Israel taking extraordinary steps to block prosecution of military, political leadersJERUSALEM — Stung by a damning U.N. report alleging war crimes in Gaza, Israel is taking extraordinary steps to fend off potential international prosecution of its political and military leaders, hiring high-powered attorneys, lobbying Western governments and launching a public relations blitz. 20 Palestinian women prisoners, to be freed in swap with Israel, returning to changed worldsRAMALLAH, West Bank — Women make up only a tiny minority of more than 7,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, but they often pay a high personal price for what has largely been a supporting role in the Palestinian uprising. UN: number of Gazans classified as ‘abject poor’ triples this yearGAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The number of Gazans living in “abject” poverty has tripled this year to 300,000, or one in five residents, the Gaza head of the U.N. agency helping Palestinian refugees said Thursday. Israel hires lawyers to try to block attempts to prosecute it abroad over war crimes claimsJERUSALEM — The Israeli government and military have retained high-powered international lawyers and set up a joint task force to fend off attempts by Palestinians and their supporters to try Israeli officials on war crimes charges abroad. Hamas, Israel to swap video of captured soldier for freedom for 20 women prisonersJERUSALEM — In a surprise deal announced Wednesday, Hamas will give Israel a videotape providing a first glimpse of a captured Israeli soldier to prove he is alive in return for the release of 20 Palestinian women held in Israeli prisons. Israel and Hamas agree to trade Palestinian prisoners for proof a captive soldier is aliveJERUSALEM — Israel will release 20 Palestinian women from prison this week in exchange for a videotape proving that an Israeli soldier held in the Gaza Strip is still alive, Israel and Hamas announced Wednesday, in the first tangible sign of movement in more than three years of talks over the captive soldier’s fate. Palestinian group seeks arrest of Israeli defense chief Ehud Barak in UKLONDON — Lawyers have asked a British court to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli defense chief Ehud Barak, who is in the country to meet with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and other officials. Israel to free Palestinian prisoners in possible step toward bringing captive soldier homeJERUSALEM — Israel and Hamas militants announced a deal Wednesday that will see Israel release 20 Palestinian women from prison this week in exchange for a videotape proving that a captive Israeli soldier held in the Gaza Strip is still alive. UN investigator defends report accusing Israel, Palestinians of war crimes in Gaza conflictGENEVA — A U.N. investigator defended a report Tuesday that accuses Israel and Palestinian militants of war crimes during their conflict in Gaza, an allegation Israel condemns and claims is the result of bias against the Jewish state. Swedish journalist stopped at Cairo airport and to be ejected from countryCAIRO — A Swedish journalist and blogger specializing in Egyptian labor issues was stopped by security at Cairo airport early Tuesday and was set to be deported from the country, his girlfriend and the Swedish embassy said. Palestinians seek arrest of Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak in Britain over Gaza assaultLONDON — Palestinian rights groups have asked a British court to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli defense chief Ehud Barak, who is in the country to meet with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and other officials. Ahead of Gaza debate, US officials say membership of UN rights body is an ‘experiment’GENEVA — The United States hopes to use the U.N. Human Rights Council to engage other countries in a dialogue on universal values, senior U.S. State Department officials said Monday. Judge rejects Palestinian bid to arrest Israeli defense chief Ehud Barak during UK visitLONDON — A Palestinian bid to have Israeli defense chief Ehud Barak arrested for alleged war crimes during a visit to Britain has failed, a lawyer for the groups involved said Tuesday. Egyptian minister urges Israel to release 1,000 Palestinians in return for Israeli soldiersUNITED NATIONS — Egypt’s foreign minister urged Israel on Friday to release 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for an Israeli soldier captured in 2006. Israel’s former PM Olmert in court in first trial of current or past Israeli leaderJERUSALEM — Ehud Olmert became the first current or past Israeli prime minister ever to go on trial Friday, insisting in a Jerusalem courtroom that he is innocent of corruption allegations that drove him from office. Netanyahu: Israel seeks peace with Palestinians, world alliance against Iranian nuclear threatUNITED NATIONS — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he wants to make peace with the Palestinians and hopes the world will rally against the Iranian nuclear threat. UN agency helping Palestinian refugees marks 60th anniversaryUNITED NATIONS — In marking its 60th anniversary Thursday, the cash-strapped U.N. aid agency for Palestinian refugees asked the world for more generous funding and a renewed push to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestinian leaders say fundamental disagreements with Israel prevent return to negotiationsNEW YORK — The Palestinians cannot return to peace talks at this time because of “fundamental disagreements” with Israel on what should be on the agenda, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in an interview published Thursday. Spain expels Israelis from architecture contest because their university is in West BankMADRID — Spain said Thursday it has disqualified a group of Israeli academics from a solar power design competition because their university is in the West Bank, the latest in a series of low-level European sanctions against Israel over its settlement policy. Analysis: Obama’s high-stakes attempt to relaunch peace talks risks stoking Mideast strifeJERUSALEM — Rather than getting Israelis and Palestinians back to negotiations, President Barack Obama’s high-stakes attempt to relaunch Mideast peace talks runs the risk of cementing Israeli intransigence and exacerbating Palestinian weakness. Palestinian PM: broad international support for plan to get state ready in 2 yearsNEW YORK — Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said in an interview Tuesday that he has won broad international support for his plan to ready the Palestinians for statehood within two years. Not enough common ground between Abbas and Netanyahu to relaunch peace talks at summitNEW YORK — The Israeli and Palestinian leaders shook hands at the start of their first face-to-face meeting Tuesday, hosted by President Barack Obama, but the small gesture was unlikely to translate into a quick resumption of peace talks. Carter says Israel must stop building settlements in Palestine to achieve Middle East peaceHARRISONBURG, Virginia — Israel must stop building settlements in the Palestinian territories if peace is ever to be achieved in the Middle East, former President Jimmy Carter said Monday night as he received an award at a Virginia university for his humanitarian efforts. Netanyahu aide says Israeli leader won’t bend on settlements at meeting with Obama, AbbasJERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won’t bend on his opposition to a settlement freeze when he meets the American and Palestinian leaders in New York, a top aide said Monday. Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr feast to end holy fasting month of RamadanA look at how Muslims around the world began celebrating Eid al-Fitr, a three-day feast that marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. Obama faces tough task in getting Israelis, Palestinians talking againJERUSALEM — Barack Obama will try to get Mideast peacemaking back on track this week in a meeting with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders, hoping the weight of the U.S. presidency can resolve a showdown over Israeli settlement construction and get the sides talking again after months of deadlock. Israeli troops shoot dead 2 Palestinian militants on Gaza-Israel borderJERUSALEM — A Palestinian Health Ministry official says Israeli forces have killed two Palestinian militants and wounded three in an incident along the Gaza border. US denounces UN Gaza report as biased against Israel, urges world to focus on peaceWASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Friday sharply criticized a U.N. report alleging Israeli war crimes in its Gaza war earlier this year, ending nearly a week of muted reaction to findings already rejected by Israel. Israelis welcome Jewish New Year while skeptical that peace with Palestinians is nearJERUSALEM — Israelis celebrated the Jewish New Year Friday evening, grateful for the recent calm spell in the region but skeptical that the coming year would see the achievement of ever-elusive peace. Ending latest mission, US envoy fails to win agreement on restarting Israeli-Palestinian talksRAMALLAH, West Bank — The United States’ top Mideast envoy failed to bridge wide gaps between Israelis and Palestinians as he ended his most intensive attempt yet on Friday, raising questions over President Barack Obama’s efforts to revive peacemaking. |
Topics
Poll Loading ...Latest TweetsGaza Strip
Latest Friend FeedsGaza Strip
|
