NEWS: Pro-Israel activists are having a significant impact on the Washington conversation regarding Iran. PLO officials say the Middle East does not need more wars. The UN says exports from Gaza are still greatly inhibited. A top US military officer says the stalemate in Middle East peace talks endangers American interests. Israeli NGOs demand a probe into alleged abuse of a Palestinian woman by Israeli internal security. Palestinian citizens of Israel say the state is investing in their sector, but not enough. Senior Israeli rabbis warn against provocative actions by Jewish extremists at Jerusalem holy sites. Asharq Al-Awsat profiles Palestinian diplomat Nasser al-Kidwa, who will serve as deputy as to Kofi Annan, the joint UN-Arab League special envoy to Syria. Palestinian unity talks remain deadlocked. Palestinian officials say they're going to give Israel a deadline for resuming negotiations. COMMENTARY Aaron David Miller looks at the roles of Israel and Iran in the US election-year politics. David Sanger looks at divisions between the US and Israel regarding Iran. The LA Times says Pres. Obama has made a convincing case on continued diplomacy with Iran. Thomas Friedman says Obama may be the best friend Israel has ever had in the White House. Shmuel Rosner says a one-state arrangement would be a recipe for bloodshed. George Bisharat says Israeli courts don't provide justice for Palestinians. Ha'aretz says PM Netanyahu returned from Washington empty-handed. Elias Harfoush says Israel has ensured that the Iran issue is a major one in the US presidential campaign. Yossi Alpher sees worrying precursors of a possible third intifada, and Ghassan Khatib says the situation is volatile and unpredictable. Saleh Abdel Jawad says no one can know if another intifada is developing, but the issue raises important questions

Israel investing more, but not enough, in Arab sector
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
March 7, 2012 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM, March 7 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli-Arab lobbying group led a Knesset parliament discussion this week on the socioeconomic status of the country's million and a half Arab residents, who make up more than 20 percent of the population. The Haifa-based Mossawa advocacy group presented it's comprehensive findings at a ministerial-level conference organized by lawmaker Talab al-Sana of the United Arab List-Ta'al, who sits on the Knesset Finance Committee.

»

Iran and U.S. Election-Year Politics
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Aaron David Miller - March 7, 2012 - 1:00am

Myths and facts conflate all too easily in our opinion-driven politics. One of the most dangerous these days is that President Obama’s Iran policy has been taken hostage by election year pandering to Israel and the pro-Israel community in America. It’s a pernicious trope that runs counter to reality. If anything, election year uncertainties will work far more to make Obama a cautious warrior when it comes to green lighting an Israeli attack against Iran or launching one of his own.

»

NGO asks Israel's AG to probe alleged Shin Bet abuse of Palestinian women
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Chaim Levinson - March 7, 2012 - 1:00am

The Public Committee Against Torture In Israel submitted affidavits by Palestinian women to Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein on Monday describing their treatment during interrogation by the Shin Bet security service. The watchdog group asked Weinstein to direct interrogators to maintain the women's dignity during questioning. Nine individual complaints were sent to the division of the Justice Ministry that investigates the police, and eight complaints were filed with the Military Advocate General.

»

Rabbis warn Jews against going to Temple Mount
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Jeremy Sharon - March 6, 2012 - 1:00am

Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, along with several other senior rabbis, issued a public statement on Tuesday warning the public that visiting the Temple Mount is forbidden by Jewish law. According to the statement, the warning is being issued at this time because of increased organized attempts to go up to the holy site. The Temple Mount is Judaism’s holiest site, but Jewish law requires those going up to certain sections of the mount to be ritually pure – a status only obtainable through a ceremony that cannot be performed today.

»

Profile: Nasser al-Kidwa
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat
March 6, 2012 - 1:00am

London, Asharq Al-Awsat – Nasser al-Kidwa has been appointed as deputy to Kofi Annan, the joint UN-Arab League special envoy to Syria. For the first time since being entrusted with the post last month, Annan will visit Damascus on 10 March in an effort to promote a political solution to the Syrian crisis, with al-Kidwa expected to accompany him.

»

Top U.S. army official: Mideast peace stalemate endangers American interests in region
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amir Oren - March 7, 2012 - 1:00am

During an annual briefing Tuesday in the U.S. Congress, Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis, head of the Central Command, issued a warning about a continued impasse in the Israel-Palestine conflict. He said that the political awakening in the Arab world has caused regimes in the region to be more attentive than ever to the emotions of their populations. The current stalemate between Israel and the Palestinians, he declared, cannot continue; what is needed is the renewal of an Israeli-Arab drive for peace based on a two-state solution.

»

Can rival Palestinian factions reach unity deal?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from CNN
by Fionnuala Sweeney - March 7, 2012 - 1:00am

Jerusalem (CNN) -- The recent visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington primarily focused on Iran's nuclear program -- a long way from previous meetings that had, more often than not, focused on Israeli-Palestinian relations. There is little talk about a peace process these days.

»

UN: Gaza exports long way off despite trial
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Karin Laub - March 6, 2012 - 1:00am

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The U.N.'s World Food Program is exporting 140 tons of date bars to the West Bank from Gaza this week, hoping this first shipment in nearly five years will help revive a vital trade route, an official said Tuesday. An Israeli official said a resumption of regular exports from Gaza to the West Bank is unlikely, citing security concerns and a desire not to reward Gaza's Hamas rulers.

»

Palestinians to give Israelis deadline on talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
March 6, 2012 - 1:00am

JERICHO, West Bank: Palestinian officials said Saturday they plan to give a deadline to Israel to accept ground rules for negotiations, and suggested that a 'no' will allow them to shelve Mideast talks until it does. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is to spell out the requirements in a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki. He said he did not know by when Netanyahu would have to respond.

»


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