October 21st

A New Image of Palestine in Washington Media Mention of ATFP In Al-Raya - October 20, 2009 - 12:00am by Khairallah Khairallah (a translation from Arabic, see below for Arabic version) » Read more 1 attachment

October 20th

Obama committed to two-state solution in ME, says aide Media Mention of ATFP In Arab News - October 20, 2009 - 12:00am Barbara Ferguson I Arab News WASHINGTON: The Obama administration is committed to creating a Palestinian state and determined to move forward with peace talks, said National Security Adviser Gen. James L. Jones, at the fourth annual gala of the American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP). "We are clear, unambiguous and consistent. The time has come to relaunch negotiations without preconditions to reach a final status agreement on two states," said Gen. Jones, adding that he was proud to represent President Barack Obama at the ATFP event, held this weekend. » Read more

October 19th

Dallas-area Muslims fear backlash from arrests tied to terror plot Media Mention of Ziad Asali In Dallas News - October 19, 2009 - 12:00am North Texans were both angry and relieved last month when federal agents arrested a Jordanian teenager in a failed plot to blow up a Dallas skyscraper. But for area Muslims, the arrest of 19-year-old Hosam "Sam" Smadi evoked yet another emotion – fear. "Being a Muslim in America today is not easy," said Hadi Jawad, a longtime Dallas business owner and a volunteer at the Dallas Peace Center. "We feel under siege. There is open season on our faith. Muslims are painted with a broad brush." » Read more

October 17th

Spheres of influence: Jones headlines Palestinian American gala Media Mention of ATFP In Politico - October 16, 2009 - 12:00am Peter Galbraith explains Kurdish oil interests. Afghan ambassador says US will send 40k troops. Levin works compromise. » Read more

October 16th

Jones at ATFP Media Mention of ATFP In Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) - October 16, 2009 - 12:00am By Eric Fingerhut · October 16, 2009 » Read more

US makes new call to revive Mideast peace talks Media Mention of ATFP In Google News - October 16, 2009 - 12:00am WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's national security advisor has made a new call to revive talks on setting up a Palestinian state alongside Israel. "We are clear, unambiguous and consistent," said General Jim Jones at a dinner late Thursday organized by the American Task Force on Palestine, a group representing Americans of Palestinian origin. » Read more

Israeli envoys stay on in US for talks Media Mention of Ghaith al-Omari In The Jerusalem Post - October 15, 2009 - 12:00am Two top Israeli officials in town for talks with US Middle East envoy George Mitchell extended their stay Thursday to continue discussions on a potential settlement freeze and the restarting of peace negotiations. Yitzhak Molcho, an envoy from the Prime Minister's Office, and Defense Ministry chief of staff Michael Herzog spoke with Mitchell Wednesday and Thursday but decided to remain in town Friday - an indication that the sides have determined further conversations could be productive following several rounds of US-Israeli talks that failed to yield results. » Read more

October 8th

Fears of third intifada as tension grows in Israel Media Mention of Ghaith al-Omari In The Telegraph - October 8, 2009 - 12:00am fter two weeks of mounting tension and sporadic clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinian protesters, a showdown is expected when Friday prayers are called at the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem's old city. Thousands of Israeli soldiers and policemen are being deployed around the site after the Palestinian Authority called a one-day general strike and a leading Islamic cleric in Egypt urged the Arab world to rise up in "a day of anger". » Read more

September 23rd

President Obama enters the Mideast fray Media Mention of Ziad Asali In The Los Angeles Times - September 23, 2009 - 12:00am President Obama, exasperated by the disappointing course of Mideast peace efforts, urged Israelis and Palestinians on Tuesday to reapply themselves, even though eight months of intensive American engagement has failed to return the parties to the negotiating table. Obama met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at a New York hotel ahead of a United Nations session, stepping personally into the process and offering an unusually blunt message. » Read more

White House Pivots in Mideast Peace Bid Media Mention of Ziad Asali In The New York Times - September 23, 2009 - 12:00am President Obama, who has met immovable resistance from Israel over his demand for a full freeze on settlements in the West Bank, is largely setting that issue aside as a first step toward restarting Middle East peace talks. » Read more