Palestinian president demands Israeli settlement freeze before he’ll resume peace talks

RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has delivered a tough speech on peace-making with Israel, saying there’s no way he’ll resume negotiations without an Israeli settlement freeze.

Palestinians build outdoor theater for pope beside Israel’s separation barrier; Israel objects

AIDA REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank — Palestinians in a refugee camp near Bethlehem want to receive Pope Benedict XVI in what they say is the most fitting setting — next to the towering cement wall that is part of Israel’s West Bank separation barrier and borders the camp on two sides.

Muslim calligrapher writes Gospel of Luke as a gift for the pope on upcoming Holy Land tour

BETHLEHEM, West Bank — Muslim calligrapher Yasser Abu Saymeh has dedicated the past two months to Christian art, writing the Gospel of Luke in ornate Arabic script to be presented to Pope Benedict XVI when the Roman Catholic leader visits the Holy Land next month.

Israel says it catches Palestinian who killed child in West Bank pickax rampage

JERUSALEM — Israeli forces have detained a Palestinian man suspected of killing an Israeli child and wounding another during a rampage in a West Bank settlement earlier this month, authorities said Sunday.

Israel says it catches Palestinian who killed child in West Bank pickax rampage

JERUSALEM — Israeli authorities said Sunday they have caught a Palestinian man who killed an Israeli child and wounded another during a rampage in a West Bank settlement early this month.

5 Palestinians hospitalized after West Bank clash with masked Jewish settlers, Israeli army

NABLUS, West Bank — Jewish settlers, Israeli troops and Palestinian villagers clashed with guns, rocks and tear gas, leaving five Palestinians hospitalized Saturday, hospital officials said.

Abbas aide: Palestinian leader to meet with Obama

RAMALLAH, West Bank — An aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says he’ll meet with President Barack Obama in Washington on May 28.

Hamas leader to make unprecedented address to British lawmakers

LONDON — It promises to be one of the British Parliament’s more controversial question and answer sessions.

Bethlehem celebrates Midnight Mass

BETHLEHEM - The top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land prayed and called for world peace on Christmas Day early Thursday as he led the traditional Midnight Mass in the West Bank town of Bethlehem.