U.S.-Arab Relations | The American Task Force on Palestine

Study: Obama’s middle name influences Israeli perceptions
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
September 19, 2012 - 12:00am

(JTA) – President Obama’s middle name, Hussein, can influence the way he is perceived by Israelis, a new study found. Researchers at the University of Haifa and University of Texas found that when Obama’s middle name was used to identify him, Israelis saw him as less pro-Israel. Results of the study, which was published in the journal Political Behavior, were announced Wednesday in a news release.

PNA criticizes Egypt for receiving Hamas leader
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
September 18, 2012 - 12:00am

RAMALLAH, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on Tuesday criticized the official reception of the deposed Premier of Hamas government in Gaza Ismail Haneya by Egyptian Premier Hesham Qandil.

Middle East Comments Could Vex a Romney Administration
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by David E. Sanger - (Opinion) September 18, 2012 - 12:00am

BOSTON — No one has ever had any illusions about where Mitt Romney stands on the two hottest disputes in the Middle East: the argument over the creation of a Palestinian state, and the debate over what can be done to assure that Iran does not get a nuclear weapon.

Handle With Care
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) September 18, 2012 - 12:00am

In a testy exchange with the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, James Baker, then the U.S. secretary of state, set a standard in fantasy counterfactuals that I was sure could never be topped.

U.S. will go to war with Iran in 2013, says ex-U.S. ambassador to Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
(Interview) September 17, 2012 - 12:00am

Former U.S. ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk said on Sunday that he thinks the U.S. will go to war with Iran over its nuclear program in 2013. Speaking during a panel on the CBS program Face the Nation, Indyk said, "I'm afraid that 2013 is going to be a year in which we're going to have a military confrontation with Iran."

Israeli Leader Makes Case Against Iran on U.S. TV
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Steven Lee Myers - (Editorial) September 16, 2012 - 12:00am

WASHINGTON — Having been rebuffed privately by President Obama last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel took to the airwaves in the United States on Sunday to warn that Iran was only six or seven months from having “90 percent” of what it needed to make an atomic bomb.

Under Obama or Romney, U.S. Mideast policy won’t change much
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) September 14, 2012 - 12:00am

A presidential campaign focused largely on domestic economic issues veered into foreign policy after the killing of America’s ambassador to Libya on Tuesday and the eruption of anti-U.S. protests from Egypt to Yemen. Both presidential candidates responded — and their differences have produced debates over which would be stronger on the world stage. Was President Obama forceful enough?

US seeks to head off Palestinian UN
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
September 12, 2012 - 12:00am

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States is trying to dissuade Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas from seeking non-member status at the United Nations at top UN meetings later this month, an official said.“We continue to make clear that we believe that the only realistic path for the Palestinians to achieve statehood is through direct negotiations,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.Abbas said on Saturday he will make a bid on September 27 to upgrade the Palestinians to non-member status before the annual UN General Assembly.

Is Israel Preparing for Attack on Iran?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
by Linda Gradstein - (Opinion) September 5, 2012 - 12:00am

In the past few weeks, the question has morphed from “Should Israel attack Iran to try to stop its nuclear program?” to “When will Israel attack Iran to try to stop its nuclear program?” Israel seems to be increasing its preparations for that attack. Gas mask distribution has been ramped up, and newspapers are filled with bellicose statements, some of which are directed at Israel’s closest ally, the United States.

Plans To Attack Iran Unravel In the Clear Light of Reason
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Tony Karon - (Opinion) September 5, 2012 - 12:00am

With bellicose theatrics between Israel and Iran nearing fever pitch, US President Barack Obama recently received some sage advice from the Bush administration's point man on dealings with the Islamic Republic. Former ambassador Nicholas Burns warned that the European-led negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme were going nowhere, and that the United States urgently needs protracted, direct negotiations with Tehran's leadership, putting all issues of conflict on the table.

Video: Inside ATFP Gala 2013

Photo Gallery: ATFP Gala 2013

Recent News