Qureia hints Fatah elections unclean
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Ali Waked - August 13, 2009 - 12:00am


"The forgeries in Iran were much smaller than what we had in Palestine," said former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmad Qureia, who was not elected for the Fatah movement's Central Committee in elections this week. The results were published Wednesday, and in response, Qureia said large question marks hovered over the election process and the counting of the votes.


Israel toughens entry for foreigners with West Bank ties
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amira Hass - August 13, 2009 - 12:00am


Israel has recently been putting up more obstacles for foreign nationals who enter the country if they have family, work, business or academic ties in the West Bank. It now restricts their movements to "the Palestinian Authority only." The people concerned are citizens of countries that have diplomatic ties with Israel, mainly Western countries. In imposing such restrictions, Israel is in breach of the Oslo Accords.


Mashaal: No real progress in Shalit deal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
August 13, 2009 - 12:00am


Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal said there is no real progress in talks for the release of captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, despite recent reports to the contrary. In an interview to Qatari newspaper al-Watan, that will be published in full on Sunday, with parts of it published on the Hamas website Thursday, Mashaal said mediation efforts in the matter were ongoing, but that no real progress has been made. He said this was due to "the manner in which the Zionist enemy's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is handling the matter.'


Israel Making Positive Steps on Prisoner Exchange Agreement- Egyptian Sources
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat
by Nazar Majli - August 13, 2009 - 12:00am


Informed Egyptian sources have confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that significant progress has been made in the Israeli – Palestinian negotiations mediated by Egypt towards reaching a prisoner exchange agreement. These sources revealed that this progress is not dramatic, but that it has taken place as a result of the positive steps taken by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The sources clarified that Netanyahu has agreed to resume negotiations with Hamas from the point that the previous negotiations undertaken by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had ended.


Settlers agree to evacuate West Bank outpost Bnei Adam
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Chaim Levinson - August 13, 2009 - 12:00am


Residents of the Bnei Adam outpost have agreed to evacuate voluntarily three caravans in their West Bank settlement, after being advised to do so by leading rabbis of the national religious movement. The High Court of Justice ruled on Thursday that the outpost would be evacuated within five days, after hearing a petition from Bnei Adam residents who oppose the move. Earlier in the week, Binyamin Regional Council head Avi Roeh visited the outpost and negotiated with the IDF over the voluntary evacuation.


Two Israeli Civilians Shot And Wounded In West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
August 12, 2009 - 12:00am


Armed Palestinians shot and lightly wounded two Israelis driving in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, the Israeli army said. A military spokesman and the Zaka rescue service said the shooting occurred after dark near the Jewish settlement of Maaleh Levonah, situated between the cities of Ramallah and Nablus, and that troops were searching for suspects. "Two Israeli civilians were lightly wounded when terrorists opened fire at a vehicle" in the West Bank, the military spokesman said. He said both were taken to hospital.


US delegates blame Palestinians for no peace talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
August 13, 2009 - 12:00am


The head of a delegation of US Democratic members of Congress blamed the Palestinians on Thursday for failing to hold talks with Israel, calling it the "largest thing" impeding the peace process. "I think the largest thing impeding the negotiations at this point is simply the unwillingness of (Palestinian president Mahmud) Abbas to sit down (with the Israelis)," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters in Jerusalem.


Gaza white flag deaths probe call
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
August 13, 2009 - 12:00am


Israel must investigate the "unlawful" killing of 11 civilians carrying white flags during its Gaza operation earlier in 2009, Human Rights Watch has said. Five women and four children were among those killed in seven incidents detailed by the US-based rights group. Researchers said the soldiers at best failed to protect civilians, and at worst deliberately shot at them. Israel has launched investigations into five "white flag" incidents, but says Hamas exploited civilians with flags.


Rights group: IDF killed Gazans waving 'white flags' during war
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
August 13, 2009 - 12:00am


Human Rights Watch called on Israel on Thursday to investigate seven incidents in which it said Israeli troops shot and killed Palestinian civilians who were flying white flags during the war in the Gaza Strip in January. Expressing disappointment with Israel's response so far to a range of allegations of war crimes made by international bodies, the New York-based lobby group said governments should press for prosecutions under international law if Israel and its enemies in Gaza's Islamist authorities did not act themselves.



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