India reiterates support for Palestinian state
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
September 11, 2012 - 12:00am


RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- India's prime minister stressed his country's support for a Palestinian state on Tuesday, the official PA news agency Wafa reported. Manmohan Singh made the comments during a joint press conference with President Mahmoud Abbas, who is currently visiting the country for three days. "India has played an active role in supporting the efforts of the state of Palestine to secure full member ship status at UNESCO," Singh said.


NEWS: PM Fayyad announces new economic measures in response to Palestinian protests at the rising cost of living in the occupied West Bank. The protests have focused on the PA leadership, and are beginning to turn violent, but no injuries are reported yet. Palestinian leaders are looking for ways of improving the economic situation. Pres. Abbas says Israeli restrictions are impeding an effective response to the economic crisis. The PA says it is working to facilitate the creation of an industrial zone in Jenin. Palestinians say Israel intends to confiscate land near Nablus for a new settler bypass road. Israeli officials complain about US policy towards Iran. PM Netanyahu suggests the United States has no right to restrain Israel from attacking Iran. UN officials criticize both the blockade of Gaza and rocket attacks against Israel. Israel is creating a new police unit to combat “price tag” violence against Palestinians. Hamas says it has agreed to create a joint security committee with Egypt. Israel instructs its diplomats to raise the issue of Jewish refugees from the Arab world in Israel to “counteract” the Palestinian refugee issue. India reiterates its support for Palestinian independence. Israeli and Palestinian women launch a joint business in handicrafts. The tax exempt status of the Zionist Organization of America has reportedly been revoked. COMMENTARY: Akiva Eldar says a new study demonstrates that Palestinian citizens of Israel and Palestinians living under Israeli occupation have developed separate narratives, and, in a separate column, he argues that those who have given up on the two-state solution are surrendering to defeatism. The Jerusalem Post claims that Palestinians and other Arabs are not only responsible for the Palestinian refugee problem, but also for Jewish refugees in Israel from the Arab world. Sophie Claudet and Saleh Jadallah doubt Pres. Morsy will adopt substantially new policies towards Gaza.

ZOA's Uncertain Status
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
by Josh Nathan-Kazis - September 11, 2012 - 12:00am


The Zionist Organization of America’s tax-exempt status has been revoked after the group missed three consecutive years of filings to the Internal Revenue Service, the Forward has learned. The 115-year-old Zionist group has not been allowed to accept tax-deductible donations since February.


Crafting Peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
by Linda Gradstein - September 11, 2012 - 12:00am


As the sun set over Jerusalem, about one hundred women milled around tables covered with hand-made crafts. There were delicate earrings, hand-embroidered shawls, olive wood jewelry boxes and brightly colored ceramic bowls. There was chatter in Hebrew and Arabic and a lot of laughter.  


Crafting Peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
by Linda Gradstein - September 11, 2012 - 12:00am


  As the sun set over Jerusalem, about one hundred women milled around tables covered with hand-made crafts. There were delicate earrings, hand-embroidered shawls, olive wood jewelry boxes and brightly colored ceramic bowls. There was chatter in Hebrew and Arabic and a lot of laughter.  


In bid to counter Palestinian efforts, Israeli diplomats told to raise issue of Jewish refugees
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Judy Maltz - September 11, 2012 - 12:00am


Israeli diplomats and representatives abroad have been instructed to raise the issue of Jewish refugees from Arab countries at every relevant forum. This is part of a new international campaign to create parity between the plight of Jewish and Palestinian refugees, Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon announced on Monday


Hamas reaches agreement over forming joint security committee with Egypt: spokesman
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
September 10, 2012 - 12:00am


The Hamas authority in the Gaza Strip announced Monday it has agreed to form a joint security committee with Egypt. A spokesman for the Ministry of Interior in Gaza, Ihab Ghussien, released a statement on the ministry's website, confirming the agreement has been signed and the committee will cover common security issues, especially along the Palestinian-Egyptian border. Ghussien added that the agreement was built upon issues discussed during the meeting between Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haneya in June.


New Israel Police unit to battle anti-Palestinian vandals
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
September 10, 2012 - 12:00am


  JERUSALEM, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli police will soon inaugurate a new unit aiming to target the so-called "price tag" vandalism attacks against Palestinian and military property. "We must show zero tolerance to terrorism, to attacks on religious institutions and other price attacks," Aharonovich said at a toast to the Rosh Hashanah Jewish New Year holiday next week.


U.N. hits at Israel and Palestinian authorities
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
September 10, 2012 - 12:00am


GENEVA, Sept 10 (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned Israel on Monday that keeping its long-standing blockade of Gaza would only condemn the area's people to lasting poverty and play into the hands of extremists in the Middle East. In a speech to the world body's Human Rights Council, Ban also blamed what he called "indiscriminate rocket fire" into Israel from Hamas-controlled Gaza and serious rights violations there for "the immense human suffering" of its population.


Netanyahu: Those that refuse to set red lines for Iran can't give Israel red light
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - September 11, 2012 - 12:00am


Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday launched an unprecedented verbal attack on the U.S. government over its stance on the Iranian nuclear program. "The world tells Israel 'wait, there's still time'. And I say, 'Wait for what? Wait until when?' Those in the international community who refuse to put red lines before Iran don't have a moral right to place a red light before Israel," Netanyahu told reporters on Tuesday.



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