About Us

The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) is a a 501(c) 3 non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, DC.  ATFP is dedicated to advocating that it is in the American national interest to promote an end to the conflict in the Middle East through a negotiated agreement that provides for two states - Israel and Palestine - living side by side in peace and security.  The Task Force was established in 2003 to provide an independent voice for Palestinian-Americans and their supporters and to promote peace.  AFTP’s Board of Directors is made up of a large group of noted Palestinian-Americans who agree with these principles.

ATFP is funded entirely by its Board of Directors and supporters.  It has never received funding from any government or government agency.  ATFP’s signed, audited financial statements are posted online on its website.

ATFP works primarily in Washington, DC, and seeks to build strong working relationships with government departments and agencies, think tanks and NGOs and the media.  It has developed lines of communication with the US, Palestinian, Israeli and Jordanian governments in order to pursue its policy advocacy goals.  ATFP has also engaged in humanitarian fundraising to support health and education causes in the occupied Palestinian territories.

ATFP’s President and Founder is Dr. Ziad J. Asali, a retired physician with a long history of activism in Palestinian and Arab-American organizations.  He previously served as President of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) and Chairman of the American Committee on Jerusalem (ACJ).   He also served as the President of the Arab-American University Graduates (AAUG). 

ATFP has two Senior Fellows, Ghaith Al-Omari, who is a former foreign policy advisor to Palestinian President MahmoudAbbas, and Hussein Ibish, who is former Communications Director of ADC and a frequent commentator on television.

ATFP is strictly opposed to all acts of violence against civilians no matter the cause and no matter who the victims or perpetrators may be.  The Task Force advocates the development of a Palestinian state that is democratic, pluralistic, non-militarized and neutral in armed conflicts.