August 22nd

Official: Muslim-Christian unity must be more than a slogan
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
August 22, 2012 - 12:00am


RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Unity between Muslims and Christians in Palestine must become common practice and not just be a slogan, the governor of Ramallah and al-Bireh said Wednesday. Layla Ghanam made the comments while welcoming a church delegation offering congratulations for the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr, a statement said. "Religious Muslim and Christian holidays are considered national holidays for all Palestinians. This shows how cohesive and united our people are, and we are proud of this," the PA official added.


Abbas calls for protection of Jerusalem holy sites
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
August 22, 2012 - 12:00am


RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas stressed Tuesday the need to protect Jerusalem's Islamic and Christian holy sites, speaking on the anniversary of an attempted arson of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Abbas said the fire, which was set by an Australian in 1969, was "the first (attack) in a series that aimed to demolish the Al-Aqsa Mosque to make way to build the (third) temple."


Netanyahu distances himself from Lieberman's call to oust Abbas
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - August 22, 2012 - 12:00am


Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday distanced himself from the letter penned by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman to the Mideast Quartet, which called for the removal of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. "The Foreign Minister's letter does not represent the position of the prime minister or that of the government," said a senior official in Netanyahu's office.


Palestinian leadership condemn Israeli FM call to oust Abbas
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
August 22, 2012 - 12:00am


RAMALLAH, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian leadership on Wednesday slammed Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's call for the removal of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.


Israeli minister wants Palestinian leader's ouster
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
August 22, 2012 - 12:00am


JERUSALEM — Israel's foreign minister is urging the international community to help replace Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Avigdor Lieberman sent a letter to international Mideast peace mediators calling Abbas an "obstacle to peace." He wants them to push for Palestinian elections to choose a new leader. Lieberman heads a hard-line party and is known for heated rhetoric that sometimes embarrasses the government.


Egyptian official: Recent Sinai operation was fully coordinated with Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Avi Issacharoff - August 22, 2012 - 12:00am


An Egyptian military source said Wednesday that the recent deployment of troops in the Sinai peninsula was fully coordinated with Israel, refuting media reports that the move violated the Israel-Egypt peace treaty. The al-Masry al-Youm newspaper quoted a member of Egypt's Higher Military Council as saying that Egyptian forces entered Sinai only following consultations with Israel.


Israel Asks Egypt to Remove Tanks From Sinai
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Isabel Kershner - August 21, 2012 - 12:00am


JERUSALEM — Israel is “troubled” by the entry of Egyptian tanks into the northern Sinai Peninsula without coordination with Israel, a violation of the terms of the 33-year-old peace treaty between the two countries, and has asked


August 21st

NEWS: An eyewitness to the attempted lynching of Palestinians by Israeli youth in Jerusalem posts an account of the attack on Facebook. Several young Jewish Israelis have been arrested in connection with the attack. Jewish extremists are also suspected in an attack on a Palestinian home in the occupied West Bank. Rejecting settlers' appeals, Israel's Attorney-General's Office again orders the evacuation of an “unauthorized” settlement outpost. Iranian officials say any attack on their country by Israel would lead to Israel's own “annihilation.” Israeli defense officials reportedly consult a senior rabbi over the possibility of an attack on Iran. Palestinian citizens of Israel fear they lack access to bomb shelters and other protections Jewish citizens have. UN officials say a strong West Bank economy is not enough to ensure stability, and progress towards creating a two-state solution is required. The Egyptian crackdown on smuggling tunnels is being felt by Palestinians in Gaza. The wall Israel is constructing along its border with Egypt is almost complete. COMMENTARY: Shai Feldman says the debate in Israel over a possible attack on Iran is over, and an attack is not going to happen. Aaron David Miller agrees that Israel is not going to attack Iran in the foreseeable future. Reuven Pedatzur says comments by PM Netanyahu undermine the prospect of creating a workable deterrence strategy regarding Iran in the future. Aluf Benn says the debate over whether or not to have a war with Iran has strengthened Israeli democracy. Sefi Rachlevsky says Netanyahu is placing Israel in an exceptionally dangerous situation regarding Iran. Gerson Baskin says Pres. Obama should save Israel from making a mistake on Iran. Bernard Avishai says he doesn't think Iran could provide a “nuclear umbrella” to others in the region. Dov Weisglass says instead of criticizing Pres. Peres and others over the Oslo agreements, Netanyahu should thank them. Michael Cohen says plans by the Israeli military to demolish Palestinian villages in the South Hebron Hills are contrary to Jewish values. The Media Line interviews Munib Al-Masri.

Iconic Palestinian Industrialist, Munib Al-Masri, Speaks About Peace, Statehood and Cooperation
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
by Felice Friedson - (Interview) August 20, 2012 - 12:00am


Munib Al-Masri is an iconic presence in the Palestinian world. After reportedly twice turning down overtures by Yassir Arafat to succeed him as president of the Palestinian Authority, Al-Masri focused his efforts on creating the institutions that would form the infrastructure necessary to support statehood, including the stock exchange, telecommunications company and largest holding company.


The demolition of homes in the Palestinian village of Sussiya
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Michael Cohen - (Opinion) August 20, 2012 - 12:00am


Since 1996 the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies has brought some 700 Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian and international undergraduate and graduate students together on its Kibbutz Ketura campus, where they have been provided with the tools needed to learn how to live and to work with each other. We expect our graduates to take the message of environmental cooperation beyond the academic framework into the field and put what we teach into action.



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