January 1st, 2009

Saudis blame Hamas amid calls for talks with Fatah
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Ian Black - January 1, 2009 - 1:00am

Saudi Arabia yesterday blamed Hamas for Israel's continuing offensive in the Gaza Strip and urged it to resolve bitter differences with the western-backed Palestinian Authority - even as divisions deepened with a new charge of treachery. Arab League foreign ministers meeting in emergency session in Cairo warned it was not possible to help until the Islamist movement in control of Gaza returned to national unity talks with its rival Fatah.

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Divisions Deep at Arab League Meeting
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Steven Erlanger - December 31, 2008 - 1:00am

Arab countries appeared deeply divided on Wednesday over how to respond to the latest escalation in fighting between Israel and Hamas, with sharply differing comments from foreign ministers at the opening of an emergency Arab League meeting here. Moderate Arab states generally allied to the United States blamed Palestinian disunity for the crisis and more radical states, some of whom did not attend, urged collective action to defend the Palestinians against Israel.

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Bush administration struggles over Gaza approach
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Sue Pleming - December 31, 2008 - 1:00am

With three weeks to go, the Bush administration is struggling over how to tackle Middle East violence, hobbled by the exit of key diplomats and cautious after a dismal diplomatic effort in Lebanon in 2006. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and President George W. Bush have worked the phones with Western and Arab allies since Israel attacked Gaza and Hamas fired rockets into the Jewish state with the collapse of a ceasefire.

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In Dense Gaza, Civilians Suffer
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Taghreed El-Khodary - December 31, 2008 - 1:00am

A dentist stood at the bed of a doctor, his good friend Ehab Madhoun, 32, who had just died, his shrapnel-pitted body wrapped in a white shroud.

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Israel's Punishing Assault on Gaza Continues for Sixth Day
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Sudarsan Raghavan, Griff Witte - January 1, 2009 - 1:00am

A top Hamas leader and several members of his family were killed Thursday in an Israeli air strike in the Gaza Strip, as Israel pressed its offensive for a sixth day and a Hamas rocket destroyed part of an apartment building in the Israeli port city of Ashdod.

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December 31st, 2008

ATFP Urges Cease-fire in Gaza, Urgent Humanitarian Measures
Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - December 31, 2008 - 1:00am

The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) reiterated its urgent call for a cease-fire between all parties in the Gaza Strip and urged the United States Government to do everything in its power to secure a cease-fire. Israeli military airstrikes against the Gaza Strip since Saturday have killed approximately 400 Palestinians and injured hundreds more. ATFP called this loss of life appalling, and expressed alarm at the suffering and increasingly perilous position of the innocent civilian population in Gaza.


The Israeli offensive in Gaza continues, and seems set to expand (1, 2, 3, 4). The Los Angeles Times suggests the US government is concerned about the effects of the attack, while Egypt and other Arab states bear the brunt of anger and criticism (5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 15). The Washington Post and Ha’aretz examine Israel’s leadership, while Hamas accuses the PA of conspiring with Israel (10, 14, 9). Mkhaimar Abusada in the Daily Star and Tony Karon in Time magazine examine the terms in which both Israel and Hamas would seek a cease-fire (11, 12).

Nasrallah and War on Egypt
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat
by Tariq Alhomayed - (Opinion) December 31, 2008 - 1:00am

Rather than having to listen to him, I read a transcript of the speech delivered by “king” Hassan Nasrallah, as there is a difference between watching the performance of the leader of the Iranian-affiliated party and actually reading what he said. Nasrallah did not hesitate in attacking Egypt, and calling on the Arabs to make today, and every day, another Battle of Karbala!

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After sterling start to Gaza op, Barak proves to be a petty politician
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amir Oren - (Opinion) December 31, 2008 - 1:00am

Almost every war of the last four decades has resulted in the ouster of a defense minister. Levi Eshkol lost the defense portfolio on the eve of the Six-Day War, Moshe Dayan after the Yom Kippur War, Ariel Sharon after the First Lebanon War, Amir Peretz after the Second Lebanon War. Current defense minister Ehud Barak, whose performance during the first days of Operation Cast Lead increased his public support, spoiled his image Tuesday with his very own words.

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Hamas racks up its first diplomatic victory in Gaza campaign
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Zvi Barel - (Opinion) December 31, 2008 - 1:00am

President Hosni Mubarak could not keep silent any longer about the attack on Egypt in the press. His decision to explicitly state Egypt's position that the West Bank and Gaza are part of the same country, and that the Rafah crossing will open only under the conditions of the 2005 agreement (to which Egypt is not a signatory), is part of the public diplomacy Mubarak has been dragged into against his will.

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