In Print | The American Task Force on Palestine

Challenges Facing The Palestinian-american Community
In Print by Ghaith al-Omari - The Jordan Times (Opinion) - September 23, 2007 - 12:00am

As Palestinians struggle with the implications of the recent Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian-American community must decide for itself the vision for a future Palestine it embraces, and the way it seeks to partake in its achievement.

Let's Conspire To Defuse Religious Conflict
In Print by Ziad Asali - The Daily Star (Opinion) - August 9, 2007 - 12:00am

Those who define the war on terrorism as a religious conflict between Islam on the one hand and Christianity and Judaism on the other play right into the hands of Al-Qaeda and the present leadership of Iran. The ultimate success of the planners of the September 11, 2001, attacks was to initiate such a religious conflict and to define themselves as the true Muslims fighting the "infidels," in other words Christians and Jews. A Holy War is what Al-Qaeda wanted in order to achieve power and a Holy War is what it should be denied. Its adherents should be isolated, discredited and defeated.

The Palestinian Plight
In Print by Ziad Asali - The Washington Times (Opinion) - June 17, 2007 - 12:00am

Forty years ago this month, Israel stunned the Arab states in six days of war whose consequences are yet to be resolved. Hamas' version of its own six-day war has created new political realities that may be with us for some time to come. Negotiations, conferences and meetings of diplomats and pundits flying around the world will do very little to undo the new realities if we dither and lose the opportunity this crisis presents.

A Paradigm Shift
In Print by Ziad Asali - Common Ground News Service (Opinion) - May 2, 2007 - 12:00am

A recurrent excuse that has acted as an obstacle to the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations over the years is that of either the political weakness of the Israeli leader or the political irrelevance of the Palestinian leader, whomever they may be. The underlying assumption of these excuses is that the Israeli and Palestinian publics would not support the peace overtures of a weak Israeli or Palestinian leader. Such an assumption, however, could not be further from the truth.

Accepting The Other In Palestine
In Print by Ziad Asali - The Daily Star (Opinion) - April 30, 2007 - 12:00am

Drums of war were beating in early June 1967 in the waning days of my internship at the American University of Beirut hospital. We were excited at the prospect of a just war that would liberate Palestine, allowing those of us who became refugees in 1948 to go back to our homes. We were also fully confident of victory against the small Israeli Army.

On Solid Ground
In Print by Ziad Asali - Al-Jazeera English (Opinion) - March 14, 2007 - 12:00am

Guess which is the only Arab government that does not accept the Arab League peace initiative on Palestine? For more than a year now, it has been the government in Palestine. Needless to say, Israel has yet to accept it either.

Tangible Results Needed
In Print by Ziad Asali - (Opinion) - September 12, 2006 - 12:00am

The agreement on forming a new unity government among the Palestinians, coming at the heals of British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s diplomatic tour of the Middle East, could constitute a significant opportunity to heed the growing chorus of respected American voices calling for an urgent effort to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However progress will require more than words. Serious actions and tangible results will be indispensable.

Morality and Interest in Helping Lebanon
In Print by Ziad Asali - (Opinion) - June 20, 2006 - 12:00am

It is, of course, a reassuring sight to see thousands of American citizens and other western nationals being evacuated by their governments from war-torn Lebanon. But spare a thought, and some serious political consideration, for those not so fortunate, especially the Lebanese and Palestinian people who are presently baring the brunt of the suffering caused by the conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah and Hamas.

Asali: Palestinians Support Abbas' Referendum Plan By Huge Majority
In Print by Ziad Asali - Council On Foreign Relations (Interview) - June 1, 2006 - 12:00am

Ziad J. Asali, president and founder of the American Task Force on Palestine, a group dedicated to setting up a state of Palestine alongside that of Israel, says that the call two weeks ago by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for a referendum by Palestinians on whether to proceed with negotiations for a two-state solution with Israel has energized many Palestinians who had earlier believed he was too weak.

Bush Letter to Sharon
In Print by Ziad Asali - Congressional Quarterly (Opinion) - January 4, 2005 - 1:00am

Before making any serious comments about the letter that President Bush presented to Mr. Sharon we must take note that it was written before the passing of Chairman Arafat and the changes that have lead to the democratic election of a new Palestinian President. Political reality has changed and will unquestionably have an impact on policy.

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