July 16th, 2009

Advert 'implied Gaza in Israel'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
July 15, 2009 - 12:00am

An Israeli tourism advert that showed the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as an undisputed part of Israel has been rejected by the advertising watchdog. The posters, on the London Underground, sparked hundreds of complaints from pro-Palestinian groups and members of the public. The Advertising Standards Authority said a map labelled Israel implied the occupied territories were in Israel. Israel's ministry of tourism said no political message was intended. It added that its aim was to give tourists an idea of the areas in and around Israel.

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Editorial: Brazen testimony
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Arab News
(Editorial) July 16, 2009 - 12:00am

The world saw for itself how — for 22 days — the densely populated Gaza ghetto was bombarded by Israeli forces killing 1,400 Palestinians and injuring thousands more. But the Israelis have always claimed that the stark images flashed around the world were Palestinian propaganda and did not represent what was really happening. On Wednesday, however, came a report drawing on testimony from some of the soldiers who took part in the Gaza operation — and it proves that the Israeli government statements are lies.

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Yet more proof
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
July 16, 2009 - 12:00am

Israeli soldiers have given testimony that in some cases the Israeli army made use of Palestinian human shields in its war on Gaza in January. The accounts, from an Israeli human rights group, provide yet more proof, if more is needed, that Israel stood in grave contravention of the laws regulating combat behaviour and should be charged with war crimes.

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Obama must make a move
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) July 15, 2009 - 12:00am

Some key European governments, unlike the Obama administration, have now come up with some tangible steps to start the ball rolling toward a peace settlement between an anxious Palestinian National Authority and a right-wing Israeli government which seems to be reluctant to reach a two-state solution.

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Disagreements inside the Same Family
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat
by Elias Harfoush - (Opinion) July 15, 2009 - 12:00am

I don’t believe it would be an exaggeration to say that the meeting held between President Barak Obama and 15 of the most prominent leaders of the Jewish community in the United States on Monday will constitute a pivotal point that might restrain the momentum of the new president’s administration towards achieving a balanced settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.

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July 15th

ATFP Welcomes Sec. Clinton’s Reiteration of Need for Palestinian State, Israeli Settlement Freeze, Arab Involvement
Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - July 15, 2009 - 12:00am

Washington DC, July 15 – The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) today warmly welcomed remarks at the Council on Foreign Relations by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton reiterating US support for the creation of a Palestinian state and an end to Israeli settlement activity. Sec.


An interview with Bassem Khoury, Palestinian Minister of National Economy lays out the PA economic policies (1). A group of Israeli soldiers speak out about widespread abuses they allege took place during the Gaza war (3) (7), while Defense Minister Ehud Barak says that any criticism of the IDF should be directed at him (12). The International Monetary Fund says the Palestinian economy is showing strong signs of growth (6). The World Bank pledges $33.5 million for Palestinian infrastructure initiatives (15). President Obama meets with U.S. Jewish leaders to discuss his approach to Israel and Mideast peace (16).

New Hopes for Peace: What America Must Do To End the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - July 15, 2009 - 12:00am

On July 13, the United States Institute for Peace (USIP) hosted an event titled “New Hope for Peace, What America Must Do to End the Israel-Palestine Conflict,” featuring Dr. Ziad Asali, President of the American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP). The event was divided into three segments, the first being the screening of Landrum Bolling’s new short film in which he discusses the Israel-Palestinian conflict with former US President Jimmy Carter, former Secretary of State James Baker and former National Security Advisors Brent Scowcroft and Zbigniew Brezinski.


Interview with Bassem Khoury
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Middle East Progress
(Interview) July 14, 2009 - 12:00am

Q: Mr Khoury, as Minister of National Economy, you obviously have your work cut out for you. Where will you start? A: My first priority has been to draft a 100 day plan for the Ministry. I presented this plan to the Prime Minister on 2 June. The plan has been approved and work has already begun. Q: What are the main priorities set out in the plan?

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Welcome to the Middle East, 2030
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Paul Eedle - (Opinion) July 15, 2009 - 12:00am

What if Barack Obama can make peace between the Arabs and Israel? It's easy to see how he might fail. But what if he succeeds and really does create a "new beginning between the United States and Muslims"? Here is a first draft of history for the next 20 years. The events are fantasy, of course, but the logic is based on four big trends:

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