February 25th

Mofaz: As Pm I'll Work To Return Shalit
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Amnon Meranda - August 22, 2008 - 12:00am

Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz slammed on Thursday the cabinet's recent decision to release 199 Palestinian prisoners as a gesture to President Mahmoud Abbas while IDF soldier Gilad Shalit remains in captivity. "Noam and Aviva Shalit (Gilad's parents) are still awaiting their son's release," said Mofaz, a leading candidate for the Kadima party chairmanship along with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. "As prime minister I'll work tirelessly to bring him back to his family."

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In The Business Of Peace - U.s. Billionaire Pursues His Dream Of Mideast Peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Akiva Eldar - August 22, 2008 - 12:00am

Between meeting in the Knesset with Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon and visiting his friend, President Shimon Peres, S. Daniel Abraham felt like pouring his heart out. The 84-year-old billionaire, who visited Israel earlier this month, says that for the last seven years, since meeting Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Saud - who has since been crowned king - he has not known peace. Abrams' eyes become dewy as he talks about the meeting in Riyadh.

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Israel Frees Palestinian Prisoners
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Myra Noveck, Tom Rachman - August 25, 2008 - 12:00am

Israel released almost 200 Palestinian prisoners Monday in a good-will gesture aimed at reinvigorating the faltering peace process. Hours later, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in the country to make her own push for a deal between the two sides. With President Bush leaving office in January, his administration has been seeking a peace agreement before the end of the year, but the efforts have brought little progress so far. Ms. Rice arrived Monday for two days of talks with top Israeli and Palestinian officials, her seventh trip to the region since November.

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February 24th

Remarks by ATFP President Ziad Asali at ATFP Inaugural Gala
Speech by Ziad Asali at ATFP Inaugural Gala 2006 - October 11, 2006 - 12:00am

Back to Gala 2006: Towards Peace and Prosperity Tonight's speaker is a woman of substance. Her accomplishments and interests straddle the worlds of diplomacy, academia, classical music, sports and corporate stewardship. She has brought focus and a global vision to all her endeavors. Her association with Stanford University

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Raghida Dergham examines challenges facing the Arab world in the evolving strategic situation in the Middle East (1). Obama administration officials say the U.S. intends to provide $900 million in aid to Gaza (2). Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu’s efforts to form a coalition government in Israel continue (3). Christopher Hitchens draws a vivid portrait of Israeli ultra right-wing politician Avigdor Liberman (5). In separate statements, Palestinian President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad call for Hamas to join a Palestinian unity government that meets international conditions (6) (8). Secretary of State Clinton plans to travel to Israel and the West Bank next week, in her first official visit as Secretary (7). The U.S. is reportedly planning to open a permanent office in Jerusalem for Special Mideast Envoy George Mitchell (14).

State Department: Special U.S.-Israel ties will no doubt stay strong
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Natasha Mozgovaya, Yoav Stern - February 24, 2009 - 1:00am

The State Department on Tuesday reaffirmed its support for Israel, telling Haaretz that the U.S. viewed its relations with Jerusalem as "special" and lasting. When asked whether Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's declaration that "There will be no pigeion-holing, no exclusivity, we're reaching out to the entire world" could affect the U.S.' ties with Israel, State Department spokesman Robert Wood said: "U.S. has special relations with Israel, it will continue strong with no doubt."

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Welcoming remarks by ATFP President Ziad J. Asali at the Second Annual ATFP Gala
Speech by Ziad Asali at RItz Cartlon, Washington DC - October 17, 2007 - 12:00am

<< Back | Home | Next:National Anthems >> My name is Ziad Asali. I'm the President of the American Task Force on Palestine. On behalf of our board I would like to welcome each and every one of you to our Second Annual Gala for honoring Palestinian Americans.

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Israel Frees Palestinian Prisoners
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Nimrod Novik, Gideon Rachman - August 25, 2008 - 12:00am

Israel released almost 200 Palestinian prisoners Monday in a good-will gesture aimed at reinvigorating the faltering peace process. Hours later, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in the country to make her own push for a deal between the two sides. With President Bush leaving office in January, his administration has been seeking a peace agreement before the end of the year, but the efforts have brought little progress so far. Ms. Rice arrived Monday for two days of talks with top Israeli and Palestinian officials, her seventh trip to the region since November.

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Rights Advocates Defy Israeli Blockade Of Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Taghreed El-Khodary, Isabel Kershner - August 25, 2008 - 12:00am

Two boats carrying more than 40 international human rights advocates landed in Gaza on Saturday, challenging an Israeli blockade of the Hamas-run territory. About 2,000 residents came out to greet them at the small seaport near Gaza City. Many were singing, while others swam or set out in fishing vessels to meet the boats. Israel had told the activists to keep their boats away but ultimately decided to allow them to land, apparently to prevent a potentially more damaging public relations drama.

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Rice To Make New Push For Mideast Peace Agreement
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
August 25, 2008 - 12:00am

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice left for Israel and the Palestinian territories on Sunday in another bid to push the stalled Arab-Israeli peace process forward. Rice "will travel to Israel and the Palestinian Territories on August 24," said spokesman Sean McCormack. McCormack said Rice's talks would include senior Israeli and Palestinian officials and would cover "ongoing efforts to create positive and lasting peace in the region and progress towards the shared goal of a peace agreement in 2008."

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