The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP), voiced its satisfaction today at the instructions issued Tuesday by Israeli Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz to stop applying the Absentee Property Law to land and buildings in East Jerusalem owned by Palestinians living in the West Bank.

This follows the recent revelation that the Israeli cabinet decided secretly in July 2004 to apply the Absentee Property Law to East Jerusalem. The decision in effect meant that Palestinians who live in the West Bank would lose thousands of acres of their property in East Jerusalem, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, with no hope of compensation or appeal.

Commenting on the Israeli decision, ATFP president Ziad Asali said: " The decision taken by the Israeli Attorney General is one that we applaud, as we applaud the efforts of the United States on this critical issue." Asali expressed his hope that this development would be followed by other positive decisions by Israel on issues that have been impediments to peace, such as the route of the separation barrier and the travel ban preventing Jerusalem's Palestinians from entering the West Bank.

"Now is the time for both Israelis and Palestinians to take advantage of this window of opportunity and take the necessary steps to solidify security and strengthen the current prospect for peace as a prelude to implementing the Roadmap," Asali added.