My comment posted online regarding the Buzzfeed news that The American Task Force on Palestine canceled its annual gala and is preparing to downsize as it faces an uncertain future.

Annie Annab 

I think ATFP has the right approach, and I very much admire their efforts, their integrity, their wisdom and all their hard work to help mainstream America understand and believe in Palestine.

What a shame to see the rude rambling comment in this comment section by the misguided and misinformed Palestinian who is "elated at the downfall of this terrible organization". Perhaps that rude cynic thinks UNWRA will continue to be funded no matter what, and that plight of the Palestinians will magically morph into glorious freedom and justice for the people of historic Palestine. That cynic claims to know and speak for all Palestinian and Palestinian Americans, but he certainly does not understand or speak for the many I personally know!

I very much hope the good people over at ATFP continue on with their valiant efforts to use diplomacy, facts, and strong arguments for Palestine's sake, convincing reasonable people that peace and Palestine are a worthwhile investment.

 

http://www.buzzfeed.com/rosiegray/a-moderate-palestinian-group-struggles-as-hope-for-a-two-sta?utm_term=4ldqpia

A Moderate Palestinian Group Struggles As Hope For A Two-State Solution Wanes

The American Task Force on Palestine cancels its annual gala and prepares to downsize as it faces an uncertain future.

 

 WASHINGTON — The American Task Force on Palestine launched in 2003 with the goal of bringing the cause of Palestinian statehood into the mainstream of the U.S. political establishment. Since then it has hung on, with a tiny budget and staff, and its yearly gala often counts high-ranking U.S. government officials and other Washington eminences among its attendees. 

Policymakers have seen ATFP as representing the best in Palestinian politics, partly due to their association with former Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad, who was praised in the West for his approach of institution-building. Hillary Clinton gave a speech at the group’s gala in 2010, while still serving as secretary of state.

But things changed for ATFP this year. This summer’s war between Israel and Hamas and the breakdown of U.S.-mediated peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians aiming to broker a two-state solution, which is core to ATFP’s mission, have proven to be a toxic combination to the nonprofit. The group has decided to cancel its annual gala this year, which usually brings in half of its annual fundraising. And its founder says it will have to cut staff and office space. ATFP’s situation is a casualty of a larger shift: The hope for a two-state solution, which is official U.S. policy and regarded by the establishment as the only legitimate way to end the conflict, is running out of steam, causing a major existential crisis for some of those most dedicated to it.

In an interview on Tuesday with BuzzFeed News at ATFP’s office in downtown Washington, Founder and President Ziad Asali outlined ... READ MORE

 

[AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine]