February 12th

Final count leaves Israel with election headache
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Douglas Hamilton, Jeffrey Heller - February 12, 2009 - 1:00am

Final results of Israel's parliamentary election confirmed on Thursday that the centrist party of Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni won the contest by a single seat over right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud. The end count did nothing to change the confusing political picture that emerged on Tuesday night, or resolve a potentially paralyzing dispute between the two main parties over who should rightfully head the next government.

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Yesha Council revels in Lieberman's success
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Erfat Weiss - February 12, 2009 - 1:00am

Yesha Council revels in Lieberman's success 'Elections proved consensus regarding two-state solution nothing more than corrupt spin,' settler leader says, adding Yisrael Beiteinu chairman 'will be one of the strongest supporters of the settlement enterprise' Efrat Weiss Despite the inconclusive results of Tuesday's general elections, it is clear that the political Right will have a majority in the 18th Knesset, leading Yesha Council head Danny Dayan to say that Israeli voters made "an obvious and unequivocal ideological decision."

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Scrambled Electoral Eggs
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
by Aaron David Miller - February 11, 2009 - 1:00am

Would-be peacemakers might want to wait before they start popping champagne corks in the wake of Kadima’s election victory. The outcome of the Israeli election has further complicated an already-muddled outlook for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

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Israeli Uncertainty Buys Obama Time
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
by Nathan Guttman - February 11, 2009 - 1:00am

Publicly, the administration of President Obama has pledged to “hit the ground running” in reviving Middle East diplomacy. But the indecisive results of Israel’s elections have provided the White House with breathing room it actually welcomes.

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Today on the Hill
Media Mention of Ziad Asali In The Washington Post - February 12, 2009 - 1:00am

Today on the Hill Today marks the 200th anniversary of former President Abraham Lincoln's birth and a celebration in Lincon's honor will commence in the Capitol Rotunda this morning. President Obama is expected to join lawmakers around 11:30 a.m. to observe the ceremony.

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ATFP Calls for Urgent Aid to Gaza, Settlement Freeze at Congressional Hearing
Press Release - Contact Information: Hussein Ibish - February 12, 2009 - 1:00am

Washington, DC, Feb.12 – While urgent humanitarian aid for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is immediately required, the long-term consequences of the recent Gaza war depend on advancements in the peace process and a settlement freeze, Dr. Ziad J. Asali, President of the American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) told a congressional hearing today.


February 11th

ATFP President Ziad Asali is one of the first contributors to a new blog for the Israel Policy Forum (1). With 99% of Israeli votes counted the Kadima party has a one seat advantage over its main rival, Likud (2), though the composition of the parliament could end up favoring the latter (3) causing concern for the future of peace talks (6) (9). The Palestinian Authority presses the International Criminal Court to investigate allegations of war crimes by Israel (4). The UN signals that they intend to hold Israel accountable for attacks on its facilities in Gaza (5). Israeli and Hamas officials signal that Egyptian-brokered talks regarding a long-term truce will continue, despite uncertainty over the new Israeli government (7).

Oral Testimony of Dr. Ziad J. Asali - February 12, 2009
Speech by Ziad Asali at House Committee on Foreign Affairs - February 12, 2009 - 1:00am



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Arab League cmte to meet on Gaza rebuilding Wed
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)
February 11, 2009 - 1:00am

The Arab League's higher joint action committee will hold an extraordinary meeting here on Wednesday to probe the reconstruction of Gaza Strip after the Israeli aggression. The meeting, to be presided over by the league's Secretary General Amr Moussa, will discuss the contribution of regional organizations to the rebuilding process, Moussa told reporters on Tuesday. The higher joint action committee has been formed by the Arab League Council held at the permanent-delegate level recently.

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UN ‘will hold Israel to account on Gaza’
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Financial Times
by Harvey Morris - February 11, 2009 - 1:00am

Ban Ki-moon, United Nations secretary-general, has signalled that the UN intends to hold Israel to account for attacks on its facilities in Gaza regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s election. As Israelis voted on Tuesday, Mr Ban announced he had appointed a senior human rights troubleshooter to probe the destruction of UN facilities in Gaza during the 22 days of Israel’s so-called “Operation Cast Lead”.

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