusations rattle Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
by Joshua Mitnick - February 4, 2009 - 1:00am

Three-and-a-half years ago, Israeli reserve Gen. Doron Almog was forced to flee Britain just after landing in London. He had been tipped off about a surprise warrant for his arrest issued by a British magistrates court. The charge: war crimes. Now, as the recent Gaza war stirs up more accusations of offenses, the Jewish state and international human rights advocates are gearing up for more potential criminal cases against military officers and political leaders in Europe and possibly elsewhere.

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DALE: Obama's Arab-TV interview
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Times
by Helle Dale - (Opinion) February 4, 2009 - 1:00am

The Arab world remains in a tizzy of excitement over the interview given last week by President Obama with the Arabic news service Al-Arabiya. "Overwhelmingly positive" is how the State Department's Web site describes the reaction in the Middle East. Was it anything Mr. Obama said that made them so elated? More likely it was the simple act of speaking to the Arab world through one of its own media and the facts of Mr. Obama's identity and family background. One thing is for sure, Mr.

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In Shattered Gaza Town, Roots of Seething Split
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Ethan Bronner, Sabrina Tavernise - February 3, 2009 - 1:00am

The phosphorus smoke bomb punched through the roof in exactly the spot where much of the family had taken refuge — the upstairs hall away from the windows. The bomb, which international weapons experts identified as phosphorus by its fragments, was intended to mask troop movements outside. Instead it breathed its storm of fire and smoke into Sabah Abu Halima’s hallway, releasing flaming chemicals that clung to her husband, baby girl and three other small children, burning them to death.

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Abbas government announces $600 million Gaza aid project
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Ali Sawafta - February 4, 2009 - 1:00am

The government of Western-back Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced on Wednesday a $600 million reconstruction program for the war-battered Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, who heads Abbas's West Bank-based government, said the program would cover all Palestinian houses destroyed or damaged during Israel's 22-day military offensive in the Hamas-ruled enclave.

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Lieberman set to swing Israel to the right
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
February 4, 2009 - 1:00am

Israel’s Avigdor Lieberman, much-needed iron fist to some, racist to others, is steamrolling into elections next week as the poll’s biggest spoiler, set to swing the balance of power sharply to the right. The Soviet immigrant’s ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu (Israel is Our Home) party is poised to become parliament’s third-largest, nudging out centre-left Labour, which ruled Israel for more than half of its 60 years, polls say.

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National security again to dominate Israeli elections
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Rory McCarthy - February 4, 2009 - 1:00am

Israeli Foreign Minister and Kadima party leader Tzipi Livni speaks at an election campaign rally in the southern city of Sderot. Photograph: David Buimovitch/AFP/Getty Images With less than a week to go before Israel holds elections, the rival candidates are locked in fierce debate not about whether the devastating war in Gaza went too far, but whether it went far enough.

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US Mideast envoy wants regional office
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
February 4, 2009 - 1:00am

The special US envoy for Middle East peace, George Mitchell, has asked to open his own office in the region to deal with day-to-day developments between Israel, the Palestinians and neighboring states, signaling a desire for greater American hands-on involvement in negotiations. Mitchell, who just returned from the region on Monday and plans to go back this month after Israel's Feb. 10 elections, has proposed placing a small staff in Jerusalem to monitor the situation on the ground, officials briefed on his recommendation said.

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War crimes accusations rattle Israelm
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
by Joshua Mitnick - February 4, 2009 - 1:00am

Three-and-a-half years ago, Israeli reserve Gen. Doron Almog was forced to flee Britain just after landing in London. He had been tipped off about a surprise warrant for his arrest issued by a British magistrates court. The charge: war crimes. Now, as the recent Gaza war stirs up more accusations of offenses, the Jewish state and international human rights advocates are gearing up for more potential criminal cases against military officers and political leaders in Europe and possibly elsewhere.

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