ATFP is a not-for-profit organization that advocates to the American people the national security interests of the United States in establishing a Palestinian state. Specifically, ATFP seeks to promote the awareness of the far-reaching benefits that Palestinian statehood will have for the United States in the following areas:

Enhancing national security, as well as regional peace and stability;

The proliferation of American values of freedom and democracy, through the creation of a democratic and constitutional state for the Palestinian people;

The expansion of economic opportunities throughout the Arab & Islamic worlds, in an atmosphere of peace and cooperation.

ATFP advocates the establishment of a democratic state of Palestine living in peace and security alongside Israel in the territories occupied in 1967 in accordance with international law and the relevant United Nations Resolutions.

ATFP categorically and unequivocally condemns all violence directed against civilians no matter who the victims or perpetrators may be.

ATFP believes that permanent peace in the Middle East, as well as world peace, can only be achieved by a historic compromise based on a two state solution, with a shared Jerusalem and a just solution for the refugee problem according to international law. This vision of peace has the support of the Untied States government, the United Nations, the European Community, each member of the Arab League and the majorities of the Palestinian and Israeli peoples. Nevertheless, despite overwhelming international support, the realization of this vision has yet to materialize in any meaningful way, with continued tragic consequences. It is the goal of ATFP to advance the implementation of the international consensus with alacrity and resolve.

ATFP plans to fulfill this mission of peace by coordinating the efforts of Americans of Palestinian origin working, with their fellow Americans and others, across the spectrum of civic, educational, cultural, legal, economic and political fields.

Our Purpose

The Arab-Israeli conflict, now nearly a century old, is the single greatest threat to worldwide peace and stability. Beyond the violent territorial struggle on the ground, the conflict has global implications for adherents of the three great faiths, all of whom legitimately lay some claim to a portion of the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.

Despite decades of hostilities that have engulfed the region, hostilities which rage as intensely today as at any time since 1967, the framework of a comprehensive settlement is in place. A fair reading of the numerous United Nations Resolutions on the Middle East crisis, the negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli delegations that extended to Taba, Egypt in January 2001, the Saudi proposal adopted by the Arab League, the vision articulated by the United States President and Secretary of State, and the Road Map to peace adopted by the Quartet firmly establish that there is an overwhelming international consensus for a resolution of the conflict.

Although the foregoing scenario has been widely discussed and generally accepted by a vast preponderance of the world community for an entire generation now, it has yet to be implemented. Despite attempts to move various peace processes forward in fits and starts, the parties find themselves no closer to peace now than in 1967.

At the American Task Force for Palestine, we believe that the time has come to firmly prod all of the participants into a timely and committed implementation of the international consensus. Without such prodding, experience has demonstrated there is little reason for confidence that the various players will be able to reach a meaningful accord.

The American Task Force on Palestine advocates the formation of a Palestinian state primarily because such a step would represent an absolute windfall for the interests of the United States. As America continues the defense of its citizens and its freedoms in the global War on Terrorism, a final and satisfactory resolution of the Mideast conflict, which is the single greatest source of anti-American sentiment throughout the Arab and Muslim worlds, would be an invaluable asset. Such a resolution is possible only with a restoration of Palestinian rights in the land that has been their home for centuries without interruption. The longer this denial of rights persists, the more difficult it will be to convince young people to choose the path of peace. Nevertheless, hope for a brighter future must not be abandoned. Without the constant pain and feelings of injustice that this conflict continues to inflict on the world, zealots will be hard pressed to find recruits for their nefarious schemes. At the same time, Israe’s security and its integration in the Middle East depend firmly on the establishment of defined borders with its neighbors and a just solution for the Palestinian problem based on international legality.

The Israeli Palestinian conflict has provided a pretext and justification for all governments in the area to deny their citizens freedom and all its attendant benefits of development. Frustration with governance problems has been deflected towards external sources. The ill will directed at the United States by its perceived support for Israeli conquests and for corrupt authoritarian regimes has created serious security risks for our country, as demonstrated so horrifically on 9-11. The current regimes in the Arab World are not equipped to solve the host of social ills generated by governance problems across the Middle East. On the other hand, democratic representative elections will yield more militant and anti-American governments as long as the Palestinian problem remains unresolved. Working with democratic forces in Palestine with a clear objective of a political solution based on the establishment of two states will achieve two major objectives:

1. Removing the major source of contention between the Arabs and Israel and United States.

2. Establishing a constitutional democratic form of government in Palestine will set a model for the rest of the Arab World to emulate.

The Framework for Middle East Peace

Approved United Nations Resolutions on the Middle East crisis;

Negotiations at Taba in January 2001;

The Saudi peace proposal adopted unanimously by the Arab League;

The vision articulated by the U.S. President and Secretary of State;

The Road Map to peace;

The Geneva Accord virtual peace agreement.

The People's Voice initiative.

The European Union position on the Middle East conflict.

The U.S. Senate Resolution to supporting a two state solution

A Trillion Dollar Market

America and the Middle East both stand to reap tremendous benefits as a result of Palestinian statehood. Regional strife has been the focal point of people's lives for far too long. Once the talents and energies of people in the Arab world and in Israel are put to productive use rather than warfare and hatred, a prosperous future can be nurtured and the allure of fanaticism will be irrevocably diminished. As the political landscape calms, substantial markets in the Middle East and North Africa, not to mention the newly created State of Palestine, will blossom, with American companies being the primary beneficiaries. Pooling of the talents, skills, labor forces as well as natural resources of the Arabs and Israelis will allow for strategic relations of the whole region with the United States. Such relations will generate wealth, prosperity and stability for all.

Americans of Palestinian heritage are in a unique position in this country. For decades we have closely observed the foreign policy of the United States as it affects the Middle East. Although we have seen important decisions be made which have had a profound effect on the Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza, Israel, and in neighboring countries, we have yet to play a significant role in the shaping of these decisions or in the formulation of U.S. foreign policy. This relative absence from participation, whatever its causes may be, has denied the country the benefits of a significant informed and friendly voice. With a solid record of achievement in this country, Palestinian-Americans understand the nuances of the American political landscape over the years and have developed a deep affection for this country and respect for the institutions that make it so great. No other group has a deeper understanding of the Palestinian problem in all its dimensions. Others have been engaged in this issue on behalf of the Palestinians for a long time and the present state of affairs makes it imperative that a new dynamic be in order. It is the time for us to claim our rightful place as interlocutors of the Palestinian cause in the U.S. We are keenly aware of the similarities and shared values that exist between our two peoples, in spite of the forces that have contributed to the current divide.

The Palestinian Authority at this time is mired in a host of problems that render it ineffectual in its present structure. It has failed to deliver the promise of statehood and peace to the Palestinian people. The development of rudimentary requirements for voting, institution building and accountability cannot be achieved under military occupation. Unceasing settlement activity, home demolition and economic and security measures leading to impoverishment make the two state solution barely achievable even if we act with dispatch. Time is of the essence to gather up the forces of all parties interested in a two state solution--the only road to peace--to coordinate their efforts in order to avoid a century of conflict and strife with global consequences.

Too much has been lost needlessly because of the world's failure to place a priority on implementing a solution that has become obvious to all reasonable observers. The effective veto power that has been exercised in the past by those on all sides who harbor fanatical and exclusionary ambitions must be removed. Those of us who seek peace, conciliation, reason and prosperity for the Middle East and America must not be deterred. Let us take it upon ourselves to fill the void now and provide the impetus to do what the world knows needs to be done.

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A recent poll asked Arabs the following question: "What can the United States do to improve its relations with the Arab world?" Their single greatest concern was resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"After more than three generations of conflict, the betrayal and the denial of Palestinian rights, this issue of Palestine appears to have become a defining one of general Arab concern...the situation of the Palestinians appears to have become a personal matter." (Source: What Arabs Think - Values, Beliefs and Concerns, September 2002)