ATFP Voices Extreme Concern at Israeli Cabinet Decision to Confiscate Palestinian Land in East Jerusalem
Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - January 24, 2005 - 1:00am

Washington DC, Jan. 24 -- The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP), voiced its extreme concern at the revelation that the Israeli cabinet decided in July 2004 to apply the Absentee Property Law to East Jerusalem. This decision in effect means that thousands of Palestinians who live in the West Bank will lose ownership of hundreds of acres of their property in East Jerusalem, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, with no hope of compensation or appeal. The law was originally passed in secret, the public was not made aware of it and it was not published in the official government gazette.


ATFP Briefing at Middle East Institute 'A President Without a State'
Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - January 24, 2005 - 1:00am

Washington DC, Jan. 24 -- American Task Force on Palestine President Ziad Asali gave a briefing today at the Middle East Institute on the prospects for the future following the recent Palestinian presidential elections. Asali had observed the Palestinian presidential elections as part of the official delegation from the United States. He characterized Mahmoud Abbas, who was elected president by 62 percent of voters, as “a president without a state.”


Fledgling Palestinian Democracy Needs Support of Palestinians, World
Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - January 12, 2005 - 1:00am

Washington DC, Jan 12. -- The American Task Force on Palestine hosted a briefing at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace by Ziad Asali, MD and George Salem, Esq., who returned Monday from observing the Palestinian elections as part of the official U.S. delegation. The delegation was headed by Senators Joseph Biden and John Sununu.


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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Dr. Asali Addresses the World Affairs Council
Speech by Ziad Asali at Carnegie Endowment, Washington DC - December 8, 2004 - 1:00am

The very intractability of the Palestinian Israeli conflict over the past several decades makes it wiser to analyze it rather than to prognosticate about it. However, the long- standing deadlock and the sense of helpless shrugging of the shoulders with despair it generates, have recently been broken by several developments that call for a reassessment.

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Building an alliance towards the historic compromise
In Print by Ziad Asali - The Jordan Times (Opinion) - November 19, 2004 - 1:00am

A consensus about the contours of a genuine and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians is well known. Its essential elements have been expressed in Clinton's Taba proposal, the Geneva and Nusseibeh- Ayalon plans, and the roadmap. Surveys of Palestinians, Israelis, American Jews and Arabs indicate support for a two-state solution. However, an opposing minority in each camp has exercised its power predictably and effectively to thwart the will of the majorities. These forces are opposed to peace because they think time is on their

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Where do we go from here?
In Print by Ziad Asali - The Baltimore Sun (Opinion) - November 18, 2004 - 1:00am

You would have thought that now that he is gone, we would not have Arafat to kick around anymore, but you would be wrong. The sheer volume of words uttered and written to vilify him and define his legacy in the worst light surly seems excessive for a dead person who was considered irrelevant and “ not a partner.” Having criticized him publicly and clearly in both Arabic and English, I feel that this persistent attention, may have more to do with hurting the image of the Palestinian people rather than that of their departed leader.

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Area's Palestinians Mourn Loss of a Symbol
Media Mention of Ziad Asali In The Washington Post - November 12, 2004 - 1:00am

No one would call Sami Parbhoo a slavish follower of Yasser Arafat's. Over the years, the 32-year-old Takoma Park resident has freely criticized the Palestinian leader's rule. The mismanagement. The reports of corruption. The centralization of power. And yet, when Parbhoo, a Palestinian immigrant, woke up yesterday and learned that Arafat had died, he was shocked. Suddenly, his heart felt heavy.

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ATFP Offers Condolences to the Palestinian People on the Death of Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat
Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - November 11, 2004 - 1:00am

Washington DC, Nov. 11 -- The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) offered its condolences today on the passing of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, to his family and to the Palestinian people. Chairman Arafat passed away today at a hospital in Paris, France.


On the Historic Compromise
Speech by Ziad Asali at Cornell University - November 4, 2004 - 1:00am

Last year, my wife and I had the pleasure of visiting Ithaca and enjoyed the hospitality of Watermargin. The idyllic surroundings, which I assume most of you take for granted, and the kind and inquisitive reception by your students as I addressed them, has created in my mind an association of Cornell with pleasant and soothing memories. So when Professor Michelle Campos asked me to come to Cornell, all we needed to discuss was when, because I could not resist visiting these gorges again.

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