Category: Diplomacy

Sources in the ruling Palestinian Hamas party said on Saturday that prisoner swap talks between Israel and the Palestinians have reached a dead end due to the Israeli rejection of…

Major General, Alain Pellegrini, head of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), stated on Friday afternoon that Israeli had lifted the sea blockade over Lebanon. The Israeli government…

While continuing construction on the massive concrete Wall and series of electric fences and trenches in the West Bank and Gaza, Israel is now announcing the construction of another massive…

Arab members of Knesset, Jamal Zahalka and Wasal Taha, members of the Balad Faction in Israel, headed to Damascus on Thursday for meetings with the Syrian leadership. Israel considered the…

Cluster bombs, manufactured mainly in the United States and in Israel, are small bombs that splinter into many pieces, raining shrapnel upon an area 2-3 kilometers from where the bomb…

In an ad today in al-Ayyam newspaper, a group of independent Palestinians published a letter stating, "We, the signatories… notables, intellectuals and political figures declare that Tony Blair [the British…

Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, said during a press conference in Haifa that Israel should hold direct talks with the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, adding that direct talks will enable…

The President of the European Union (EU) announced in a statement Wednesday evening that Israel should commit to restarting the Middle East peace process by freeing the dozens of Palestinian…

Israel will lift the air and sea blockade imposed on Lebanon at 6 p.m. Thursday after receiving international assurances over an arms embargo on Hezbollah, the prime minister's office said.…

Gerry Adams, the head of the Irish Sinn Fein party and a key player in the 'Good Friday' agreement that secured peace in volatile Northern Ireland in 2000, arrived in…

In an interview with London's Financial Times on Tuesday, Mohammed Khatami, former president of Iran, said that if the Hamas-led Palestinian government were to agree to a two-state solution with…

Israeli Vice Prime Minster Shimon Peres said Tuesday that once the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is released, the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, would start talks with the Palestinian…

Israeli Vice Prime Minster Shimon Peres said Tuesday that once the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is released, the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, would start talks with the Palestinian…

In the middle of the conversation in the spacious CEO's office at the Palestinian National Beverage Company in Ramallah 10 days ago, Zahi Khouri's mobile phone danced on the table.…

Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, said on Tuesday that progress has been made in the issue of a prisoner swap deal for the release of the captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit.…

After its 34-day war with Lebanon, in which Israeli forces killed an estimated 1,000 civilians, the Israeli government has been taking a good deal of criticism internationally.  One of the…

Head of Security Committee at the Palestinian Legislative Council, and a senior Fateh leader, Mohammad Dahlan, headed to Egypt for talks on a possible prisoners swap deal with Israel. Dahlan…

A spokesperson of the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, said on Saturday that a Palestinian National Unity Government might be formed in ten days. Meanwhile, Abbas met in Gaza with the…

The government of Israel claimed that it sent its troops to war against Hezbollah in Lebanon seven weeks ago after the militant organization had crossed the border onto Israeli territory…

A Saudi Newspaper, Okaz, reported that a senior Arabic source said that an Israeli security delegation is currently visiting the Egyptian capital, Cairo, to discuss a possible deal for the…

Israeli sources reported that German security officials are expected in Beirut this week in an attempt to mediate between Hezbollah and Israel on a prisoner swap deal. Israeli online daily…

Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, met on Wednesday with the UN  secretary-general, Kofi Annan, and said that Israel will not end its air and sea blockade over Lebanon until “all…

After visiting Lebanon, United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, arrived in Israel on Tuesday afternoon, for talks to strengthen the fragile truce that ended the 34-day war between Israeli and Hezbollah.…

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan visited U.N. peacekeepers in south Lebanon on Tuesday, a day after Italy and Turkey moved to join the international force there. Annan and his entourage left…

The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) displayed new footage and photographs Monday of missing Israel Air Force navigator Ron Arad, who disappeared in 1986 when his plane was shot down over…

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived in Beirut Monday to start a tour that aims to strengthen the cease-fire in Lebanon saying that it was "a very critical time" for…

Fateh party spokesperson in the West Bank, Fahmi Al Zarir, condemned Israel’s continual targeting of Palestinian journalists. Although the latest attack came in the early morning hours in Gaza City,…

Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Abul Ghait and Pakistan's United Nations representative Imtiaz Hussain both made statements Friday tying violence in the region to Israel's occupation of Palestine.  Said Hussain, "Clearly,…

Hundreds of Israeli army reservists marched in Jerusalem today calling for the resignation of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert due to what they see as mis-handling of the war in…

Dozens of armed Palestinians blew a large hole in the wall between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on Thursday.  Angry gunmen gathered near the Rafah Crossing and detonated a large…

A few hours after drawing international concerns over its violation of the UN-brokered end of hostilities with Lebanon, Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz and others said recently that they are…

On Wednesday, ‘s acting ambassador, who currently chairs the Arab Group at the United Nations, formally requested that the U.N. Security Council hold a ministerial meeting in September to launch…

For the first time in the history of Palestine, a 40-hour work-week with a two-day weekend has been declared by the Hamas-led Palestinian government.  The declaration comes in the midst…

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul On Sunday night at the Presidential Offices in Ramallah to discuss the latest development in the Palestinian areas. Particularly…

There was concern at UN headquarters that the reinforcement of UNIFIL and deployment of the international force in South Lebanon are on the verge of collapse. Senior UN officials warned…

Twenty Israeli army reservists, and families of soldiers killed in the course of war against Lebanon marched on Monday demanding a national investigation into the war against Lebanon, and demanding…

The Lebanese government, in an unprecedented move, has warned Hezbollah against violating the UN-brokered truce. In an implicit warning to the militia, Elias Murr, Lebanon’s defence minister, said on Sunday…

As UNIFIL is seeking to add 3,500 troops to its existing  2,000-strong contingent within 10 days,  the United Nations was urging European countries Friday to  provide troops for the peacekeeping…

Contary to the leading opinions of the American-European politicians and media, the main aim of Hamas in calling for the "destruction" of the State of Israel, is not to kill…

Hamas has insisted on keeping the post of prime minister and other key jobs in a possible new coalition government with the Palestinian president, according to the Islamist group’s officials.…

As public preoccupation with the war between Hezbollah and Israel is receding, the Israeli media is devoting increasing attention to a series of sexual and financial scandals involving top Israeli…

After days of deliberations, the Lebanese cabinet and Hezbollah representatives agreed that Hezbollah members would not have to disarm, but must avoid carrying weapons in public.  Although this decision violates…

In answer to the question, "How can pressure be exerted on Hamas and Hezbollah to release information on kidnapped Israeli soldiers in their possession?", the Minister for Jerusalem Affairs, Jacob…

There was nothing new about the broad objective behind Israel’s war on Lebanon: through the destruction of Hizbullah it was to wreak fundamental change in a strategic, political and military…

As Israeli troops continue their withdrawal from southern Lebanon, Defense Minister Amir Peretz has called for an investigation of Israeli actions during the war, amidst widespread allegations of war crimes…

The Palestinian daily newspaper Al Ayam reported on Thursday that senior Hamas officials presented president Mahmoud Abbas with the movement’s terms for the formation of a Palestinian National Unity Government.…

Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, said on Thursday that Fateh and Hamas movements have agreed to reinstate the temporary cease-fire with Israel. He added that this decision also includes other Palestinian…

While a continued ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is reliant on the quick deployment of a peacekeeping force and the withdrawal of Israeli soldiers, the Lebanese army has neither the…

Ghazi Hamad, media spokesperson of the Palestinian Government, reported that the two meetings between the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyya, agreed in principle to hold further…

Israel has started evacuating its forces from southern Lebanon as 1000 paratroopers dropped on Saturday at night and were hiding in the mountains, starting marching back to Israel in planed…

His Eminence Sheikh Taysir Al Tamimi, Chief Justice of the Supreme Judiciary, hosted a delegation from the World Council of Churches in his Jerusalem office. Sheikh Al Tamimi briefed the…

Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon, tonight claimed a "strategic and historic victory" over Israel as the first day of a ceasefire in the Middle East crisis…

Guns fell silent across southern Lebanon on Monday morning as a United Nations ceasefire halting Israel’s month-long war against Hezbollah came into effect, Lebanese security forces say. Half an hour…

"There was never an agreement more favorable to Israel,” said Israeli defense minister Amir Peretz about the United Nations (UN) ‘ceasefire’ agreement.  Such words sound ominous to the ears of…

It had been reported that the agreement between the prime ministers of Lebanon and Israel has been reached to stop the hostilities by Monday, August 14.  As part of the…

The Indonesian Government has sent financial aid to victims of the Israeli occupation in Palestine, said Financial Minister Dr.Sri Mulyani Indrawati on Friday, the Indonesian National News agency (Antara) reported…

The Lebanese government has maintained its position that the US-French draft Security  Council resolution must contain certain provisions that would ensure a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict, before it…

Israeli tanks and troops in southern Lebanon have retreated and regrouped in Marjayoun, the only town in southern Lebanon that Israeli forces have managed to hold on to, while a…

Sheikh Hasan Nasrallah, leader of the Lebanon based Hezbollah party, said in a televised speech on Wednesday evening, that his party will continue to fight and that it backs the…

After the capture of the Palestinian Legislative head Dr. Aziz Dweik by Israeli forces this weekend, adding to the eighty Palestinian government officials already being held without charge by Israel…

{mosimage)Hundreds of people from the Palestinian and Arab community in marched in solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese people yesterday in the capital city of Lima in South America. Not…

In protest at the Israeli attacks against , has canceled a deal with Israel Aircraft Industries to upgrade aircraft, Israeli sources said on Tuesday. The cancellation of this deal is…

The European football governing body, UEFA, decided on Monday to bar Israel from hosting international soccer matches until further notice, as a result of violence in the region. The UEFA…

The President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, citing  the Israeli brutal war on the Lebanese people has decide to withdraw the Venezuelan ambassador to Israel. He said: "It really causes indignation…

"If you want to fight like an army, we will fight you army to army – but if you continue to hit our cities, killing innocents, we will strike back…

After an Israeli airstrike hit a house in Qana, Lebanon Sunday, killing 56 Lebanese civilians, including 38 children, Israeli military spokespeople attempted to excuse their targeting of civilians by saying…

Palestinians living in exile have united to urge Palestinian and Lebanese leaders to resolve the current conflict in the region. The Palestinian citizens sent letters to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas…

Tehran Post reports that Iran’s Defense minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar claims that the nuclear disarmament of the Israeli force would be the best way to establish lasting peace and security…

"We are fighting against murderous terrorists and the war will not stop until we clear them from the border.  The fighting continues. There is no ceasefire and there will not…

"By Wednesday we are going to establish a two-kilometer (one-mile) wide ‘security zone’ in which there will be no  infrastructure or sign of Hezbollah’s presence," Israeli army operations chief General…

Israeli forces pulled out of the Lebanese border town of Bint Jbeil yesterday on the 18th day of the Middle East crisis.  Israeli troops had raided the Hizbollah stronghold, 2.5…

Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyya, expressed shock over “the Israeli crimes against the Lebanese people”, and demanded the International Community to impose sanctions on Israel after the army killed 58…

Israeli sources reported that the United States Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, headed to the Middle East in order to hold talks with the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, to…

After Israel’s declaration that its decision to continue its assault on Lebanon had been endorsed by the 15-nation summit in Rome earlier this week, Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, whose…

Condoleezza Rice, the secretary of state, visiting Beirut and Jerusalem. proposed sending the Lebanese army along the border with Israel, backed by an international force to stop rocket attacks by…

Al-Jazeera reports that Hamas leader, Ismail Hanya, urges “moral stance” from US. "All that we ask the American administration is to take a moral stance towards the Palestinian people, and…

Condoleezza Rice has put the blame on Hezbollah for the crisis with Israel and said a cease-fire would only be possible if two kidnapped Israeli soldiers were freed.   "Any…

American marines arrived at the Beirut shore to evacuate the remaining American citizens from Lebanon, while those Lebanese unable to evacuate are facing shortages in food and medicine, according to…

In an interview with the pan-Arab satellite television channel "Al Jazeera", the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, denied the Israeli reports that 50 percent of Hezbollah’s military force have been…

Israeli air power alone is capable of damaging Hezbollah but not of defeating the Lebanese resistance movement, leaving Israel with a choice of a ground offensive in southern Lebanon or…

Despite Koffi Annan’s statement to the Security Council which reflect the deep-seated international unease about the human cost of ‘s aerial onslaught on Lebanon, Israeli warplanes continued their bombardment yesterday,…

Israel has rebuffed a UN call for an international monitoring force to be deployed in Lebanon as it continued to attack the country.   Kofi Annan, the UN secretary-general, had…

The Ramatan news agency reported, on Monday, that Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyya, said on Monday that the aim of the Israeli military attacks in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon…

An Israeli soldier, captured June 25th by Palestinian resistance fighters in Gaza, was the original impetus for an Israeli invasion that has resulted in the deaths of over 100 Palestinians…

Protesters Blockade Brighton Warmongers, EDO MBM, to Prevent Production of Weaponry for War Crimes In the early hours of Monday morning protesters erected two roadblocks outside each gate of EDO…

The Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s effort to free three captured soldiers (one in Gaza, two in Lebanon) has become a broad campaign to alter the strategic balance of the…

The Catholic organization Pax Christi has backed a report from the group ‘War on Want’ which has highlighted the role of companies like Tesco, Sainsburys, Waitrose, Connex and Caterpillar in…

"We are highly disappointed and frustrated at the council’s continued inability to act while innocent Palestinian civilians continue to be brutally killed by the Israeli occupying forces," said Ryad Mansour,…

The Hezbollah resistance movement made a statement Thursday saying, "The Islamic resistance will bombard [the northern Israeli city of] Haifa as soon as the Israeli aggression reaches Beirut or the…

On Tuesday Qatar circulated a revised draft of United Nations Security Council resolution demanding the unconditional release of a captured Israeli soldier as well as ‘s immediate withdrawal from Gaza.…

The Arab American Institute slammed an Israeli decision to bar Arab Americans of Palestinian descent from entering the West Bank and Israeli lands, calling on President Bush’s government to intervene…

After Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh’s call on Saturday for a cease-fire, Israeli leaders responded with an increase in the intensity of their invasion of Gaza, saying the incursion could…

There are conflicting reports from the media as well as spokespersons from both parties as to whether Israel has accepted a broad-based deal offered by Hamas to end the crisis…

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyya offered a peace proposal for the current standoff with Israel late Saturday, an offer that Israeli authorities flatly refused.  Over 40 Palestinians have been killed by…

In a statement to the United Nations (UN) Security Council on Friday, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan urged the Council to take a stand on the ongoing Israeli incursion into…

The following paid advertisement was signed by 300 Jews in Britain and placed in The London Times on July 7: WHAT IS ISRAEL DOING? A CALL BY JEWS IN BRITAIN…

Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, issued a statement on Friday, directed at the Israeli public and the family of abducted soldier Gilad Shalit, saying that the administration of the Israeli Prime…

Palestinian Legislator, and head of the committee of internal affairs and security at the Legislative Council, Mohammad Dahlan, said on Friday that the Israeli attacks against the residents of the…

Secretary General of the Arab League Amer Mousa pledged $50 Million US dollars to the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority during a joint press conference in Cairo Tuesday with Nabil Shaath, aide…

The Israeli Minister of Justice Haim Ramon warned Monday of a harsh military response in the Gaza Strip if a captured Israeli soldier is harmed by his Palestinian captors, saying,…