Palestinian Statehood | The American Task Force on Palestine

Debating an extremist Israeli settler
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from NOW Lebanon
by Hussein Ibish - (Opinion) July 26, 2011 - 12:00am

Last week I had a fascinating debate with David Ha’ivri, an extremist Israeli settler—an event loosely connected to a conference of the pro-settler Christians United for Israel organization.

Arab League to hold urgent meeting on Palestinian financial crisis
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Masry Al-Youm
July 26, 2011 - 12:00am

The Arab League will hold an urgent meeting Tuesday for its permanent representatives to discuss the financial crisis that the Palestinian Authority currently faces. The meeting will be held upon the request of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Egyptian diplomatic sources said. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad will attend. State-run news agency MENA reported that Abbas contacted Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Araby and requested the meeting so that Arabs would be informed about Palestinian Authority's critical financial situation.

Security Council Debate Offers Preview of Palestinian Bid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Neil MacFarquhar - July 26, 2011 - 12:00am

UNITED NATIONS — A preview of the expected showdown over whether to admit a Palestinian state as a full member of the United Nations when world leaders gather here in September played out in the Security Council on Tuesday. Supporters evoked the Arab Spring, in which millions of people across the Middle East sought freedom from oppression, as a fitting backdrop for an endorsement of the Palestinian people’s release from 44 years of Israeli occupation.

September critical for Mideast
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Newsday.com
by Joel Brinkley - (Opinion) July 26, 2011 - 12:00am

HAIFA, Israel -- Around here, everyone is deeply concerned about September. In fact, that's just about the only thing anyone is talking about. For Israelis and Palestinians, September is the universally understood shorthand for the likely United Nations vote that month on whether to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state. Right now, Israeli and Palestinian officials are traveling to European and other capitals, furiously soliciting votes. But no one on either side of the debate doubts that a majority of the U.N.'s 192 member states will vote with the Palestinians.

Palestinian UN Vote No Longer A Certainty
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Week
by Stewart Ain - July 26, 2011 - 12:00am

As the Palestinians prepare to unveil Thursday a draft of their resolution requesting United Nations’ recognition next month of an independent Palestinian state, many analysts believe such UN action is not inevitable.

Barak: Focus on Europe to stop UN bid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
July 25, 2011 - 12:00am

JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Sunday that Israel must exert all efforts to avoid a confrontation with the Palestinian Authority over its plan to seek recognition at the United Nations in September. Barak told Israel's Army Radio that his government's main concern was to mobilize European support to stop the PA's bid. The defense minister said he believed dialogue with the Palestinians was possible to prevent them seeking UN recognition.

Israel looking into revoking Oslo Accords in response to Palestinian UN bid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - July 25, 2011 - 12:00am

A team headed by National Security Adviser Ya'akov Amidror is looking into calling off the Oslo Accords in response to the Palestinian Authority's unilateral plan to gain United Nations recognition for an independent state. The Prime Minister's Bureau confirmed yesterday only that the NSC was discussing many alternatives ahead of September, and would be presenting them to the political echelon for a decision when it was done.

Palestinian official says Israel fails to implement Oslo Accords
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
July 25, 2011 - 12:00am

RAMALLAH, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Israel does not need to threaten by calling off the Oslo Accords signed between Israel and the Palestinians in 1993, because it does not implement it, a senior Palestinian official said on Monday. "We would have gained our independence since 1993 if Israel implemented the Oslo accords," Saeb Erekat, a Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) official told Xinhua. "Israel's practices on the ground have practically canceled the Oslo agreement years ago," he added.

Not forgotten
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jordan Times
(Opinion) July 25, 2011 - 12:00am

The uprisings in several Arab countries may have temporarily turned the limelight away from the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, but that does not mean it will be on the back burner for long. Palestinians, Arab peoples at large, cannot forget the occupation, with all it entails, especially now that a showdown over the recognition of an independent Palestinian state is looming on the horizon. Israel must not deceive itself into believing that the Arab nation can ignore the Palestinian plight; it should not take comfort in the spread of Arab demonstrations calling for democracy and freedom.

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