U.S. upgrades diplomatic ties with Palestinians in bid to woo Abbas
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from
December 31, 1969 - 8:00pm

The U.S. announced this week that it would upgrade its diplomatic relations with the PA by granting its mission in Washington - which is actually a PLO mission - the same status it enjoys in most European countries: that of a PLO "general delegation." This is still a lower status than an embassy - a status the PA mission does have in many African and Asian countries, as well as some European and South American states. But it is a major step above what the PA has had until now.

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Freeze On Jewish Settlements Expires, Are Peace Talks In Jeopardy?

September 27, 2010 -- Israel did not extend its moratorium on Jewish settlement construction on the West Bank as of the midnight deadline, putting Arab-Israeli peace negotiations at risk. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will delay his decision for a week whether or not to quit peace talks in order for the U.S. to step in and work out a compromise. KCCP's Airtalk host Larry talks with the Honorable Jacob Dayan and Hussein Ibish about settlements and the impact on peace talks.


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US government statements emphasizing the US national security interest in Israeli-Palestinian peace

US Presidential Statements

- Barak Obama: Press Conference at the Nuclear Security Summit: “It is a vital national security interest of the United States to reduce these conflicts”. April 13, 2010 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/press-conference-president-nu...


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Israeli-Palestinian Peace Talks: What Will Help, Hinder?

Transcript

JEFFREY BROWN: And to talk about the talks, we go to David Makovsky, senior fellow at the Washington Institute and co-author of the book "Myths, Illusions and Peace," and Ghaith Al-Omari, advocacy director at the American Task Force on Palestine and a fellow at the Center for American Progress. He is a former aide to President Abbas.

Ghaith al Omari, what is your answer to the question posed at the announcement today, why now?


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ATFP Senior Fellow on Bloggingheads.tv: "Poetaster Edition"


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Are the settlements an excuse not to make peace?

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    1. WHYS: Are the settlements an excuse not to make peace?



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    • ATFP Senior Fellow Debates Israeli Diplomat on LA Public Radio
    Interview with - - December 31, 1969 - 8:00pm

    President Obama met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House this morning, seeking to ease tension between the United States and Israel. Diplomatic relations strained after Vice President Biden’s trip to Israel was upstaged by the announcement of new settlements in Gaza in March, and were further complicated by the Israeli military’s raid on a flotilla carrying people and aid to Gaza in May. Beyond a photo op, what did the two leaders accomplish? Has Israel insinuated a new tone toward Palestinians?

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    'Either peace or settlements'

    Will Middle East peace talks falter again over Israeli settlement building?

    Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, refused to extend a freeze on West Bank settlement construction, yet he has repeated his calls for Palestinians to participate peace talks.

    After an 18-month hiatus, direct negotiations between the two camps restarted earlier this month, under the watch of Barack Obama, the US president.

    Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, said on Sunday that Israel must decide between "peace or settlements".


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    Remarks by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton And Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell

    August 20, 2010
    Washington, D.C.
     
     

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