ATFP Hosts Gen. Dayton, Rep. Ellison
Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - June 30, 2009 - 12:00am

On Tuesday, June 30, the American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) hosted another installment of its Distinguished Guest Forum, an off-the-record panel discussion with US Security Coordinator Lieutenant General Keith Dayton and US Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN). The event was held at ATFP’s offices in Washington, DC. Lt. Gen. Dayton and Rep. Ellison discussed recent developments and prospects for future progress in the Middle East and answered questions from members of ATFP’s Board of Directors and supporters.


Final preparations head of Barak-Mitchell meeting
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Roni Sofer - June 29, 2009 - 12:00am

"The settlements will not be an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians." That is the message Defense Minister Ehud Barak will be carrying with him on his upcoming trip to meet with special US envoy George Mitchell. Barak is being dispatched in an attempt to dissipate the tensions between the White House and Jerusalem, and to allow the renewal of negotiations with the Palestinians. Until now Israel has not given any sign to suggest it intends to acquiesce to the international demand that all construction in the West Bank be frozen, including within existing settlements.

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Experts Voice New Hope for Solution to Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Voice of America
by Mohamed Elshinnawi - June 29, 2009 - 12:00am

In the wake of U.S. President Barack Obama's June 4th speech to the Muslim world and the Israeli prime minister's recent acceptance of a conditional Palestinian state, hopes have risen for a resumption of talks aimed at resolving the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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Analysis: Diplomatic faux pas, or calculated message?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Yaakov Katz - (Analysis) June 29, 2009 - 12:00am

Israel has a thing with timing, particularly around important diplomatic meetings. In January, 2007, for example, then-prime minister Ehud Olmert flew down to Sharm el-Sheikh for a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Shortly before Olmert's plane took off, the IDF launched a rare daytime raid on downtown Ramallah in search of a terror suspect. Pictures of the raid - in which four people were killed and 20 wounded - were broadcast live on Al Jazeera. Needless to say, this was not constructive for the Olmert-Mubarak meeting.

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Americans' Unfettered Support for Israel Is Beginning to Erode -- And That May Help the Peace Process
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from
(Analysis) June 26, 2009 - 12:00am

The Israel Project hired pollster Stanley Greenberg to test American opinion on the Middle East conflict -- and got a big surprise. In September 2008, 69% of Americans called themselves pro-Israel. Now, it's only 49%. In September, the same 69% wanted the U.S. to side with Israel; now, only 44%.

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Will Obama Buckle?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Israel Policy Forum
by M.J. Rosenberg - June 26, 2009 - 12:00am

There is considerable discussion in Washington about whether President Obama is maintaining or easing the pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu. There is no real evidence pointing to the latter other than the silence from the administration on the just-announced plan to expand the Talmon settlement by some 300 units, a provocation and a test of Obama's resolve. Beyond that is the general fear that the Israeli government has invariably won these battles with previous administrations and the feeling that Obama will, like his predecessors, blink as the lobby quietly (or loudly) pushes back.

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Hillary Is Wrong About the Settlements
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Wall Street Journal
by Elliott Abrams - June 25, 2009 - 12:00am

Despite fervent denials by Obama administration officials, there were indeed agreements between Israel and the United States regarding the growth of Israeli settlements on the West Bank. As the Obama administration has made the settlements issue a major bone of contention between Israel and the U.S., it is necessary that we review the recent history.

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Want to Stop Israeli Settlements? Start With Americans
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Ronit Avni - (Opinion) June 25, 2009 - 12:00am

This month, both at Cairo University and from the Oval Office, President Obama has called on the Israeli government to stop the expansion of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. He should send the same message to the Americans who are funding and fueling them.

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Israel sees "hard work" settling dispute with Obama
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Allyn Fisher-Ilan - June 24, 2009 - 12:00am

Bridging gaps between Israel and the United States over settlement growth in the occupied West Bank will require hard work, a senior Israeli official said on Wednesday, playing down prospects for a swift breakthrough. U.S. President Barack Obama wants Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare a total settlement freeze. Netanyahu wants to build further within existing blocs to accommodate what he calls "natural growth" in settler families.

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Netanyahu delays U.S. talks due to settlement debate
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
June 24, 2009 - 12:00am

An Israeli official said Wednesday that the government had postponed a meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Washington's top Mideast envoy George Mitchell because it wanted more time to iron out differences over West Bank settlements. The meeting with Mitchell was to have taken place in Paris where Netanyahu is visiting. Netanyahu aides said Defense Minister Ehud Barak would instead meet Mitchell next week in Washington. A senior official traveling with Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel sought more professional work before the meeting.

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