"Progress" in Euro-diplomacy for limited UN upgrade
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
(Analysis) September 16, 2011 - 12:00am


BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- European diplomats trying to persuade Palestinian leaders to seek an upgrade of their UN status without full membership have had "meaningful progress," Israeli media said. Hebrew-daily Yedioth Ahronoth quoted a senior Israeli source on Thursday saying Palestinians' acceptance of this proposal will improve their UN standing, while allowing Israel to coexist with the new status.


Avoiding an Israeli-Palestinian 'Train Wreck'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Council On Foreign Relations
by Bernard Gwertzman - (Interview) September 16, 2011 - 12:00am


Though Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas plans to seek Palestinian statehood status at the UN General Assembly meeting next week, efforts are underway by the United States, Israel, and the Palestinians to avoid a major collision on the issue, says Ziad J. Asali, president of the American Task Force on Palestine.


Israelis, Palestinians headed toward U.N. showdown
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times
by Edmund Sanders - (Analysis) September 15, 2011 - 12:00am


Reporting from Ramallah, West Bank— Rebuffing international pressure to soften their positions and return to the negotiating table, Israelis and Palestinians announced separately Thursday that they were moving forward with an expected diplomatic battle next week at the United Nations. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will address the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 23, after which he will submit a formal application to admit Palestine into the international body as a state, according to his foreign minister, Riad Malki.


Palestinians Resist Appeals to Halt U.N. Statehood Bid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Ethan Bronner - (Analysis) September 15, 2011 - 12:00am


JERUSALEM — Senior American and European diplomats tried without success on Thursday to persuade the Palestinian leaders to skip or modify their planned United Nations membership bid, officials involved said. Riad Malki, the Palestinian foreign minister, told foreign journalists in Ramallah that the Palestinians would continue to listen to suggestions but that barring something very persuasive, President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority would submit a full membership application to the United Nations Security Council next Friday.


Israel calls for continuing aid for Palestinians
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Alertnet
by Susan Cornwell - (Analysis) September 16, 2011 - 12:00am


WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Israel is urging the international community to continue aid to the Palestinians just as U.S. lawmakers are contemplating an aid cutoff if the Palestinians press for statehood at the United Nations. An Israeli government website on Thursday carried a report saying the Palestinian Authority already faced economic and fiscal woes, in part due to a decline in donor aid.



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