Palestinian Authority prime minister attending TIFF
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Brent Lang - August 28, 2012 - 12:00am


Palestinian Authority prime minister Salam Fayyad will make the argument for statehood at this year's Toronto International Film Festival. Fayyad will appear at a press conference on September 11 in conjunction with the Toronto premiere of "State 194," producer Participant Media said Tuesday.


Report: 40% of east J'lem seniors drop out of school
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Noam Dvir - August 28, 2012 - 12:00am


No student registration, high dropout rates, overcrowded classes and slow construction of new classrooms – these are only some of the failures characterizing the east Jerusalem education system, a report published Tuesday by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) and Ir Amim organization suggests.


Fayyad approves measures to counter electricity crisis
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
August 29, 2012 - 12:00am


Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad approved new measures on Tuesday to help counter an electricity crisis in the West Bank, a statement said. Fayyad approved the measures during a weekly session of the Council of Ministers in Ramallah. The council endorsed measures to support low-income consumers of electricity as well as encouraging higher-income consumers to conserve their energy consumption. The council will also enter discussions with Jordan about bringing electricity prices into line with previous tariffs.


Former Israeli official denies Israel poisoned Arafat
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
August 29, 2012 - 12:00am


A former Israeli official is denying allegations that Israel poisoned Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat as French prosecutors begin investigating his possible murder. Dov Weisglass was chief of staff to the Israeli prime minister when Arafat died in 2004. He says Israel had no interest in harming the Palestinian leader at the end of his political career. Weisglass told Army Radio Wednesday that Israel permitted Arafat to seek medical treatment in France so Israel could not be accused of exacerbating his illness.


France opens Arafat murder inquiry
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
August 29, 2012 - 12:00am


A French court has opened a murder inquiry into the 2004 death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, prosecutors said on Tuesday, following claims by his wife that he may have been poisoned. Arafat died in a Paris military hospital in November 2004, a month after being airlifted - when his health collapsed - from his battered headquarters in Ramallah, where he had been effectively confined by Israel for more than two and a half years.


Egypt's Morsi invited to visit Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
August 29, 2012 - 12:00am


In a rare departure from his oft- quoted hawkish declarations, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Tuesday extended an invitation to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi to visit Israel. Speaking at a legal conference in Tel Aviv, Lieberman said, "We hope that whoever speaks about peace and about stability understands that there can be no hypothetical peace. "We hope that Morsi will meet with Israeli officials, that he will be interviewed by Israeli media and that he will visit Jerusalem as the guest of President (Shimon) Peres."


Two Palestinian cars torched in West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
August 29, 2012 - 12:00am


Two Palestinian vehicles were torched and vandalized Tuesday night in a refugee camp near Ramallah just several hours after a similar incident in the West Bank, Israel Radio reported Wednesday. Perpetrators lit two cars on fire and spray painted them with slogans reading: "Revenge on the Arabs" and "Freedom for the homeland." Security forces were called into the Jalazun refugee camp north of Ramallah and launched an investigation after reports of Israelis entering the camp, Israel Radio reported.


Palestinian woman critically wounded by Israeli fire in Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
August 29, 2012 - 12:00am


Israeli forces stationed on Gaza borders opened fire at Palestinian farmers Wednesday, critically wounding a woman, witnesses and medical sources said. The 42-year-old woman was working on her land near the eastern edge of central Gaza Strip when she received several gunshots, the witnesses added. Israel has established a buffer zone along its borders with the Gaza Strip, saying the aim was to distance militants from the security fence separating the two territories. However, Palestinians say the 300-meter wide no-go area takes most of Gaza' s agricultural land.


Palestinian's UN recognition quest on hold
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Mohammed Daraghmeh - August 28, 2012 - 12:00am


The Palestinian foreign minister says the Palestinians are putting their quest for international recognition at the U.N. on hold for now. Foreign Minister Riad Malki says President Mahmoud Abbas has decided not to apply at the General Assembly session next month, although he will informally appeal for recognition in a speech. The decision stands in contrast to last year, when the Palestinians asked the Security Council to admit them as a full member state.


Egypt broadens Sinai campaign against militants
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Marwa Awad - August 29, 2012 - 12:00am


Egypt's military said on Wednesday it would broaden its offensive against militants in the Sinai Peninsula, a campaign that has raised concerns in Israel about the movement of heavy armor into the area near its border. After militants attacked and killed 16 border guards on Aug. 5, Egypt launched an operation using the army and police to raid militant hideouts, arrest suspects and seize weapons, including rockets and other arms, that are rife in the area.



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