ATFP co-hosts discussion of 'Budrus'
Press Release - June 23, 2010 - 12:00am

American Task Force on Palestine, Just Vision, Churches for Middle East Peace, Americans for Peace Now, and the Foundation for Middle East Peace   co-hosted a discussion from the Award-Winning Documentary Film on Weds, Jun 23, 2010 at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Budrus:


Israeli decision to demolish Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem draws criticism internationally and from Israeli Defense Minister Barak. Israeli settlers threaten to forcibly evict Palestinians in Jerusalem and attack Palestinians near Bethlehem. Ahead of his upcoming Washington visit, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu blames Palestinians for lack of progress in negotiations while his National Security Advisor questions the United States Middle East and Iran policies. Israel asks UN to shelve aid ship raid inquiry, as Balkan summit condemns raid and a Lebanese ship prepares to leave Gaza. Two articles in Bitter Lemons discuss the merits and risks of Israeli settlers remaining in a future Palestinian state.

Palestinians fear Israeli court ruling may set new grounds for banishment
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
by Maher Abukhater - (Blog) June 23, 2010 - 12:00am

There’s a growing worry among Palestinians that an Israeli Supreme Court decision Sunday will make it easier for Israel to deport Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem because of their participation in the Palestinian Authority. The court upheld a move by Israeli police ordering three members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, which functions as the Palestinian Authority’s parliament, and a former member of the Palestinian Cabinet to leave the city within a month of the order.

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Palestinian settlers?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons
by Akram Baker - (Opinion) June 23, 2010 - 12:00am

The question of Israel's illegal settlements in occupied Palestine is one of the core issues of the conflict. In blatant violation of international law, the continuing expansion of new and existing settlements by consecutive Israeli governments has caused a major rift between Israel and the Obama administration. And while the entire world (with the notable exception of Israel) is in agreement that the settlements must to a large extent be dismantled in any peace agreement, the question of what to do with the settlers themselves is even thornier.

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Balkan summit condemns Israeli raid on Gaza flotilla
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
June 23, 2010 - 12:00am

Turkey and 12 other southeastern European countries on Wednesday denounced the recent Israeli raid on an aid flotilla headed to Gaza, which left eight Turks and one Turkish American dead. The countries said in a joint declaration at the end of a Balkan summit that they want an impartial, independent and internationally credible investigation on this matter. They also stressed the urgent need to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

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Israel slams Palestinians for lack of direct talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
June 23, 2010 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM, June 22 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed the Palestinians on Tuesday for the absence of direct peace talks and insisted negotiations should resume right away "without delay and without preconditions". Israeli-Palestinian talks were renewed on an indirect basis last month under U.S. sponsorship, after an 18-month hiatus since a war in Gaza and disputes over Jewish settlement building in occupied land.

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Palestinian settlers?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
by Akram Baker - June 23, 2010 - 12:00am

The question of Israel's illegal settlements in occupied Palestine is one of the core issues of the conflict. In blatant violation of international law, the continuing expansion of new and existing settlements by consecutive Israeli governments has caused a major rift between Israel and the Obama administration. And while the entire world (with the notable exception of Israel) is in agreement that the settlements must to a large extent be dismantled in any peace agreement, the question of what to do with the settlers themselves is even thornier.

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Lebanon warns Israel against attacking ships
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
June 23, 2010 - 12:00am

Lebanon says it will hold Israel responsible for any attack against blockade-busting aid ships planning to sail to Gaza in coming days. Two ships carrying aid are planning to make the trip to Gaza. Lebanese authorities have so far granted one of them permission to sail first to Cyprus and not directly to Gaza because Lebanon and Israel are technically at war. A Lebanese official says Lebanon has sent a letter to the U.N. holding Israel responsible for any attack on the ships and that it cannot stop ships from leaving its ports if they comply with its law.

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Blackout crisis in Gaza intensifies due to fuel shortage: officials
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
by Saud Abu Ramadan, Emad Drimly - June 23, 2010 - 12:00am

The crisis of electricity cutoff in the blockaded Gaza Strip, ruled by Islamic Hamas movement, has recently mounted, where hours of blackout increased due to a severe shortage of industrial fuels used to operate the sole power plant in the salient, Gaza officials said on Tuesday. The mounting crisis would endanger the daily life of the 1.7 million people living in the impoverished territory that has been under a tight Israeli blockade since Hamas seized control of the enclave by force in June 2007, said Suhail Skaik, director of Gaza Electricity Company.

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Israel should consider a one-state solution
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Carlo Strenger - (Opinion) June 23, 2010 - 12:00am

In a recent op-ed, Moshe Arens suggested that Israel seriously consider the option of a single state west of the Jordan, in which Palestinians be granted full citizenship. The one-state solution is advocated by a number of Palestinian intellectuals and is becoming rather popular within the European left. Their reason is generally that the one-state solution would give more justice to the Palestinians - this position is mostly seen as anti-Israeli. Israel’s extreme right favors holding onto the greater land of Israel, generally on theological grounds.

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