October 15, 2008 | The American Task Force on Palestine

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October 15, 2008

The Department of State releases Secretary Rice’s remarks at yesterday’s Palestinian Business and Investment Forum (1). Haaretz reports on the pledge made in those remarks to continue work towards a Middle East peace deal (2). The Washington post reports about increased radicalism among settlers in the West Bank (3). Rami Khouri lauds the leadership of Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad (5).Israeli officials are meeting to discuss the future of the Arab citizens of Acre displaced from their homes following several days of clashes in the city (10).

Remarks at the Palestinian Business and Investment Forum
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from
by Condoleezza Rice - October 13, 2008 - 8:00pm

Thank you very much. I’d like to thank Walter for that very kind introduction. I also really want to pay tribute to Jim Jones and the hard work that he has done as Special Envoy for Middle East Peace and Security. In fact, Jim has been tireless in working to help the two of the legs come together in a more integrated way. It is absolutely true that security is clearly very important for the Palestinian people, for the neighborhood that both Israelis and Palestinians can feel secure.

Rice vows to do best to reach Mideast peace deal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Natasha Mozgovaya - October 14, 2008 - 8:00pm

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday that she would leave "no stone unturned" in order to reach an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal before leaving office, but conceded that time is running out. Speaking to a U.S. conference on Palestinian business and investment, Rice said she still hoped to reach the Bush administration's goal of a peace deal by the end of 2008, which was set at the Annapolis summit nearly a year ago.

W. Bank Settlers' Rage Grows
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Linda Gradstein - October 14, 2008 - 8:00pm

Avi Ben Yakov is a soft-spoken Jewish settler who loves playing with his young children in their red-roofed home in the hills above Nablus, deep inside the West Bank. But when it comes to his Palestinian neighbors, his tone hardens. "They will not be my neighbors if I do what I have to do, which is take them back to their lands," he said. "We don't want them here. Expelling them is the solution."

Palestinian group threatens Israeli minister
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
October 14, 2008 - 8:00pm

The Palestinian militant group that assassinated Israeli Cabinet minister Rehavam Zeevi in 2001 said Tuesday it has another politician in its sights. A spokesman for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine made the threat against Israeli lawmaker Avigdor Lieberman. The spokesman identified himself as Abu Jamal and spoke on the group's radio station. Lieberman wants to transfer Israeli Arab towns to Palestinian jurisdiction and annex large Jewish settlements in the West Bank to Israel.

Salam Fayyad's noteworthy leadership
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
by Rami Khouri - October 14, 2008 - 8:00pm

Some of history's most memorable personalities often are un-flamboyant, low-key people who find themselves thrust into the limelight due to the circumstances of their time and place. Such people sometimes rise to the challenge thrust upon them, and achieve noteworthy deeds. They usually do so by summoning powers of persistence and clarity of focus, while always articulating a sense of what is right for their wider society.

Gaydamak Promises Arabs Paradise if Elected Jerusalem Mayor
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
by Abd el-Raouf Arnaout - October 12, 2008 - 8:00pm

Beginning by appointing an Arab as deputy mayor, to opening the way for Muslims and Arabs to invest in the city of Jerusalem, to building an international airport in the city for Muslim pilgrims, Russian-Israeli billionaire Arcadi Gaydamak is promising Jerusalem Arabs paradise if they help elect him mayor of Jerusalem. A weekly news bulletin called “Al-Amal” (hope) appeared for the first time in the streets of Jerusalem a couple of weeks ago with a long interview with Gaydamak clarifying his positions regarding the city of Jerusalem, and making a wide range of promises.

'The war is over,' jailed Fatah activists tell Haaretz journalists
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Avi Issacharoff - October 14, 2008 - 8:00pm

"For five years, I was a wanted man, but we had enough," says Sufian Qandil of the Tigers, an organization associated with Fatah's Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. It's noon, and Qandil woke up only a few minutes ago in the prison cell where according to an agreement with Israel he must now spend his nights. "We keep our agreements, even those signed with the Jews," he says, placing his hand on his pillow with a Mickey Mouse pillowcase.

Jewish group: Porush at peace with Arab sovereignty over Temple Mount
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Kobi Nahshoni - October 14, 2008 - 8:00pm

The Movement for the Establishment of the Temple has called on its members not to back Jerusalem mayoral candidate Meir Porush, citing a recent interview in which the Knesset member (United Torah Judaism) said he was in favor of upholding Arab authority over the Temple Mount.

Hamas-Fatah tensions rising
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Alex Fishman - October 14, 2008 - 8:00pm

The nearing end of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' tenure has the defense establishment on edge, as it has formed a joined team with the Shin Bet and the Foreign Ministry to prepare for January 9 – Abbas' last day as Palestinian Authority president. The main concern is intelligence indicating that Hamas' military wing may begin targeting senior Fatah and Palestinian security officials via abductions and assassination attempts.

Officials to discuss Acre Arabs' fate
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Dan Izenberg - October 14, 2008 - 8:00pm

Acre Mayor Shimon Lancry and Housing and Construction Minister Ze'ev Boim are scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss the future of Arab families living in a housing project who were forced to flee their homes by Jewish marauders. The two will decide whether to find permanent alternative housing for some of them or to allow them to return to the homes they were forced to abandon. According to city officials and the Mossawa Center for Arab Human Rights, 14 Arab families, a total of 50 people, were left homeless after Jewish rioters forced them to flee.

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