PLO lobbies for convincing win in UN vote
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
by Noah Browning, Ali Sawafta - October 31, 2012 - 12:00am

RAMALLAH (Reuters) -- Palestinians have launched a diplomatic blitz aimed at garnering a strong majority for a vote granting them non-member statehood at the United Nations slated for next month, officials said Tuesday. Despite heading for a sure victory in the UN General Assembly, mostly consisting of post-colonial states historically sympathetic to the Palestinians, West Bank diplomats are courting European countries to further burnish their campaign.

»

Palestinians to seek UN recognition next month
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
by Mohammed Daraghmeh - (Analysis) October 29, 2012 - 12:00am

 

»

Palestinians seek to enhance UN status to observer state
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Akiva Eldar - October 24, 2012 - 12:00am

The Palestine Liberation Organization will distribute a position paper to European governments on Wednesday, asking to enhance Palestine's United Nations status to that of Observer State. The document will emphasize that the request is a follow-up to its existing application for UN membership, submitted on September 23, 2011.

»

Ulterior motives
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
(Editorial) October 17, 2012 - 12:00am

Palestine has once again faced vocal rejection of its statehood bid, this time in a statement from the United States declaring that such a move would set back the peace process. The U.S. has said the decision must include Israel, and has further warned European countries, in a private memo, not to support Palestine’s bid.

»

World powers will soon support our cause, says top Palestinian official
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amira Hass - (Opinion) October 15, 2012 - 12:00am

Twice during an hour-long interview, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi let out a laugh that sounded embarrassed. The first time was when she explained what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did in his UN General Assembly address: a speech she deemed patronizing, cut off from reality, stuck in an outdated Manichean perception. The doctor of comparative literature suggests that he did not convince his audience.

»

Report: Abbas to propose peace talks after UN vote
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
October 10, 2012 - 12:00am

NEW YORK (Ma'an) -- President Abbas told European diplomats on Tuesday that he will resume peace talks with Israel after a UN vote on the Palestinian request for non-member status in the world body, The Associated Press reported. Abbas believes that a freeze on illegal settlement building may not be necessary to engage in talks if the UN recognizes a Palestinian state which includes all of the West Bank, AP reported.

»

Is Israel a threat to US national interests?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by Joseph A. Kechichian - (Opinion) October 4, 2012 - 12:00am

Cartoonists all over the world showed rare talent this week as many depicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ‘Wylie Coyote’ presentation in colourful montages, one illustrating his head in the shape of a bomb, and an imaginary red line above which the fuse ignited.

»

Time is running out for peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by George S. Hishmeh - (Opinion) October 4, 2012 - 12:00am

The Palestinian Question has been temporarily shelved — hopefully only till November — much to the disappointment of many a Palestinian who was expecting the ball to start rolling this month.

»

Who "Froze" The Peace Process?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
by Peter Beinart - (Opinion) October 3, 2012 - 12:00am

Jeff Goldberg has a new Bloomberg column arguing that President Obama has not done enough to support the rebels in Syria, which had me mostly nodding in agreement until I reached this offhand comment about Israel: "Obama was wrong to draw a line in the sand over settlements, which are a derivative issue (if the Israelis and Palestinians settle their borders, the settlement issue will also be solved). But because he made it an issue without a thought to follow-up, he managed to freeze the process."

»

Vote on Palestinian UN bid within two months: Abbas
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
October 3, 2012 - 12:00am

RAMALLAH, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced Tuesday that the bid for the UN recognition of Palestine as a non-member state will be presented and voted on in October or November.

»


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