Israel Readying to Prevent Entry of Protesters
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Tia Goldenberg - April 10, 2012 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM — Israel vowed Tuesday to prevent the entry of hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists from Europe and North America expected to arrive in the country this weekend, calling them provocateurs who are intent on disturbing public order. The activists are set to board flights to Israel with the aim of participating in demonstrations against Israeli policy in the West Bank. Although organizers say all protests will be peaceful, Israeli officials said the activists would be deported.

»

Gaza Executions: Hamas Condemned Over ‘Inhuman Punishment’
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Harriet Sherwood - April 10, 2012 - 12:00am

Human rights groups have condemned the execution by the Hamas government in Gaza of three prisoners at the weekend, and are demanding that the death sentence of a fourth be commuted. The three men, identified only by their initials, were hanged on Saturday at a Hamas security base in Gaza City. The cases were unrelated: WJ, 27, had been convicted of treason by collaborating with Israel; MB, 49, had been convicted of murder; and MA, 20, had been convicted of abducting, raping and killing a child.

»

Iran has saved Bashar Assad (for now)
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Anshel Pfeffer - (Blog) April 6, 2012 - 12:00am

The ongoing debate for and against international intervention in Syria has been rendered obsolete by the mounting evidence that at least one nation has already very much intervened. The details emerging over the last few days can leave little doubt that the active campaign of support by the Iranian regime has ensured that President Bashar Assad will remain the absolute ruler of Syria for the foreseeable future.

»

Gaza Militants Say They Will Adhere to Cease-Fire, As Wary Israel Seals Borders or Holiday
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
April 5, 2012 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM — A Palestinian militant leader said Friday that his group is adhering to a cease-fire that stopped a barrage of rockets and air strikes between Israel and the Gaza Strip last month. Sheik Nafez Azzam of Islamic Jihad said Israeli reports that he had called for an ongoing struggle against Israel, despite a cease-fire, were mistaken. “We in the Islamic Jihad are committed to the cease-fire,” Azzam told The Associated Press. He said a firebrand speech calling for ongoing resistance was a general political statement.

»

Egypt: No Evidence of Sinai Rocket Launch
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
April 5, 2012 - 12:00am

EL-ARISH, Egypt (Ma'an) -- Egyptian officials disputed on Thursday Israeli assessments showing that rockets which struck the city of Eilat were fired from Egypt's Sinai desert. An Egyptian security official in the southern Sinai, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Egyptian-Israeli border was "intensively secured", and no one had detected a flash of light or sound on Wednesday. No casualties or damage were reported after the rocket struck the Israeli resort town, police said, but the incident fueled Israeli worries over militant activity in the border area.

»

Palestinian Delegation to Deliver Letter to Netanyahu
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
April 4, 2012 - 12:00am

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- A delegation of Palestinian officials will deliver a letter from President Mahmoud Abbas to Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu next week, a presidential adviser said. Nimr Hammad said PA Prime Minster Salam Fayyad, PLO Secretary-General Yasser Abed Rabbo and negotiator Saeb Erekat will head the delegation, Hammad told the official Voice of Palestine radio. In the letter, Abbas will outline the PLO's position on the peace process and remind the Israeli government of previous accords and international agreements, Hammad said.

»

‘Battle of Letters’ Shaping up Between PM, Abbas
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Herb Keinon - April 4, 2012 - 12:00am

With Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas expected to deliver a sharply-worded letter to Israel in the coming days, blaming it for the impasse in the diplomatic process, Jerusalem is preparing a letter of its own to present to the PA, The Jerusalem Post has learned. Though the final draft of the letter has not yet been completed, it is expected to contain the following points: • Israel is prepared for peace talks with the Palestinians where all the core issues will be on the agenda. • Israel places no preconditions whatsoever on entering the talks.

»

Clinton: Unilateral Israeli Strike on Iran is in no one’s interest
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Natasha Mozgovaya - April 3, 2012 - 12:00am

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told ABC news on Tuesday that a unilateral Israeli strike on Iran is "not in anyone's interest." "The U.S. has "worked very hard with Israel on all levels from the military, intelligence, strategic, and diplomatic level to make sure we were sharing information," she said. "It's our very strong belief, as President Obama conveyed to the Israelis, that it is not in anyone’s interest for them to take unilateral action."

»

Social Issues Drive Jews Back to Obama
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
by Nathan Guttman - April 3, 2012 - 12:00am

Washington — With the battle over the Jewish vote in full swing, a new poll suggests that Democrats have little reason for concern: Jews are firmly in President Obama’s corner. And the reason, the poll suggests, has nothing to do with Obama’s views on Israel or Iran. It is all about the economy and social justice. The survey showed that 62% of Jewish voters plan to support Obama in the 2012 election, compared to 30% who say they will vote for one of the four Republican candidates.

»

Israel Girds for Regional Anti-Israel Protests
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Diaa Hadid - March 30, 2012 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM — Israeli security forces in riot gear prepared Friday for Palestinian and Arab demonstrations, deploying at traditional flashpoints and along Israel's frontiers and confining West Bank Palestinians to their territory. By midday, minor skirmishes had broken out between protesters and security forces in the Jerusalem area. Palestinians threw rocks and Israeli troops responded with stun grenades. No casualties were reported. Elsewhere things were calm.

»


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