The challenge to Mahmoud Abbas
Victory for Mahmoud Abbas in the Palestinian presidential elections will pose a huge challenge to the Palestinian leadership. By being voted chairman of the PLO executive committee hours after…
The challenge to Mahmoud Abbas
Victory for Mahmoud Abbas in the Palestinian presidential elections will pose a huge challenge to the Palestinian leadership. By being voted chairman of the PLO executive committee hours after Yasser…
Israel Holds off Grand Gaza Operation; Abbas to Gaza for talks
Israel would refrain from carrying out a widespread military operation in the Gaza Strip, Israeli media sources reported. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon affirmed that the army can operate in…
Israel Holds off Grand Gaza Operation; Abbas to Gaza for talks
Israel would refrain from carrying out a widespread military operation in the Gaza Strip, Israeli media sources reported. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon affirmed that the army can operate in…
Army to Investigate Unauthorized House Demolitions in Gaza
Israeli Chief of Staff General Moshe Ya’alon has appointed General (res.) Ze’ev Livneh to head an inquiry into the army’s destruction of houses in Khan Yunis last summer, done without…
Abbas Orders PA Security to Prevent Attacks on Israelis
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas ordered security forces on Monday to prevent Palestinian militant attacks on Israelis, a cabinet minister said. ‘Abbas gave clear instructions to the security chiefs to…
Soldiers Broke into Settlers’ Homes, Stole Appliances
Soldiers guarding the settlement of Mevo Dotan in the West Bank are suspected of breaking into settlers’ homes and stealing electrical appliances, Israel Radio reported on Monday. According to Israel…
Settlers Preparing ‘The Mother of All Protests’
Settlers’ leaders said Monday that in two weeks Jerusalem will witness a grand demonstration, larger than all protests conducted so far, to protest against the disengagement plan. Settler leaders called…
Israeli army demolished two houses near Bethlehem
IMEMC correspondent in Bethlehem reported that the Israeli army has demolished two houses on Monday morning in the village of Walajeh near Bethlehem. Eyewitnesses told IMEMC that army bulldozers rolled…
Two Palestinians killed near kissufim crossing
Monday morning, Israeli killed two Palestinians near Kissufim crossing in the Gaza Strip after firing at them; army claims the two residents were trying to infiltrate into Kissufim area to…
Election Committee SG Denies Resignations
The Secretary General of the Palestinian central election committee Dr. Rami Hamdalah dismissed media reports on the resignation of committee members over election irregularities. Hamdalah explained that no one of…
Egypt Urges Israel to Allow Abbas Time
Egyptian Intelligence Minister Omar Suleiman asked Israel on Sunday to give Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas time to enforce law and order in the Palestinian territories. Suliman passed Egypt’s request in…
Abbas Asks Security Chiefs to Immediately Act to Enforce Law
Newly sworn Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met Saturday night with the heads of Palestinian Authority (PA) security branches and ordered them to immediately take practical steps to enforce law and…
Hamas leader Hints Accepting Israeli State, Shuns Cease-Fire Deal
Damascus-based Hamas leader Mousa Abu-Marzouk said Saturday that his group is not ready to accept a cease-fire deal with Israel. ‘Our current position is against a truce. We are in…
Soldiers at Wall Gate Denies 400 Villagers Passage to Their Homes
Around 400 villagers of Azon Atmah, a seam area village near the west bank city of Qalqylia, were denied access to their homes on Saturday evening. Soldiers stationed at the…
Abbas Sworn in as Palestinian President in Ramallah
During his inauguration ceremony, Mahmoud Abbas said that the Palestinians are ready to begin carrying their road map obligations, and that they will not accept partial diplomatic solutions in the…
Two PA Election Officials Resign Over Forced Election Irregularities
Ammar Dwaik and Baha al-Bakri, members of the Palestinian election committee, resigned Saturday, saying they were pressured to change voting procedures by PA political and security officials during the presidential…
Report: Israel Claims PA Security Complicit in Karni attack
According to The Washington Post, Israel accused the Palestinian Authority of complicity in Thursday night’s attack on the Karni crossing in Gaza. A senior Israeli official who asked not to…
Army Leaves, Settlers Stay
The Israeli Army on Sunday dismantled one of its bases in the settlement of Yitzhar in the Nablus region after Israeli settlers demanded the army leave. The soldiers left, the…
Six killed in the Gaza Strip, more than 17 injured
Saturday at noon, Israeli soldiers killed four residents in Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza , and two in Rafah in the southern part of the Gaza Strip; at least 17…
testing article
According to The Washington Post, Israel accused the Palestinian Authority of complicity in Thursday night’s attack on the Karni crossing in Gaza. {mosimage}’The best way to re-launch the peace process…
Report: Israel Claims PA Security Complicit in Karni attack
According to The Washington Post, Israel accused the Palestinian Authority of complicity in Thursday night’s attack on the Karni crossing in Gaza. A senior Israeli official who asked not to…
Report: Israel Claims PA Security Complicit in Karni attack
According to The Washington Post, Israel accused the Palestinian Authority of complicity in Thursday night’s attack on the Karni crossing in Gaza. According to The Washington Post, Israel accused the…
61 females arrested in 2004, including 14 underage
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society revealed that the Israeli army arrested dozens of women and girls over the last year, raising the total number of women in Israeli prisons to 129.…
Abbas to be sworn President, awaiting a very tough path
In ceremony that will be held Saturday in the Presidential compound in Ramallah the Palestinian Liberation Organization leader, and the newly elected president, Mahmoud Abbas will be sworn President. The…
Several detainees wounded in the Negev detention
Saturday at dawn, more than six detainees were wounded after fire broke out in a tent in the Negev detention camp, section C1, which was opened at the end of…
Abbas Won’t Use Force Against Resistance
Palestinian newly elected President Mahmoud Abbas said Friday that he would continue with efforts to negotiate a truce with Palestinian resistance groups, rejecting Israeli demands to use force against them.…
Brigades’ Leader: Truce should be a Choice not a Dictation
Special Interview Ali Samoudi, IMEMC July 18, 10:20 Zakaria Al-Zubeidi 24, a refugee from Jenin Refugee Camp and the leader of Al-Aqsa Brigades (the military wing of Fatah), insists that…
New Coalitions: An Interview with Salah Ra’fat
Rashid Hilal, August 30, 2003 Hilal: What is the democratic coalition, and when will it be announced? Ra’fat: The agreement for forming the Palestinian Democratic Coalition came after years of…
Al-Aqsa Brigades leader: `“We have several surprises for the occupation`
Hashim Abu Hamdan, 24 years old, from Balata refugee camp in Nablus north of the West Bank, who is wanted to the troops for more than two years, said in…
What is a Unified Leadership?
Interview with WB Fatah Leader Hussein Al-Sheikh By: Nasser Lahham-Bethlehem-TV Translated by Sa’ed Bannoura-IMEMC April 9, 2004 Q1: How do you interpret the announcement made by Arafat to form a…
Arafat: ‘I am willing to Meet Sharon’
IMEMC Staff, May 31, 2004, 09:00 The Israeli paper online Yedioth Ahronoth, published an interview done by channel 10 with the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat Sunday evening, and broadcasted the…
The Egyptian Cement Scandal
An Interview with Hassan Khareishah, the head of the PLC’ committee, which investigated the Egyptian Cement Scandal, and the head of the PLC’ monitoring committee. Interviewed by: Shaker Johari Q1)…
An Interview with the Former and the First Palestinian Prime Minister, Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazin)
Translated by George Rishmawi-IMEMC, July 8, 2004 Abu Mazin: Things would have been different, had Sharon suggested the Disengagement Plan to us earlier The former Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas…
Demanding Reforms is Different from Demanding Personal Gain
An interview with Zakaria Zubeidi, the leader of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in Jenin. “Talks about a state of chaos in Palestinian areas are baseless†Zubeidi told Arabs48 news website. “yes,…
Prisoners’ Representative: No Doubts We Will Win
In a phone interview with Arabynet news website, a prisoners’ representative, who identified himself as “Abu Ahmed†said “we will win the struggle regardless of extensive oppressive measures.†Q: How…
Abbas: `“Time is not in our favor, meetings should be resumed`
Mahmoud Abbas, Abu Mazen, head of the Executive Committee at the Palestinian Liberation Organization, said that no discussions have been made lately concerning a possible meeting with P.A Chairman Yasser…
Bargouthi: `“The Initiative is not a new faction; it is to create a wide Coalition’
Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative said that the Initiative is not a new faction but it came to create the widest National Coalition, with a new…
Jibreel Al-Rajoub, advisor of the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat for National Security affairs
PNN: How do you view the latest Israeli offensive in Gaza Strip? Rajoub: The Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip and other areas in the West Bank reflects the…
Exclusive Interview with the Nuclear Whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu
By: Johannes Wahlstrom, Jerusalem Ten minutes stroll northward from the lively alleyways of the Old City and its renowned Golden Dome lays one of the Holy Land’s smallest parishes; the…
Palestinian Resistance between slogans and Facts
Rumors of differences and interior crises between the military wings of Palestinian factions, especially Fatah, required clarification in order to unveil the nature of conflict among the two sides. Linda…
Three Palestinians, six Israelis killed attack on Karni crossing
The death toll in Thursday night’s attack on the Karni crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip has risen to nine including three Palestinians and six Israelis. Three Palestinians who…
Army Officer Wounded in Confrontation with Settlers
An Israel army officer was lightly wounded overnight in a confrontation with Jewish settlers near the West Bank city of Nablus. Three settlers posting flyers calling soldiers to refuse orders…
Israeli High Court Freezes Building of Separation Wall near J’lem
The Israeli High Court of Justice on Thursday evening ordered a halt to the construction of large sections of the West Bank separation wall in Jerusalem area. The order came…
Resident killed in Khan Younis
Friday at night, Israeli soldiers killed a resident in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, after firing at dozens of homes A Palestinian medical source in Khan Younis reported…
Gaza completely sealed
Following Thursday night’s attack, the Israeli foreign ministry Shaul Mofaz decided to impose a strict closure over the Gaza Strip, closing its border crossings and roads. “Eretz, Karni and Rafah…
PNGO Network condemns the closure of the Rafah-Egypt border crossing
The Palestinian Non-Government Organization Network strongly condemned the Israeli closure of the Rafah – Egypt border crossing trapping thousands of the Palestinians on both sides of the crossing. Rafah crossing…
Poll: `“Palestinians may not support ending the Intifada
The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey in Ramallah, predicted that the popular support to the newly elected Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbasm, doesn’t necessarily mean a support to end the…
Israel Opposes Cease-fire, complains about Abbas’s Lack of Action
The Israeli army official said newly elected Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has done nothing to deal with Palestinian resistance groups. ‘Abu Mazen must take matters into his hands immediately,’ a…
Palestinian Local Elections begin in ten locations in Gaza Strip
Preparations for the local government elections begin on Thursday in ten locations in the Gaza Strip slated for January 27. 478 candidates, 83 of them are women, are competing…
Conjuring tricks
In an age in which an individual from any social class anywhere in the world can grasp the meaning of political freedom, political sovereignty can no longer be expressed without…
Poll Shows Majority Support Pullout & Referendum
According to a Haaretz newspaper poll, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s ‘disengagement government,’ enjoys the support of the majority of voters, but a majority of voters also support the referendum…
Abbas: Will Implement Road Map Commitments, Expects Israel to Do the Same
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday the Palestinians intended to start carrying out their road map commitments. The road map, in its first phase, calls on Palestinians to end…
Gilboa prison administration limits the visitations only to 70 detainees
Prison administration in Gilboa detention limited the number of Palestinian detainees who are allowed to have their visitation rights to 70 detainees, excluding the rest of the detainees and ignoring…
Dr. Hisham Sharabi, Palestinian philosopher dies in Beirut
Dr. Hisham Sharabi, a Palestinian philosopher living in Beirut , died on Thursday in exile far away from Jafa after leaving it during the war in 1947 and was only…
Cement walls and barbed wires separate the detainees in Ansar 3 prison
Detainees in Ansar 3 detention, in the Negev desert, warned of the risks and effects of the barbed wires and walls surrounding the sections of the detention camp, completely isolating…
Beit Lahia resident killed, pregnant woman wounded
Thursday morning, Israeli soldiers fired at a car in the Bedouin village, north of Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, killing the driver and wounding a pregnant woman he…
One killed, four wounded in al-Boreij refugee camp in Gaza
The Israeli army invaded the al-Boreij refugee camp in central Gaza Thursday morning with dozens of tanks and armored vehicles, killing one Palestinian and wounding four others. According to a…
Eight Israeli soldiers convicted of abusing Palestinian workers
The Israeli Central Court convicted, Thursday, a commander of serious violations and abuse against Palestinian workers on a checkpoint, near Jerusalem, and pinching their money. Officer Nier Levi, from the…
Likud ` Shas coalition talks are progressing
The ultra-orthodox Shas Party is considering joining the government in a coalition with Likud and Labor without receiving any ministerial portfolios, Israeli sources reported on Thursday. In exchange, Shas is…
Gaza completely sealed
Following Thursday night’s attack, the Israeli foreign ministry Shaul Mofaz decided to impose a strict closure over the Gaza Strip, closing its border crossings and roads. “Eretz, Karni and Rafah…
Report: 312 child prisoners, abused and deprived of their basic rights
The Palestinian Ministry of Detainees and Ex–detainees Affairs accused the Israeli government of continuously violating the rights of the Palestinian detainees, including children, and depriving them of their fundamental rights…
Israel asks Russia not to sell arms to Syria
Israel asked Russia to halt its arms sales deal with Syria in which it will buy advanced shoulder launched surface-to-air SA-18 missile known as Igla. The Israeli defense establishment expressed…
Sharon Wins, State Budget Approved
The Knesset on Wednesday approved the first reading of the 2005 State Budget bill after the Likud rebels decided to support it.  The bill was passed by a majority…
Israeli Arab Islamic Leader to be released in Six Months
In a plea bargain with the state prosecutor and the lawyers of the Northern Islamic Movement leader Sheikh Raed Salah, the later admitted of committing security offenses in exchange of…
Two killed in the West Bank
Wednesday morning, Israeli soldiers killed two residents in the village of Qarawa Bani Zeid, near the northern West Bank city of Ramallah after breaking into a building in the village.…
Two Palestinians, One Israeli Settler were killed in Gaza Strip
Israeli military sources reported that one Israeli was killed and four others were injured on Wednesday, when an roadside bomb detonated near their vehicle by the settlement of Morag in…
Six new ministers to be assigned in Qorei’s government
A Palestinian source in Ramallah reported Wednesday that the new Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) asked the current Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmad Qorei, to form a new government.…
One Israeli Settler, Three Palestinians were killed in Gaza Strip
Israeli military sources reported that one Israeli was killed and four others were injured on Wednesday, when an roadside bomb detonated near their vehicle by the settlement of Morag in…
Sharon Wins, State Budget Approved
The Knesset on Wednesday approved the first reading of the 2005 State Budget bill after the Likud rebels decided to support it. The bill was passed by a majority of…
Operative Plans to Carry Out Disengagement Finalized
Israel army and police announced Wednesday morning that they have finalized operative plans for the evacuation of the Gaza Strip and West Bank settlements under the disengagement plan, Israel Radio…
Israel wants the U.S. to Fund Wall Checkpoints
Israel has requested that the United States help in financing the set up of new crossing points and upgrade existing ones along the separation wall. The estimated cost of the…
PA National Security Advisor Resigns
Palestinian National Security Adviser Jibril Rajoub resigned his post to allow newly elected President Mahmoud Abbas to implement his plans to reform PA security. ‘I resigned to allow Mr. Abbas…
U.S. Urges Abbas to Strengthen Security
The U.S. State Department urged new Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to strengthen security forces on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In a phone conversation on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary…
EU’s pivotal role in Middle East peace
Palestinian elections took place on 9 January. EU monitors observing the election process have seen Israel’s wall, that in the words of John Dugard, the UN Special Rapporteur for Human…
U.S. Urges Abbas to Strengthen Security
The U.S. State Department urged new Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to strengthen security forces on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.  In a phone conversation on Tuesday, U.S.…
Operative Plans to Carry Out Disengagement Finalized
Israel army and police announced Wednesday morning that they have finalized operative plans for the evacuation of the Gaza Strip and West Bank settlements under the disengagement plan, Israel Radio…
Votes, jokes and dreams
Translated by Saed Bannoura In spite of the fatigue which wore out the supervisors of the voting process and the vote counting, some of the ballots found in the…
Resident killed in Tulkarem, two wounded
Tuesday evening, undercover military units from the Israeli army shot a resident near Al-Salaam junction in the southern entrance to Tulkarem refugee camp, two residents were wounded. A medical source…
Knesset Approves the `“Disengagement Cabinet`
The Leftist Yahad Faction and the United Arab list rescued Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in the Monday’s Knesset vote. The “disengagement cabinet†was approved with 58-56 even as the…
Sharon, Abbas to Meet in Few Days
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is planning to call Palestinian president-elect Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday to congratulate him on Sunday’s election victory. Government sources said on Monday that arrangements were…
Sharon Congratulates Abbas for his Victory
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called newly-elected Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday to congratulate him on his election victory, but dismissed reports on a likely soon meeting. Palestinian official…
Israel Peace Activist Tali Fahimeh trial began on Tuesday
The central court in Tel Aviv accused, on Tuesday morning, the Israeli peace activist Tali Fahimeh of ‘helping the enemy during war’. Fahimeh did not respond to the accusations and…
Army demands authorization to demolish 3000 homes in Rafah
The Israeli security said on Tuesday, that the army demanded the Israeli High Court to approve the leveling of 3000 Palestinian homes in Rafah, in the southern part of the…
Soldier jailed for lying during probe into the death of ISM Activist
Israeli media sources reported that the soldier who lied during the probe into the death of Tom Hurndall, the British volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement was sentenced to five…
PA Security Council to Oversee Armed Forces
According to a bill to be presented to the Palestinian Legislative Council, the newly elected President Mahmoud Abbas will be ‘supreme commander’ of PA security forces, but unlike Yasser Arafat,…
PA National Security Advisor Resigns
Palestinian National Security Adviser Jibril Rajoub resigned his post to allow newly elected President Mahmoud Abbas to implement his plans to reform PA security. ‘I recommend speeding up the combining…
Readings in the Results of Palestinian Elections
Participation: Around 41% of all allegeable Palestinian voters voted in the presidential elections, yet they constitute 71% of registered voters. In practice, the Palestinian legislative council decision to allow the…
Sharon Calls Abbas, Congratulated Him on Election Victory
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called newly-elected Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday to congratulate him on his election victory, but dismissed reports on a likely soon meeting. Palestinian official…
Knesset Approves the `“Disengagement Cabinet`
The Leftist Yahad Faction and the United Arab list rescued Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in the Monday’s Knesset vote. The “disengagement cabinet†was approved with 58-56 even as the…
Resident killed in Tulkarem, two wounded
Tuesday evening, undercover military units from the Israeli army shot a resident near Al-Salaam junction in the southern entrance to Tulkarem refugee camp, two residents were wounded. A medical source…
Sanaqra: `“We will not lay arms as long as the occupation remains`
Ala ‘ Sanaqra, the general leader of Al-Aqsa brigades in the West Bank , the military wing of Fatah, said on Tuesday that the brigades will not lay their arms…
Knesset Approves the `“Disengagement Cabinet`
The Leftist Yahad Faction and the United Arab list rescued Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in the Monday’s Knesset vote. The “disengagement cabinet†was approved with 58-56 even as the…
Sharon, Abbas to Meet in Few Days
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is planning to call Palestinian president-elect Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday to congratulate him on Sunday’s election victory. Government sources said on Monday that arrangements were…
Sharon Congratulates Abbas for his Victory
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called newly-elected Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday to congratulate him on his election victory, but dismissed reports on a likely soon meeting. Palestinian official…
Reading the Results of the Palestinian Elections
Participation: Around 41% of all eligible Palestinian voters voted in the presidential elections, constituting 71% of registered voters. In practice, the Palestinian legislative council decision to allow those who did…
Army demands authorization to demolish 3000 homes in Rafah
The Israeli Security spokesperson reported on Tuesday that the army is demanding the Israeli High Court to approve the leveling of 3000 Palestinian homes in Rafah, in the southern part…
Soldier jailed for lying during probe of death of British peace activist
Israeli media sources reported that the soldier who lied during the probe into the death of Tom Hurndall, the British volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) was sentenced to…
Solana: Israel did not fulfill its commitment to facilitate Palestinian Elections
On Monday, European Union (EU) Foreign Policy Officer Javier Solana criticized Israel for obstructing the Palestinian Presidential elections held on Sunday. Solana told reporters during his visit to the information…
PA Security Council to Oversee Armed Forces
In a new bill to be presented to the Palestinian Legislative Council, the newly elected President Mahmoud Abbas will be ‘supreme commander’ of Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces, but unlike…