Diplomacy | The American Task Force on Palestine

Israel urges swift response to North Korea nuclear test
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Jeffrey Heller - February 13, 2013 - 1:00am

Israel said on Tuesday that the international community must make clear to North Korea after its latest nuclear test that such activities cannot be tolerated. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said the test, North Korea's third in defiance of U.N. resolutions, and a ballistic missile launch in December raised "grave concerns" about proliferation of nuclear and ballistic technologies.

Palestinian president welcomes Obama's visit to Mideast
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
February 13, 2013 - 1:00am

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed on Tuesday a planned visit by U.S. President Barack Obama to the Middle East region slated for next month. "We welcome this important visit for Obama, and also the U.S. efforts to break the ice in the peace process between the Palestinians and Israel," Abbas said following a meeting held here with U.S. Consul General Michael Ratney in Jerusalem.

Hamas officials make first ever visit to EU country
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
February 13, 2013 - 1:00am

A delegation from Hamas arrived Wednesday in Bulgaria in the first visit by officials from the Palestinian Islamic movement to a EU country. In a statement, Hamas' parliamentary bloc described the visit as "unprecedented." The EU classifies Hamas, which controls the Palestinian enclave of Gaza Strip, as a terrorist organization.

Egyptian court sentences 2 Israelis in prison over illegal entrance
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
February 12, 2013 - 1:00am

Egypt's South Sinai Court has on Monday sentenced two Israelis to two years in jail on the charge of entering the Egyptian territories illegally, an intelligence source told Xinhua Tuesday. Both were also fined 3,000 Egyptian pounds (about 446 U.S. dollars) respectively, said the source, who requested anonymity. "The two Israeli persons were caught in Taba city after they infiltrated to Egypt ... without crossing the Taba crossing," the source told Xinhua, adding that they were prisoned for two months pending investigations.

Does the Mossad still use the passports of immigrants to Israel?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Anshel Pfeffer - February 12, 2013 - 1:00am

Despite repeated promises by the Israeli government that the Mossad will cease to use the passports and identities of citizens of foreign countries, it seems that the practice has continued in recent years. Among countries involved have been Australia, Britain, France and Germany.

Struggling Caribbean islands selling citizenship
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by David McFadden - February 12, 2013 - 1:00am

Hadi Mezawi has never set foot on the Caribbean island of Dominica, has never seen its rainforests or black-sand beaches. But he's one of its newest citizens. Without leaving his home in the United Arab Emirates, the Palestinian man recently received a brand new Dominican passport after sending a roughly $100,000 contribution to the tropical nation half a world away.

Netanyahu hints Israel will prevent Syria transferring arms to Hezbollah
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - February 11, 2013 - 1:00am

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted Monday that Israel will prevent the transfer of "chemical and strategic" arms from Syria to Hezbollah. Speaking in Jerusalem at the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Netanyhau stressed, "I said it before and I'll say it again, we cannot allow these weapons to fall into terrorist hands."

Palestinian official rules out three-way summit during Obama visit
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
February 10, 2013 - 1:00am

A Palestinian official on Sunday ruled out holding a meeting with Israeli officials on the sidelines of U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to the region next month. "There are no preparations for a three-way meeting," said Saeb Erekat, senior Palestinian negotiator. "We were only told that Obama will visit the region in March and the reports about summits and new ideas and initiatives are journalistic analysis," Erekat said.

Age of innocence over
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Alon Pinkas - (Opinion) February 9, 2013 - 1:00am

One of the few things Israel and the Palestinians have always agreed on is that almost everything, if not everything, is the US' fault.

Twilight zone of peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Yoaz Hendal - (Opinion) February 8, 2013 - 1:00am

A photo is worth a thousand explanations: The connection between Abbas and Ahmadinejad symbolizes the essence of Israel's obstacle on the road to negotiations with the Palestinians.

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