The Erdogan-Obama road map for peace
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by Sami Moubayed - (Opinion) October 13, 2009 - 12:00am

Eyebrows were raised at the 64th session of the UN General Assembly in September, when Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rose to the podium and talked about the controversial report of South African judge Robert Goldstone. The UN-mandated report, released only days earlier, accuses Israel of war crimes in Gaza during the 2008-2009 crisis and possible crimes against humanity.

»

Abbas seeks vote on Gaza report
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
October 12, 2009 - 12:00am

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has called for a session of the UN Human Rights Council to vote on a report accusing Israel of war crimes in Gaza. Mr Abbas has faced a week of angry criticism after the Palestinian Authority backed deferring the vote until March. On Sunday he said there had not been enough support for the vote. Hamas's leader in Damascus called the issue a "scandal" that would harm Palestinian unity efforts.

»

Jerusalem Diary: Monday 12 October
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from BBC News
by Tim Franks - October 12, 2009 - 12:00am

People who work to bring Jews and Arabs together often neither seek nor gain glory. The projects grind on, in the shadows, on the margins, with little reward. But Avi Levy's self-proclaimed work on co-existence is not just handsomely rewarded, it also could not be more out there. Mr Levy, 49, is a pornographer. Eight years ago, along with some business partners, he set up the website Parpar 1 - literally butterfly in Hebrew, but also slang for swinger. In a saturated market, he believes he has identified a niche: Israeli men and women having "real sex", as he describes it.

»

Israeli officials warn against support for UN report
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Independent
by Ben Lynfield - October 11, 2009 - 12:00am

A jittery Israeli government reacted furiously yesterday after a top British diplomat voiced support for aspects of a UN report that could lead to prosecution of Israeli army officers for alleged war crimes. The UK ambassador to the UN, John Sawers, told Israel Army radio that the report on last winter’s Gaza war contains “some very serious details which need to be investigated by both the Palestinian authorities and the Israeli authorities.” He added that “serious information” in the document gives rise to the suspicion that violations of the laws of war were committed.

»

Hundreds of war crimes lawsuits filed against Israelis
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by David Sapsted - October 11, 2009 - 12:00am

Almost 1,000 lawsuits alleging war crimes by Israeli ministers and military personnel have now been filed around the world, Israel has admitted. And the situation could become immeasurably worse for Israel’s politicians and soldiers as efforts continue to have the Goldstone report, which accuses Israel and Hamas of crimes against humanity during last winter’s Gaza Strip invasion, raised at the United Nations.

»

Hamas…Procrastination is Not Reconciliation
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Asharq Alawsat
by Tariq Alhomayed - October 11, 2009 - 12:00am

The Palestinian Authority made the mistake of participating in the postponement of the Goldstone report which deals with Israeli war crimes committed in Gaza without revealing and clarifying the reasons for this. However does this mistake necessitate the hard-line positions taken by the Hamas movement which is now calling for the Egyptians to postpone inter-Palestinian reconciliation? The answer is most certainly no.

»

Furor Sends Palestinians Into Shift on U.N. Report
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Isabel Kershner - October 7, 2009 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM — Faced with a torrent of criticism at home and abroad, the Palestinian leadership abruptly reversed course on Wednesday by endorsing a Security Council debate on a United Nations report accusing Israel of possible war crimes in Gaza. The report, produced by a panel of investigators led by an internationally respected jurist, Richard Goldstone, found extensive evidence that both Israel and Palestinian militant groups took actions amounting to war crimes during last winter’s Gaza war.

»

Why Goldstone matters
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Ahram
by Richard Falk - (Opinion) October 6, 2009 - 12:00am

So why did the Israeli government boycott the commission? The real answer is quite simple: they knew full well that the commission, any commission, would have to reach the conclusions it did reach. -- Uri Avnery, Israeli peace activist and former Knesset member

»

Abbas blames aides for motion's removal
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Khaled Abu Toameh - October 6, 2009 - 12:00am

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is considering firing a number of his top aides who advised him to withdraw a motion to the UN Human Rights Council regarding the findings of the commission of inquiry led by Justice Richard Goldstone into Operation Cast Lead. Abbas's decision to withdraw the motion has triggered a wave of unprecedented criticism and condemnations among Palestinians and throughout the Arab world.

»

Syria cancels Palestinian leader's visit
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
October 6, 2009 - 12:00am

Syria has postponed a planned visit by the Palestinian President amid controversy about his decision to suspend efforts to have Israeli officials prosecuted for war crimes over last winter's military offensive in Gaza. A Syrian official refused to specify the exact reason for postponing Mahmoud Abbas's trip, which was scheduled to begin today. Yesterday's decision came a day after Syria criticised Mr Abbas's Palestinian Authority for backing down against Israel.

»


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