Israel warns Argentina: Recognizing Palestinian state shatters peace process
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
December 7, 2010 - 1:00am

Israel's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned as "highly regrettable" Argentina's announcement of the previous day that it recognized Palestine as "a free and independent state" within its borders prior to the 1967 Six-Day War. The decision was highly "damaging," foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said, "because they are in fact shattering the foundation of the peace process." The recognition while peace negotiations are ongoing and no final peace deal has yet been reached "is contrary to the existing legal framework of the peace process," he added.

»

ISRAEL: Concern over Latin American recognition of Palestinian state
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
by Batsheva Sobelman - December 7, 2010 - 1:00am

First came Brazil. In a public letter addressed to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas last week, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said his country "recognizes a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders." The statement came in response to a personal request from Abbas, it said. Next came Argentina, which announced Monday that it would join Brazil in its decision, which U.S. lawmakers had protested as "severely misguided."

»

Israel upset by Argentina Palestinian recognition
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman
by Daniel Estrin - December 7, 2010 - 1:00am

Israel expressed disappointment Tuesday with Argentina's recognition of a Palestinian state in territories Israel occupied in 1967, saying they undercut American-led efforts to create such a state through negotiations with Israel. Argentina said its move, announced Monday just days after Brazil took a similar step, reflected the country's deep frustration with gridlocked peace efforts. But Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said unilateral recognition was "counterproductive" to peacemaking.

»

Palestinian official says not yet to dissolve PNA, welcomes Brazil's recognition of state
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from
by Saud Abu Ramadan - December 6, 2010 - 1:00am

A senior Palestinian official announced on Sunday that dissolving the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is an option, but will not be taken for the time being, while the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) movement slammed Hamas for accepting a referendum in case of a peace deal with Israel. Nabil Shaath, member of the Palestinian negotiation team said in a press statement emailed to reporters that dissolving the PNA might be carried out only when the Middle East peace process with Israel collapses, "but it is not planned for now."

»

Palestinians Moot Plans for Organized Lobby in the West
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
by David Miller - December 6, 2010 - 1:00am

The Palestinian Authority wants to mobilize Palestinians living in the United States and Europe to campaign politically for the national cause, building a counterpart to the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and other pro-Israel lobbies. The idea was raised at the first-ever Conference of Arab Expatriates, which ended yesterday in Cairo. Aimed at establishing an organizational framework for Arab expats and fostering "a dialogue of civilizations, cultures and religions," the three-day conference was held under the auspices of the Arab League.

»

Yvette Cooper calls for Israeli settler labelling on food imports
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Kai Bird - December 5, 2010 - 1:00am

Britain should step up pressure on Israel to stop building illegal settlements in the West Bank by pressing for greater Europe-wide transparency on food exported from the occupied territories, Yvette Cooper says today. In an interview with the Guardian, she calls on the government to persuade the EU to introduce labelling that would identify goods produced by Israeli settlers. Cooper, who spoke after her first visit to the Middle East as shadow foreign secretary, wants the EU to follow the example of supermarkets which identify goods produced in the occupied West Bank.

»

Essential for Mideast peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
by George S. Hishmeh - December 3, 2010 - 1:00am

Considering that the United States, Israel and the Palestinian Authority have shamefully ran out of original ideas and remain deadlocked on the issue of peace negotiations, it may be time for all three to do some house cleaning. Whether this will herald a new and successful approach remains to be seen, but it is certainly dependant on their commitment to fairness and peace making in the Middle East.

»

Syria's Assad seems to suggest backing for Hamas negotiable, leaked cables say
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
December 2, 2010 - 1:00am

Syrian President Bashar Assad described Hamas as an "uninvited guest" in his country in confidential conversations with American lawmakers, and appeared to suggest he would be willing to give up the alliance in exchange for incentives, according to several documents contained in the trove of leaked diplomatic cables posted online by the website WikiLeaks.

»

Israel discloses technology to deal with rockets
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman
by Daniel Estrin - December 2, 2010 - 1:00am

An Israeli military unit on Wednesday showed off a new system to counter chemical attacks. It quickly measures temperature and wind direction to determine areas to evacuate and then feeds hospitals casualty assessments.

»

Non-Aligned Movement reiterates call for end to Israeli settlement building
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
November 30, 2010 - 1:00am

Maged Abdelaziz, the permanent representative of Egypt to the UN, said here Monday that Israel must stop infringing on the Occupied Palestinian Territories in order to allow a two-state solution to be negotiated in the Middle East. The Egyptian ambassador made the statement when he was speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) at a UN meeting to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

»


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