ATFP Welcomes Sec. Clinton’s Reiteration of Need for Palestinian State, Israeli Settlement Freeze, Arab Involvement
Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - July 15, 2009 - 12:00am

Washington DC, July 15 – The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) today warmly welcomed remarks at the Council on Foreign Relations by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton reiterating US support for the creation of a Palestinian state and an end to Israeli settlement activity. Sec.


An interview with Bassem Khoury, Palestinian Minister of National Economy lays out the PA economic policies (1). A group of Israeli soldiers speak out about widespread abuses they allege took place during the Gaza war (3) (7), while Defense Minister Ehud Barak says that any criticism of the IDF should be directed at him (12). The International Monetary Fund says the Palestinian economy is showing strong signs of growth (6). The World Bank pledges $33.5 million for Palestinian infrastructure initiatives (15). President Obama meets with U.S. Jewish leaders to discuss his approach to Israel and Mideast peace (16).

New Hopes for Peace: What America Must Do To End the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - July 15, 2009 - 12:00am

On July 13, the United States Institute for Peace (USIP) hosted an event titled “New Hope for Peace, What America Must Do to End the Israel-Palestine Conflict,” featuring Dr. Ziad Asali, President of the American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP). The event was divided into three segments, the first being the screening of Landrum Bolling’s new short film in which he discusses the Israel-Palestinian conflict with former US President Jimmy Carter, former Secretary of State James Baker and former National Security Advisors Brent Scowcroft and Zbigniew Brezinski.


Interview with Bassem Khoury
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Middle East Progress
(Interview) July 14, 2009 - 12:00am

Q: Mr Khoury, as Minister of National Economy, you obviously have your work cut out for you. Where will you start? A: My first priority has been to draft a 100 day plan for the Ministry. I presented this plan to the Prime Minister on 2 June. The plan has been approved and work has already begun. Q: What are the main priorities set out in the plan?

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Welcome to the Middle East, 2030
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Paul Eedle - (Opinion) July 15, 2009 - 12:00am

What if Barack Obama can make peace between the Arabs and Israel? It's easy to see how he might fail. But what if he succeeds and really does create a "new beginning between the United States and Muslims"? Here is a first draft of history for the next 20 years. The events are fantasy, of course, but the logic is based on four big trends:

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Arabs must aid US efforts in peace process
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
(Editorial) July 14, 2009 - 12:00am

Israel, and some American Jews, have been crying foul. Both are claiming that the United States has been leaning too hard on Israel in the peace process, while giving the Palestinians a free pass on their obligations. To counter perceptions of a bias towards the Palestinians, Barack Obama met privately on Monday with 15 American-Jewish leaders at the White House. While he reassured the attendees of the US’s continued support for Israel, the meeting included a pointed message.

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A disaster for Jews and Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Antony Lerman - (Opinion) July 15, 2009 - 12:00am

Israel's current disastrous policy direction and the responsibility for it shared by American Jewish leaders are exemplified in the recent appointment of Natan Sharansky, the former Soviet dissident and western human rights icon, as chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel (Jafi), the quasi-governmental, $640m-a-year body that promotes Zionism and encourages Jewish migration to Israel.

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IMF: Palestinian economy showing signs of growth
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
July 15, 2009 - 12:00am

The West Bank economy could post its strongest performance in years in 2009, but only if Israel broadens recent efforts to ease restrictions on Palestinian trade and movement, the International Monetary Fund said Wednesday, offering a rare upbeat assessment after years of downturn.

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Obama still worries some Jewish leaders
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Hilary Leila Krieger - July 15, 2009 - 12:00am

Several Jewish officials said Tuesday that US President Barack Obama's efforts to reassure them on US policy towards Israel had not assuaged their concerns. Though they welcomed Monday's intimate face-to-face discussion at the White House and were pleased that Obama acknowledged that some in the community were worried, they said it was insufficient to dispel their doubts about his approach towards Israel.

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World Bank to give Palestinians $33.5m. in aid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Tovah Lazaroff - July 14, 2009 - 12:00am

The World Bank on Tuesday announced plans to spend an additional $33.5 million on Palestinian infrastructure initiatives, including $21.5 million for six Gaza projects. The new aid was announced in the morning at a signing ceremony in Ramallah attended by Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salaam Fayad and Dina Abu Ghaida, the World Bank acting country director for the West Bank and Gaza (WBG).

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