July 5th, 2012

Containing the Islamist Revolution
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
by Ephraim Sneh - (Opinion) June 28, 2012 - 12:00am

When politicians are in election mode, they can see nothing but victory. All decisions, all considerations, are subservient to one question: how they can convince voters to check their name at the ballot box. As someone who ran for office nine times, I know what I am talking about. But for the candidate who wins the election, and for the voters, there is always the day after.

»

What Does Morsi Mean for Israel?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Thomas L. Friedman - (Opinion) July 3, 2012 - 12:00am

Is the election of Mohamed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood candidate, as president of Egypt the beginning of the end of the Camp David peace treaty between Israel and Egypt? It doesn’t have to be. In fact, it could actually be the beginning of a real peace between the Israeli and the Egyptian peoples, instead of what we’ve had: a cold, formal peace between Israel and a single Egyptian pharaoh. But, for that to be the case, both sides will have to change some deeply ingrained behaviors, and fast.

»

July 3rd

NEWS: Israel's governing coalition is threatened by a dispute over military service. The Lebanese military says it has destroyed three Israeli signals intelligence devices in southern Lebanon. PM Netanyahu vows to increase settlement construction. After years of delay, Israel approves three Palestinian water projects in “Area C.” An Israeli human rights group publicizes a video of an Israeli soldier kicking a Palestinian child. One of Israel's most famous intelligence officers passes away. The PLO says Hamas' refusal to continue voter registration in Gaza is indefensible. Israeli settlers claim to have purchased land, one year after the owner's death, on which a significant “unauthorized” outpost has been built. Israel is set to institute a new “land registry” system involving the occupied territories which will deny Palestinians a right of appeal. The Israeli military holds a drill in an occupied Palestinian village. A new poll finds a majority of both Palestinians and Israelis want a two-state solution, but don't think it will happen in the next five years. The PA faces another cash crisis following the rejection of a $100 million loan request from the IMF. PLO official Hanan Ashrawi condemns the violent suppression of demonstrations by PA security forces. Negotiations over a proposed UN global arms trade treaty are embroiled in a controversy over Palestinian representation. COMMENTARY: Avi Issacharoff says public pressure forced Pres. Abbas to cancel a meeting of Palestinian officials with Deputy PM Mofaz. Amira Hass says Palestinian protests against the meeting were prompted by a sense of humiliation. Linda Gradstein looks at the reasons why the meeting might have been canceled. Leonard Fein says Jewish history means Israel should respect African migrants. Yossi Beilin says Israel and the United States should reach out to Egypt's new Islamist president. Raghad Jaraisy says Palestinians now face real police violence from their own security forces in the occupied territories. Jeremy Ben-Ami says the BDS movement is counter-productive.

Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Put Allies at Odds
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Huffington Post
by Jeremy Benami - (Blog) July 2, 2012 - 12:00am

As a long-time advocate for peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I am pained that frustration over failure to achieve a just and lasting peace has led allies in the struggle to end up at odds over tactics like boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS). Two years ago, the organization I head, J Street, was honored with an invitation to speak at a breakfast hosted by a Presbyterian Church (USA) peacemaking group -- a long-time ally in the struggle for Middle East peace. But we attended with heavy hearts.

»

Palestinians face the real police violence – with no right to demonstrate
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Raghad Jaraisy - (Opinion) July 3, 2012 - 12:00am

Difficult questions about the thin line between legitimate protest and disturbing the peace have been raised by demonstrations organized by Israel's social protest movement and the methods used to police these events raise. What makes a protest legitimate? Is it the measure of 'righteousness' inherent in the cause? Or is it just a permit to demonstrate authorized by the police? And what makes a protest 'just'? Does justice exist only in the eye of the beholder? Or in the eyes of the political camps that we identify with?

»

Palestinian dispute hits UN global arms treaty talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
July 2, 2012 - 12:00am

Talks on the $70 billion a year global arms trade talks hit deadlock before starting Monday amid a diplomatic battle over Palestinian representation. Arab demands that Palestinians be allowed to take part led to a threat of an Israeli walkout and a block on European Union presence at the conference, diplomats said. Even the Vatican has been drawn into the dispute. "This chaotic start is a tragedy for this event, which is so important," said a minister from a western nation who went to the UN headquarters for the start of the negotiations.

»

Reach Out to Morsy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
by Yossi Beilin - (Opinion) July 2, 2012 - 12:00am

Egypt's new president, the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohammed Morsy, is not a man after my own heart. He represents a movement that seeks to apply religious norms to a secular state -- even as he vows to represent all people, including Coptic Christians and liberals. Clearly, at some point in the near future, he will face the necessary conflicts between liberty and human rights on the one hand and his religious precepts on the other, and we cannot know how he will resolve them.

»

Ashrawi condemns violence against Ramallah protesters
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
July 3, 2012 - 12:00am

PLO official Hanan Ashrawi on Monday condemned the violent suppression of weekend protests in Ramallah. Palestinian Authority police attacked demonstrators at a rally Saturday against a proposed meeting between President Mahmoud Abbas and Israel's vice premier. A day later, police used brutal force at a demonstration against police brutality.

»

West Bank faces cash crisis after $100m IMF request is rejected
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Hugh Naylor - July 3, 2012 - 12:00am

Palestinians in the West Bank are facing more financial hardship after a plan to borrow US$100 million (Dh367m) was rejected because they have no state of their own. The plan called for Israel to borrow the money from the International Monetary Fund and then turn it over to the Palestinian Authority to prevent its financial collapse. The PA would repay the loan to Israel, which in turn would repay the IMF.

»

Israelis, Palestinians: 2 states in 5 years unlikely
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Sharon Udasin - July 3, 2012 - 12:00am

Most Israelis and Palestinians view the chances of establishing an independent Palestinian state within the next five years as low or nonexistent, a new joint Israeli-Palestinian poll reported. Meanwhile, the majority of Israelis oppose military intervention in Syria and an unaided strike on Iran, the latter of which they agree could spark the eruption of a major regional war, according to the survey.

»


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