March 16th, 2009

EU warns Netanyahu on hawkish government ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press March 15, 2009 - 12:00am BRUSSELS, Belgium: The European Union urged incoming Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday to craft a government that embraces the long-standing goal of an independent Palestinian state living side by side with Israel. The prospect of a new hawkish Israeli government, with far-right hard-liner Avigdor Lieberman as a possible foreign minister, will be seen in Europe as a setback to the Middle East peace process. » Read more

Netanyahu in deal with right-wing Israeli party ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Amy Teibel - March 16, 2009 - 12:00am JERUSALEM (AP) — Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party has initialed a coalition agreement with an ultranationalist faction that brings its leader significantly closer to becoming foreign minister, a Likud party spokeswoman said Monday. Avigdor Lieberman, who heads the right-wing Yisrael Beitenu party, has drawn accusations of racism for proposing that Israel's Arab citizens sign loyalty oaths or lose their citizenship. Although that plan is not likely to be implemented, his designation as foreign minister could harm Israel's international ties. » Read more

March 13th

After the Gaza Withdrawal: What Should Palestine, Israel, and the U.S. do? Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - October 5, 2005 - 12:00am Washington DC, October 5 - The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) and the Foundation for Middle East Peace (FMEP) sponsored a joint briefing today by several members of the Palestinian Negotiations Support Unit (NSU) at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C. The speakers included Maen Ariekat, Director General of the NSU; Lamia Matta, Legal Advisor to the NSU; and Khaled Elgindy, Policy Analyst; who discussed the current situation on the ground in Gaza. Read more

ATFP Calls for Orderly Disengagement, Transition to Palestinian Rule Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - August 12, 2005 - 12:00am Washington, DC, Aug. 12 – The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) today urged all parties to take the necessary measures to ensure a coordinated and effective Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and an orderly transition to Palestinian rule in those areas. Read more

ATFP Welcomes Political, Verbal and Financial Support Extended President Abbas by President Bush Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - May 26, 2005 - 12:00am Washington, DC, May 26 –- The American Task Force on Palestine welcomed the remarks made today by President Bush in a White House Rose Garden press conference held with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. The press conference followed a meeting between President Bush and President Abbas, the first meeting for a Palestinian president at the White House since 2000. Commenting on the President’s statements, ATFP president Dr. Ziad Asali said: “The Palestinians came to Washington seeking clear U.S. Read more

New Settlements Could Scuttle Diplomatic Progress, Undermine Roadmap Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - March 21, 2005 - 1:00am Washington DC, Mar. 21 -- The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) expressed grave concerns about reports that the Israeli government has confirmed plans to build 3,500 new homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank in order to deepen its hold on Jerusalem. Read more

ATFP Briefs House Committee: 'Timely US Participation in Palestinian, Israeli Security Essential' Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - February 10, 2005 - 1:00am Washington DC, Feb. 10 -- American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) testified today at a U.S. House of Representatives Committee on International Relations briefing on “The Way Forward in the Mideast Peace Process.” The committee heard testimony from Henry A. Kissinger, former Secretary of State; Dennis A. Ross, former chief Middle East peace negotiator; Ziad Asali, President of ATFP; and Danielle Pletka, Vice President Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute. Read more

ATFP Briefing at Middle East Institute 'A President Without a State' Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - January 24, 2005 - 1:00am Washington DC, Jan. 24 -- American Task Force on Palestine President Ziad Asali gave a briefing today at the Middle East Institute on the prospects for the future following the recent Palestinian presidential elections. Asali had observed the Palestinian presidential elections as part of the official delegation from the United States. He characterized Mahmoud Abbas, who was elected president by 62 percent of voters, as “a president without a state.” Read more

ATFP Voices Extreme Concern at Israeli Cabinet Decision to Confiscate Palestinian Land in East Jerusalem Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - January 24, 2005 - 1:00am Washington DC, Jan. 24 -- The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP), voiced its extreme concern at the revelation that the Israeli cabinet decided in July 2004 to apply the Absentee Property Law to East Jerusalem. This decision in effect means that thousands of Palestinians who live in the West Bank will lose ownership of hundreds of acres of their property in East Jerusalem, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, with no hope of compensation or appeal. The law was originally passed in secret, the public was not made aware of it and it was not published in the official government gazette. Read more

Fledgling Palestinian Democracy Needs Support of Palestinians, World Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - January 12, 2005 - 1:00am Washington DC, Jan 12. -- The American Task Force on Palestine hosted a briefing at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace by Ziad Asali, MD and George Salem, Esq., who returned Monday from observing the Palestinian elections as part of the official U.S. delegation. The delegation was headed by Senators Joseph Biden and John Sununu. Read more