Quartet dispute delays statement on direct talks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Gil Hoffman - August 18, 2010 - 12:00am


A statement by the Quartet that was expected to lead to long-awaited direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians has been delayed due to disputes between the United States and European Union, Israeli diplomatic sources revealed Tuesday. The Quartet, which is made up of the US, EU, UN, and Russia, was expected to bring Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to the negotiating table by releasing a statement early this week about the basis for direct talks.


The banality of occupation
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Edna Canetti - August 18, 2010 - 12:00am


Those who want to know what’s happening know it. The truth screams from all directions. The Breaking the Silence movement publishes detailed reports about the conduct of IDF soldiers in the territories. The same is true for B’Tselem, Machsom Watch, and journalists such as Gideon Levy and Amira Hass.


Ground Zero's wounds are still too deep to build upon
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Aaron David Miller - August 18, 2010 - 12:00am


If there is one lesson to be learned from the controversy over the proposed mosque near Ground Zero, it is that messing with memory, particularly traumatic memory of the first order, is akin to messing with Mother Nature: It rarely ends well, no matter how good the intention.


Lebanon Gives Palestinians New Work Rights
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Nada Bakri - August 17, 2010 - 12:00am


Lebanon passed a law on Tuesday granting Palestinian refugees here the same rights to work as other foreigners, a step in ending years of discrimination that had restricted them to the most menial of jobs.


4 Palestinians to be tried for violating settlement boycott
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Ali Waked - August 17, 2010 - 12:00am


The Palestinian Finance Ministry decided Tuesday to indict four merchants who violated the boycotted on products made in West Bank settlements. The four Palestinians are expected to face harsh penalties. Moreover, the law states that Palestinians caught selling settlement products may have their license revoked and vehicle impouned. Despite this, Fayyad's counterpart in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, said he believes the Palestinian Authority is not being firm enough with Israel. Hamas unimpressed


Palestinian minors held 3 weeks on suspicion of arson
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amira Hass - August 18, 2010 - 12:00am


Palestinian minors suspected of perpetrating even minor crimes against settlers are subject to extreme pressure during detention and interrogation in an effort to extract a confession, the Palestinian branch of Defense for Children International claims.



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