ATFP Hopes Iran Deal Will Enhance Middle East Stability and Security
Press Release - November 26, 2013 - 1:00am

Nov. 26, Washington DC -- The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) today praised the efforts of the international community, led by the United States, and welcomed the interim "first step" agreement with Iran to prevent that country from developing nuclear weapons. In addition to its importance in preventing nuclear proliferation, the Task Force believes that this agreement has the potential to initiate major and historic changes in the Middle East.


News:

Palestinians are trying to end the bloodshed in the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus. (Ma’an)

Palestinians see the international community's deal with Iran as a template for talks with Israel. (New York Times/PNN)

The GlobalPost looks at how the Iran agreement affects the Palestinians. (GlobalPost)

Israel's negotiations with the Palestinians may now languish after the Iran agreement. (Bloomberg)

Jordan vows to protect religious sites in occupied East Jerusalem. (Xinhua)

Hamas is trying to end the chronic electricity crisis in Gaza. (Ma’an)

PM Hamdallah is reaching out to Qatar to try to end the electricity crisis in Gaza. (Ma’an)

Settlers deep in the occupied territories attack Palestinian lands and destroy olive trees. (Ma’an)

Settlers attack a Palestinian home in Nablus with Molotov cocktails. (Ma’an/Jerusalem Post)7

Garbage and sewage collection and Gaza is now reduced to donkey services. (Ma’an)

"Arab Idol" Mohammed Assaf advocates for Palestinian refugees at the UN. (Times of Israel)

Israeli ministers meet to discuss their predicament with the EU over the occupation. (AP)

The film "5 Broken Cameras" wins a major international film award. (Ha'aretz)

Pres. Obama defends the Iran agreement against critics. (AP)

The Iran agreement shakes up the Middle East strategic landscape. (Los Angeles Times)

PM Netanyahu is sending a team of experts to Washington to discuss the Iran agreement. (Xinhua/Jerusalem Post)

International powers are expressing frustration with Israel's complaints. (Ha'aretz)

The US-Saudi relationship, though still close, grows more strained. (New York Times)

Experts say Saudi and other Arab unease with the Iran arrangement runs deep. (Jerusalem Post)

Israel's chief negotiator Livni points out that a deal with the Palestinians would strengthen Israel's hand vis-à-vis Iran. (Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)

Israel resumes its diplomatic campaign against Iran. (AP)

Iranian dissidents are split on how to view the nuclear deal. (Daily Beast)

Obama shows a marked preference for diplomacy over military force in international relations. (New York Times)

Extremist militias flee Benghazi. (New York Times)

The US expresses concern about a new Egyptian law limiting protests. (Reuters)

Egypt's new government is facing increasing dissent. (New York Times)

Egypt says its military has killed a leading "Jihadist" rebel in Sinai. (AP)

The Turkish FM is going to Iran to discuss Syria. (Xinhua)

Iran's FM says it's ready to join Syrian peace talks, if invited. (Reuters)

Iraq executes 11 prisoners charged with terrorism. (Xinhua)


Commentary:

Chaim Levinson looks at how occupation officials approve settlement outposts but not Palestinian building. (Ha'aretz)

Michael Brull says Australia's about-face on settlements is "shameful." (The Guardian)

Human Rights Watch complains about the abuse and harassment of activists by Hamas in Gaza. (Human Rights Watch)

Rasha Abou Jalal says divorce Palestinian women face discrimination and stigmas. (Al Monitor)

Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed says the international agreement with Iran won't affect the "Syrian revolution." (Arab News)

Nathan Guttman says Israel's new ambassador to the US faces significant challenges. (The Forward)

Oudeh Basharat denounces Israel's planned forced mass relocation of Bedouin citizens. (Ha'aretz)

David Albright outlines the difficult problems facing any final agreement between the international community and Iran. (Washington Post)

David Ignatius looks at the "secret diplomacy" behind the deal with Iran. (Washington Post)

Haleh Esfandiari says the Arab states have little to fear from the new Iran nuclear deal. (New York Times)

Adam Gonn says US-Israeli relations are strained but not broken over the Iran deal. (Xinhua)

Eugene Robinson says the Iran deal is a huge success for the United States. (Washington Post)

Sen. Cruz says Obama blew the Iran deal and sold out Israel. (Foreign Policy)

David Rothkopf says hawks should love the Iran deal, but doves should be worried. (Foreign Policy)

Matthew Bunn says Netanyahu is wrong about the Iran agreement. (Christian Science Monitor)

Akiva Eldar says Netanyahu is risking international isolation over Iran. (Al Monitor)

Neri Zilber says Israelis are now more convinced than ever they are alone in the world. (Foreign Policy)

Ben Sales asks what Netanyahu's next move on Iran is going to be. (JTA)

Micah Zenko says Israel has the means to prevent Iran from going nuclear. (Foreign Policy)

Hassan Barari looks of the growing rift between the US and Israel over Iran. (Jordan Times)

Moshe Arens says the US-Israel relationship will survive any disagreement. (Ha'aretz)

The Jerusalem Post says new Labor Party leader Herzog can be a welcome addition to Israeli politics. (Jerusalem Post)


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