Category: International

The Israeli Defense Ministry announced on Thursday that it wants to return to Lebanon the body of Hezbollah fighter killed two months ago on the northern border. The International Red…

Egyptian officials in Cairo denied reports that the Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak is planning to visit Israel, saying that he does not plan to leave Egypt until the end of…

   

The United Arab Emirates officially denied reports published by the Israeli media concerning opening an Israeli diplomatic mission in Dubai, and confirmed its commitment to the Arab Peace Initiative which…

The Israeli and Swiss soccer teams and the spectators were shocked to see several peace activists running into the soccer field carrying slogans in support of the Palestinians during a…

Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Israel opened recently a secret diplomatic trade mission in Dubai in the Arabic Gulf, which operates in accordance of preconditions set by the authorities…

Israeli newspaper Maariv reported on Thursday that intensive secret talks are ongoing between Jordan and Israel, to prepare for an expected visit of King Abdullah of Jordan, to Israel. High…

Chief of Egyptian intelligence, Omar Suleiman, is to arrive in Gaza on Monday for discussions with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and leaders of Palestinian factions over the Israeli withdrawal from the Rafah…

An Israeli police source reported that a Katyusha rocket was fired at the Israeli city of Eilat, while another blast apparently from rockets hit Aqaba port in Jordan, near a…

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Wednesday that Israel will be expected to carry out further withdrawals that would ultimately lead to an independent Palestinian state, Israeli sources…

An Israeli military court sentenced an Israeli Army soldier to eight years in jail after being found guilty of manslaughter for killing the British peace activist Tom Hurndall, Israeli sources reported on…

The Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip and the four West Bank settlements is not an end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian land; an Arab senior diplomat was…

Secretary General of the Arab League, Amr Mousa said that there are no new Arab initiatives for peace in the Middle East other than the one presented in Beirut, Palestine…

Amr Mousa, Secretary General of the Arab League, said on Monday that the peace initiative that was approved by the Arab summit in Beirut in March 2002 and officially confirmed…

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) announced that it will begin its process of ‘progressive engagement’ – a process that could ultimately lead to divestment – with five companies it says contribute…

Dr. Ghassan Hamadan, head of the Nablus office of the Palestinian Medical Relief, said that the Spanish authorities detained him for more than eight hours at the Madrid Airport without…

At least 65 people were killed in a series of powerful explosions that rocked the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheik early Saturday, Egypt’s interior minister said. There…

Israel denied access to a group of 130 international human rights and peace activists of the Caravan for Justice in Palestine, who tried to access the country, coming from Jordan,…

Blasts at Underground stations and on a bus caused panic in London last night just two weeks after fatal attacks that claimed the lives of 56 people and wounded hundreds.…

An informed Israeli source reported on Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon rejected an American proposal that he meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during the visit of the…

Ahmad Abu al-Gheit, the Egyptian Foreign Minister, strongly criticized Israeli officials who appose the upcoming Israeli-Egyptian agreement to deploy Egyptian forces along the borders of the Gaza Strip. Israel and…

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Saturday that the situation in the Middle East was one of the essential causes of Thursday’s London bombings. ‘The solution cannot only be security…

The General Assembly of the United Church of Christ, (UCC) decided in it 25 convention to selectively divest from companies involved with Israel’s occupation of the west bank and Gaza,…

In their summit, the G8 leaders approved $3 billion in aide to the Palestinian Authority to support the economy over the next three years. The plan was submitted to the…

Head of the metropolitan Police, Sir Ian Blair, said in the wake of the London bombing that it will be very difficult now to determine the death toll, but it…

At least 2 people have been killed in a series of explosions that rocked the British capitol of London on Thursday morning, a ccording to the BBC news website. Blasts occurred between Aldgate…

The Anglican Consultative Council, A leading body for Anglican Christians, unanimously passed a resolution to put pressure on firms that support Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories. Meeting in the central…

The Quartet called Thursday Israel to allow Palestinians freedom of movement in the territories prior to the disengagement from Gaza, Israel Radio reported. ‘Israel must take immediate steps to ensure…

Thursday morning, American diplomats were allowed to drive in West Bank areas after the US State Department changed its warning, but the officials were warned of violent settlers. The diplomats…

U.S. diplomats visit the Gaza Strip breaking 18-month-boycott following the killing of three U.S. gecurity Guards in October 2003 by a roadside bomb near the Erez military crossing.  USAID donated…

In his meeting with the Israeli vice Premier, Shimon Peres on Sunday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said if the disengagement plan is not back up by progress toward …

The United States is putting together a $3 billion international aid package for the Gaza Strip after Israeli withdrawal, according to a Friday’ New York Times report. The U.S. hopes…

U.S. secretary of state Condoleezza Rice told Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz that the U.S. expects Israel to make more goodwill gestures toward the Palestinians in the coming days. During…

Israeli sources reported U.S. security of State Condoleezza Rice has arrived in the country early Saturday.  The source said that Rice is en-route to Ramallah as she is scheduled to…

In a move described as a political-strategic turnaround with respect to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the European Union decided to renew low-level talks with Hamas, Israeli sources reported. The EU has…

Israel must transfer control over the Rafah crossing to the Palestinian Authority, and allow regular passage of people and goods between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, a position…

The US Congressional House International Relations Committee, on June 8, approved a bill that calls for specific reforms at the United Nations. Congress demanded the United Nations General Assembly to…

Egyptian presidential spokesman Suleiman Awad said on Monday that Israel was dragging its feet in handing over three West Bank cities to Palestinian security control, as agreed in a Palestinian-Israeli…

Primary results for the Parliament elections in Lebanon show that the coalition of Hezbollah and The Shiite Amal movement, swept most of the seats in the southern Lebanon area.  …

American officials expressed concerns over Hamas’ electoral rise in the Palestinian areas saying this poses a dilemma in defining ‘terrorists.’ Hinting that U.S. funding will be affected if Hamas wins…

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to visit Israel as well as the Palestinian areas around June 18, almost two months ahead of the intended pullout from Gaza Strip…

The Israeli Ynet news website published documents which showed that the US government estimated that Israel was misleading it and acting to acquire nuclear armaments. The documents show that the…

Israeli military sources were quoted as saying that Syria has test-fired Scud missiles last Friday, the New York Times reported. The military source also claimed one of the missiles broke…

In a two-day meeting opening, European Union foreign ministers and their counterparts from Arab countries and Israel debated political and economic cooperation between Europe and the Middle East. Observer described…

The U.S. Justice Department is expected to file indictments against two former senior American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) staffers – Steve Rosen and Keith Weissman. According to sources in…

According to Israeli media sources, U.S. President George Bush told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that if the Palestinian Authority (PA) disarms Palestinian resistance groups, he would pressure Israel to dismantle…

Canada pledged, on Saturday, $9.7M aid to the P.A which to be used in housing projects, scholarships for Palestinian women living in Lebanon, and to improve the situation in the…

The United Nations labor agency said Friday that unemployment among Palestinian workers had hit a peak of 224,000 during the year 2004, indicating that approximately half the Palestinian population still…

The U.S. administration, in response to concerns expressed Friday by Israeli officials over pledges made to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, clarified that the United States has not changed its position…

The Association of University Teachers (AUT) voted on Thursday to end its boycott of two Israeli universities, put in place last month, a step described as a victory to the…

Israeli sources said on Thursday that the U.S. administration will not push the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to disarm resistance groups until after the Palestinian parliamentary elections are over. Abbas…

Leader of the Lebanon based Hezbollah party, Sheikh Hasan Nasrallah, said on Wednesday that his party owns 12000 rockets capable of hitting “every area of northern Israel”. “Every area in…

Amnesty International accused Israel of war crimes and crimes against humanity in an annual report published Wednesday morning. The report revealed that during the past year, Israeli army soldiers have…

U.S. President George W. Bush will insist that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas dismantle all “terrorist” networks in Palestinian areas, said U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.   "The president will…

An Egyptian security delegation arrived on Monday to the Gaza Strip to meet with leaders of the Palestinian factions to preserve the deteriorating calm declared in the Cairo talks in…

United States’ first lady, Laura Bush visited the Haram Al-Sharif area in Jerusalem despite discomfort by Palestinian officials, for such a move. Bush who is the U.S.’s new goodwill ambassador…

According to United Arab Emirates’ newspapers, Senior Hamas and Hizbullah leaders received official letters from the U.S administration and British government. According to the Al-Bayan Saturday edition, the U.S. sent…

The U.S. administration is divided on what sort of gesture to offer to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is scheduled to meet with President George W. Bush on Thursday at…

Jordan and Israel announced Friday that they will jointly participate in a European-Mediterranean trade system that will allow the both countries to boost duty-free exports to Europe. Israeli Deputy Prime…

The U.S. government intends to replace traditional diplomacy conducted through U.S. embassies with an interventionist foreign policy that focuses on political and economic reform, Robert Zoellick, the U.S. Deputy Secretary…

U.S. government investigators are focusing on conversations that two top American Israel Public Affairs Committee staffers allegedly had with a Washington Post reporter and an Israeli diplomat Apparently, the investigation…

Kieran Prendergast, undersecretary-general for political affairs at the UN, warned of the increasing violence in the Palestinian territories, urging the Palestinian Authority to ‘end all violence acts”, and called on…

Israeli army soldiers delayed for five hours former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad at a border crossing before allowing him to enter the Palestinian areas, sources at the former leader’s…

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said following his meeting with the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Tokyo that Japan will give USD 100 millions, additional funds to the Palestinian Authority.…

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has begun questioning reporters who had contact with Pentagon official Lawrence Franklin, who has been charged with disclosing classified information to officials of the…

The U.S. Episcopal Church, considering a review of investments in companies that do business with Israel. A church fact-finding team, who recently visited the West bank, came back deeply disturbed.…

The foreign ministers of the European Union’s three biggest powers, France, Britain and Germany sent a strongly worded letter to Hassan Rohani, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, warning that resuming nuclear…

The first South American-Arab summit gave support for the Palestinians in their fight for an independent state and called for dismantling all Jewish Settlements and the Wall built in the…

Israeli sources reported on Wednesday that teams of diplomats from the U.S. and the U.N. are drafting proposals for understandings upon which Israel withdraws from the occupied Shiba Farms, if…

Representatives of the quartet, who met Monday in Moscow, emphasized the need to step up diplomatic efforts in the coming few months to cease the opportunity created by the emergence…

Former general and interim Prime Minister Michel Aoun returns to Lebanon after 15 years in exile. Anti-Syrian leader Michel Aoun returned to Lebanon Saturday to the cheers of thousands of…

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati told reporters Friday that he does not consider Hezbollah to be a militia, but vowed to disarm the party that drove Israel out of southern…

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan named on Friday Peruvian diplomat Alvaro de Soto as his special envoy to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, replacing Terje Roed-Larsen. de Soto will also serve as…

The United Stated blacklisted on Wednesday a charitable organization which it described a ‘front of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’, which said that it ‘needed a safe channel to transfer donations…

U.S. Pentagon analyst Larry Franklin was formally charged Wednesday with passing classified military information about Iraq to two former officials of the pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC. Franklin, 58, an analyst…

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal said on Wednesday that his country managed to get the U.S. President George W. Bush to slightly support the Arab initiative for peace in…

A day after returning from a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Turkish lawmakers on Tuesday that “Palestinians should not be left…

An American official source said the United States administration is pressuring the Europeans to reject the idea of holding an international peace conference on the Middle East proposed by the…

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who arrived Sunday to Israel, expressed desire to play a role in the peace process, and proposed setting up a Turkish-Israeli-Palestinian working team to…

Nine people were injured Saturday in Cairo during a double terror attack carried out by a suicide bomber, his fiancée, and his sister. Ihab Yousri Yassin, who is believed to…

{mosimage}UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Friday that he was happy with the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, but made note that Security Council resolution 1559 requires the disarmament of militant groups.…

During his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Jerusalem on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Israel to support Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, rather than put pressure…

The U.S. Pentagon notified Congress on Tuesday of a proposed sale to Israel of 100 guided bunker-busting bombs, a move that could prompt concerns about a unilateral Israel strike against…

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Jerusalem. Sharon, at the close of the meeting, expressed happiness that Putin had chosen to visit Israel…

The United Nations Secretary General Kufi Anan called Damascus and Beirut to cooperate with the team deployed to ensure the full withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon. Anan demanded his…

Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah urged Monday U.S. president George Bush to help advance a broad settlement of the Middle East conflict that would call on Israel to withdraw from Arab…

Amnesty International called on Israel on Monday to take action against West Bank settlers who have been poisoning Palestinians’ livestock. In an issued statement, Amnesty said that over a period…

Lebanon’s security chief Jamil al-Sayyed submitted his resignation on Monday, hours before the last Syrian military and intelligence forces were due to leave the country. ‘Security chiefs are usually appointed…

A proposal submitted by U.S. Senator Sam Brownback called on the International community and the Arab world to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in both of its eastern…

The last Syrian soldier will leave Lebanon on Sunday after 29 years, a senior Lebanese military officer said. Syrian troops vacated Saturday 10 positions in the northern part of the…

Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah hinted Friday his group might be forced to kidnap Israel soldiers to win the release of three Lebanese prisoners held by Israel. ‘When we fail…

Delegates of the United Kingdom Association of University Teachers, meeting in East Bourne England, voted Friday to boycott two Issraeli universities, Haifa and Bar Ilan. Delegates belonging to the leading…

‘My name is Rachel Corrie’ is the title of the play running in London’s theaters tracing the journey of Rachel Corrie from comfortable American home to death in a Gaza…

‘SA-18 missiles will of course make it difficult to fly over the residence of the Syrian president,’ Russian President Vladimir Putin told Israeli TV channel one ahead of his next…

Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General of the Lebanese resistance party Hezbollah that the United Nations’ demand to disarm the militias in Lebanon is irrelevant to Hezbollah because it is not…

The American Administration has agreed to give Israel a 3 billion-dollar financial guarantee until 2008 to assist the implementation of the disengagement plan, Israel Radio said Wednesday. Israeli delegates met…

Last Monday, French President Jacques Chirac told Israeli vice Premier Shimon Peres that Israel should offer Palestinians a political horizon. French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier proposed hosting an international conference…

Many things need to be reformed in the United Nations, said U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. ‘The United Nations can not continue to be a vital power if it…

Following decades in which western democracies have backed oppressive regimes in the Middle East and focusing efforts on backing authorities and secular elites, both the U.S. and the EU are considering closer…

U.S. defense officials said Friday the United States has stooped Israel’s involvement in the development of the biggest warplane program ever, because of Israel’s arm deals with China. ‘There are…