Netanyahu forbids demolition of illegal West Bank homes of slain IDF soldiers
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Chaim Levinson - January 14, 2011 - 1:00am


Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday he would not allow the illegally built homes of two Israeli soldiers killed in action to be demolished. Both houses were built on illegal outposts in the West Bank, one on private Palestinian land. Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that unless a legal solution is found, the state will have to tear down the houses of the two soldiers, Eliraz Peretz and Roi Klein.


Guyana becomes 7th South American state to recognize Palestinian independence
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
January 14, 2011 - 1:00am


Following Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile, Guyana has become the seventh South American nation to recognize an independent Palestinian state, Al Jazeera reported on Thursday. In a statement by the country's Foreign Ministry, Guyana's said it hoped "that the increasing recognition of the state of Palestine will contribute to a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the creation of lasting peace and stability in the region."


Fatah warns Hamas against increasing tension in West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
January 13, 2011 - 1:00am


Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party on Thursday warned Hamas movement against increasing internal tension in the West Bank. "Fatah is engaged in a political fighting against Israel and hopes that nobody would change the direction of the fight in the West Bank," said Mahmoud al-Aloul, a member of Fatah Central Committee, referring to Palestinian diplomatic moves to secure more global support against the Israeli occupation. "It should be clear that we will not let anybody threaten our unity and support in the West Bank," al-Aloul said.


Turkish PM: Israel must remove foreign minister
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Hadeel Al-Shalchi - (Opinion) January 13, 2011 - 1:00am


The prime minister of Turkey, whose ties with Israel have been badly strained over the past year, has called on the Jewish state to remove its hawkish foreign minister who he says poses an obstacle to Middle East peace. Avigdor Lieberman is a polarizing figure in Israel and outside, with his outspoken skepticism about peace with the Palestinians and his questioning of the loyalty of Israel's Arab minority.


Hamas deploys forces to stop Gaza rocket fire
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Ibrahim Barzak - January 13, 2011 - 1:00am


Gaza's Hamas rulers deployed forces near the Israeli border Thursday to try to prevent smaller militant groups from firing rockets, a sign that the movement fears Israeli retaliation for the escalating barrages from the Palestinian territory. Hamas leaders called together representatives of militant groups in the seaside strip and told them to hold their fire, according to a meeting participant, before Hamas sent its forces to the border area.


Closing Karni crossing will 'only tighten siege'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
(Editorial) January 14, 2011 - 1:00am


After denying reports that the Karni crossing would close at the end of January, Israeli security officials told The Jerusalem Post that the military intends to close terminal. On Thursday, when Gaza officials learned of the intended closure, spokeswoman for Israel's Coordination and Liaison Administration for the Gaza Strip Lieutenant Nili Aharon told Ma'an she was not aware of any planned changes in the crossings schedule. She said proper notification would be given if such an change were to occur.


Hamas and women: Clearing misconceptions
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
by Ahmed Yousef - (Opinion) January 14, 2011 - 1:00am


Women in every society have a different perception of their respective roles, which are generally molded by social and cultural norms. Evidently in many parts of the world, these social and cultural norms have restricted women of their due rights.


US meets with Israeli, Palestinian negotiators
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
January 14, 2011 - 1:00am


US Middle East envoy George Mitchell met separately on Thursday with Israeli and Palestinian envoys as part of Washington's bid to revive peace negotiations, the State Department said. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said Mitchell met first with Palestinian envoy Saeb Erakat and then with Israel's Yitzhak Molcho. Direct talks began on September 2, but stalled three weeks later with the end of an Israeli moratorium on settlement building. The Palestinians refuse to talk while Israel continues building.


Report: Guyana recognizes Palestinian state
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
January 14, 2011 - 1:00am


Guyana became the 10th nation to recognize a Palestinian state on Thursday, joining Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia and Ecuador who all pronounced their support over the past two months. Two other South American nations, Paraguay and Uruguay said recognition would come in 2011, while recognition from Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Cuba came during the 1980s. Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth made the latest announcement on Friday, saying the move comes as a "push for Palestinians and Israelis to negotiate a peace deal."


White House seeks new ideas about Mideast peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Politico
by Laura Rozen - January 13, 2011 - 1:00am


With U.S. Middle East peace efforts at an impasse, the Obama administration has sought new ideas from outside experts on how to advance the peace process. One task force has been convened by Sandy Berger and Stephen Hadley, former national security advisers to Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush, respectively, to offer recommendations on the Middle East peace process to the National Security Council.



American Task Force on Palestine - 1634 Eye St. NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20006 - Telephone: 202-262-0017