June 24th

Abbas slams Israeli plan to expel 4 Hamas members
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Dalia Nammari - June 24, 2010 - 12:00am

The Palestinian president warned Thursday that Israel's plan to expel four Hamas politicians from Jerusalem could pose a new obstacle to peace and set a dangerous precedent for expelling Arabs from the disputed city based on their political views. The expulsions of the three Palestinian lawmakers and a former Cabinet minister could start as early as Friday.

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Israel to re-investigate shooting of American activist
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
June 24, 2010 - 12:00am

Israel's District Attorney ordered an investigation into the incident that left an American protester in a persistent coma, now in its 15th month. US activist Tristan Anderson was shot in the head with a high-velocity tear-gas canister as he supported Palestinian protesters in the village of Ni'lin on 13 March 2009. A court found the investigation into the incident was wrought with "grave negligence" during an appeal session on Wednesday.

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Family exhumes body of slain Jerusalem man
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
June 24, 2010 - 12:00am

At the request of the Al-Julani family, the body of the man shot dead in Jerusalem last week was exhumed just after midnight on Thursday morning for autopsy. The body of the 38-year-old Zaid was taken from its place of internment at the Al-Asbat Gate cemetery near Al-Aqsa Mosque under the watch of doctors from the Abu Kabir Institute for forensic medicine and clerks from Israel's Magistrates Court and Ministry of Justice, and moved to a secure autopsy facility in Jerusalem.

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Jerusalem City Council OKs demolition of 22 Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
by Edmund Sanders - June 24, 2010 - 12:00am

The Jerusalem City Council on Monday approved a divisive redevelopment plan to demolish 22 Palestinian homes in Arab-dominated East Jerusalem, potentially reigniting a debate over Israeli construction on land it seized in 1967. The approval threatens to renew friction between Israel and the Obama administration just as the former is battling a surge of international pressure over its policies in the Gaza Strip.

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June 23rd

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