Palestinians: Agreement to hand over Jericho reached, Israel denies
Israel army Chief Moshe Ya’alon on Tuesday said that the army opposed transferring the West Bank village of Uja to the Palestinian Authority, dismissing Palestinian reportsclaims that an agreement had…
Abbas: Hariri’s assassination is a mass grief
The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday night, that the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri in Beirut on Monday is a big loss, and described…
Shinui considering supporting budget if allowed back to cabinet
Israeli Shinui party signaled to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon willingness to support the 2005 state budget in exchange to forming a secular Likud-Labor-Shinui government. {mosimage}With no progress achieved in…
Plans for resettling refugees in evacuated settlements
Palestinian Authority ministries are preparing plans for the construction of thousands of apartments in the slated for evacuation Gaza Strip settlements to resettle refugees now living in refugee camps. {mosimage}The…
Settlers’ Intifada; streets blocked, stones hurled, 11 hurt, 50 arrested
Eleven Israeli police officers were lightly hurt Monday evening in clashes with right-wing activists, who attempted to block traffic in many streets around the country, protesting against the disengagement plan.…
A unilateral exchange, not a disengagement
Israeli cabinet is called to approve both the planned evacuation of some settlements and the route of the southern section of the separation on Sunday. {mosimage}A move hat Israeli Prime…
Army will not evacuate from Jericho on Tuesday
Israeli authorities decided on Monday to delay the transfer of security control over Jericho to the Palestinian authority after differences occurred over details of the transfer planned for Tuesday. {mosimage}Palestinian…
Rage and Chaos in Lebanon Following Hariri’s Assassination
Following the Former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination in a blast earlier today, enraged supporters have taken to the streets. {mosimage}An Al-Jazeera television broadcast reported that a person had…
Abbas: `“ Israel agreed to withdraw from five areas, not cities`
The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Abu Mazin, said that the Palestinian leadership is committed to the peace process, and is ready to hold its responsibilities in the five areas which…
Abbas to NY Times: War with Israel is Effectively Over
The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was quoted Monday as saying that the war with the Israelis is effectively over and that the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is speaking ‘a…
Sharon: Evacuation of Settlements to take 12 weeks
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee on Monday that he expects the evacuation of settlements in the Gaza Strip and the northern West…
Extremist Israeli right-wingers change address to Gaza Strip settlements
The Israeli online daily Haaretz reported that dozens of Israeli right wing extremists moved recently into the Gaza Strip after changing their addresses to the Gush Katif settlement bloc. {mosimage}The…
Gush Shalom: `“Hands of Israeli leaders are also bloody`
“The Palestinians will be judged by their actions, not by their words,†Ariel Sharon declared at Sharm-al-Sheikh, does this apply to him, too?†Gush Shalom. {mosimage}The Israeli peace bloc, Gush…
MPA: `“321 Children are Still Imprisoned`
Ministry of Prisoners Affairs (MPA) reported that since the outbreak of the Intifada in September 2000, at least 3,000 Palestinian children were arrested, 321 are still in jail including 11…
Settlers clash with police at WB outpost
Settlers of Itamar in the Nablus area clashed with Israeli Border Police soldiers on Sunday morning at an unauthorized outpost adjacent to the settlement. {mosimage}Border Police officers arrived at the…
Israeli cabinet approve release of 500 prisoners
The Israeli cabinet unanimously approved the list of 500 Palestinian prisoners to be freed this week in accordance with the Sharm Al-Sheikh summit understandings. {mosimage}The cabinet made the move after…
Jericho first
Israel agreed Saturday night to transfer security control of the West Bank city of Jericho to the Palestinian Authority, an informed unofficial source said. {mosimage}According to the same source, the…
Hamas Agrees, IJ to consider cease-fire
The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas announced Saturday evening it was committed to the terms of the cease-fire agreed upon with the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. {mosimage}Hamas said that in case…
PA: Prisoners’ release’ list, disappointing
The Palestinian Prisoners Ministry described the list of 500 prisoners slated for release in the first stage of the prisoners release’ agreement, which was sent to three Israeli jails on…
MK Bishara’ vote vital to pass settlers’ Compensation bill
The Israeli Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee is scheduled to look at and vote on the penalty clauses of the settlers’ evacuation compensation bill on Sunday. {mosimage}As it stands…
Peres to meet Shas’ spiritual leader on coalition
Israeli vice Premier Shimon Peres is to meet with ultra orthodox Shas party spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef on Sunday evening, in an effort to convince him to join the…
Nativity Deportees to return to West Bank
Israel agreed to allow 56 deported Palestinians to return to the West Bank, Israeli and Palestinian officials said Saturday. {mosimage}Among them are 26 deported to Gaza and 13 deported to…
Hawatma: `“We will support Abu Mazin as long as he remains committed to national interests`
Translated by Saed Bannoura Nayef Hawatma, secretary general of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine said that the front will support Abbas as long as he remains committed…
Notes on violence
The urge towards violence is an instinct human beings inherited from the animal kingdom. Proponents of totalitarian ideologies that tolerate or even encourage violence as a legitimate means towards an…
Needed for success in the Mideast
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the Bush administration have correctly pointed that the opportunities for Israeli-Palestinian peace have markedly improved in the past few months. The success that Palestinian…
Abbas to meet political leaders Saturday
Hours before meeting their leaders, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Abbas demanded for resistance groups to honor the cease-fire agreement. {mosimage}Abbas also warned that, should resistance groups refuse to accept the…
U.S. security envoy to visit the ME this month
U.S. State department spokesman said on Friday that the American security envoy General William Ward will probably visit the region this month. {mosimage}Ward was named earlier in the week to…
Palestinian source: `“ Israel agreed to cease assassinations outside P.A areas`
A prominent Palestinian source reported Friday that Israel agreed during the Sharm Al-Sheikh summit, to cease assassinations against Hamas and Islamic jihad leaders, and other Palestinian factions. {mosimage}The source stated…
Mofaz to meet PA leaders on Saturday night
Israeli defense minister Shaul Mofaz, is slated to meet with Hasan Abu Lideh, Mahmoud Dahlan and Saed Erekat on Sunday night to discuss the handover of West Bank cities, easing…
Abbas vows strong response to cease-fire violations
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas vowed to take action against any future Palestinian cease-fire violations. {mosimage}Abbas called Fatah’s central committee for an emergency meeting on Thursday night to discuss the violations…
Settlers hurrled stones on Palestinians at a Gaza junction
Israeli Police on Friday morning arrested six settlers in the southern Gaza Strip after settlers hurled stones at Palestinians crossing the Gush Katif junction and attempted to pullout drivers out…
Sharon : `“Referendum could lead to Hatred`
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon repeated his rejection to hold a national referendum on the disengagement plan, and angrily told Likud members that he will not give in to “threats…
Army officer: Settlers tried to run me over
An Israel army officer said Friday that settlers attempted to run him down with a car overnight near the West Bank settlement of Itamar in the Nablus area. {mosimage}The officer…
Israeli HR group warns against naming Diskin as Shin Bet Chief
The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) has asked the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to rescind naming Yuval Diskin as chief of the Public Security Service (Shin Bet)…
Palestinian AG temporarily closes the `“Egyptian Cement` file
Thursday evening, Palestinian Attorney General, Hussein Abu ‘Assy, announced in a press conference that he temporarily froze the “Egyptian Cement†file, which is a case against some Palestinian companies which…
Dahlan demands Israel to release detainees imprisoned since 1993
Mohammad Dahlan, member of the Palestinian higher negotiation committee, told the Egyptian Al-Ahram newspaper that the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas will meet with Sharon in the coming two weeks in…
Israeli source: `“Israel will only practice political pressures on Palestinians`
An Israeli source reported on Friday that Israel decided not to invade the Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip, and will practice political pressures over the Palestinians, at the current…
Sharon announce Prisoners release’ committee
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced Thursday the names of the Israeli committee, which will, together with Palestinian counterparts, look into the prisoners release’ issue. {mosimage}The Israeli committee is composed…
Victim of own incitement
Israeli Attorney General Menachem Mazuz said Friday that he views harassment and violence towards elected officials and security personnel as a grave matter. {mosimage}Mazuz publicized his position one day after…
Armed men killed three in Gaza Prison
Around 50 armed men forcefully entered the Gaza Central Prison and killed three prisoners, Palestinain security soruce reported on Thursday. {mosimage}The source described the attack as criminal and said the…
Israel to Annex more lands South of Hebron
Israeli soldiers handed residents form the village of Tarama, in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, military orders to annex their family farmlands in order to erect the annexation…
PCHR: `“4 killed, including one child in one week`
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights released its weekly report which revealed that Israeli soldiers killed four residents, including a child in one week, and arrested at least 10 civilians.…
Palestinian arrested, allegedly planning bombing a bus in Jerusalem
An Israeli military source claimed on Thursday afternoon that soldiers arrested a Palestinian resident who was planning a suicide bus bombing in the French Hill in Jerusalem. {mosimage}The source said…
Bir Shiva detainees suffering of harsh conditions
The Bethlehem office of the Palestinian prisoners’ society reported on Thursday that detainees in Bir Shiva detention are suffering of bad living conditions, and deprived of their basic rights. {mosimage}Lawyer…
Hawatma: `“We will support to Abu Mazin as long as he remains committed to the national interestsâ€
Translated by Saed Bannoura Nayef Hawatma, secretary general of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine said that the front will support Abbas as long as he remains committed…
Abbas orders PA forces to end mortar firing
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday afternoon ordered PA security forces to end mortar fire on Gaza Strip settlements. Abbas affirmed his commitment to the cease-fire agreement he had reached…
Barghouthi supports cease fire
Arab MK Jamal Zahalka, visited the jailed Palestinian legislator and Fatah leader Marwan Al-Barghouthi, in Eshel detention in Bir Shiva, and discussed with him the latest developments and cease fired…
Abbas fires three P.A security commanders
Thursday afternoon, Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, fired three senior Palestinian security commanders after Palestinian resistance fired home made shells at Israeli settlements in the Gaza strip. {mosimage}The fired commanders…
Newsweek: `“Abbas is worried Hezbollah might assassinate him`
The US weekly Newsweek newspaper reported on Wednesday, that the new Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, expressed worries over his life in front of two members of the US senate. {mosimage}According…
Prisoners slated for release gathered in Ketziot
The Israel Prisons Service have begun gathering the Palestinian prisoners chosen to be released early next week in Ketziot, a Negev desert military detention camp in the south of Israel.…
Shas threatens to break coalition negotiations
Ultra-orthodox Shas party leader Eli Yishai expressed Wednesday impatience with coalition negotiations, warning that Shas might call over talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s representatives. ‘If no clear answers…
Army freezes plans for Philadelphi moat
Israeli army and security forces decided to freeze plans for a water channel along the Gaza strip borders with Egypt. {mosimage}The decision followed successful talks between Israel and the Palestinians…
Sharon promised Abbas to free more prisoners with `blood on their hands’
{mosimage}Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told Israeli newspaper Haaretz on Wednesday that he promised Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during the Sharm A-Sheikh summit that he would increase the number of…
Sharon: no referendum on pullout; will put an end to threats
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon affirmed Wednesday that a referendum on the disengagement plan will not happen. Speaking to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Sharon accused that calls for the referendum are…
Sharon to appoint Yuval Diskin as the new Shin Bet chief
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is expected to officially announce on Thursday the appointment of Yuval Diskin as the next Shin Bet security service chief. Current Shin Bet chief Avi…
Hamas demands an explicit, signed truce document
The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas is demanding a written and explicit Israeli announcement of a cease-fire vis-a-vis Palestinian resistance groups. Hamas spokesmen in Gaza and Damascus said that the wording…
Palestinian youth killed in Rafah
A medical source at Abu Yousef Al-Najjar hospital in Rafah reported that Fathi Abu Jazar, 20, died of wounds sustained Wednesday afternoon in Rafah. {mosimage}Abu Jazar was seriously injured in…
Sha’ath: ‘No promises to dismantle resistance’
After the concluding of Sharm A-Sheikh summit the Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Nabil Sha’ath stated that the issue of dismantling the Palestinian resistance groups was not discussed. {mosimage}’We…
US: `“Cease fire is a step towards disarming terrorist organization`
The US Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Adam Arly, praised what he described as the “courageous leadership†of the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon. Arly said that the Palestinian leadership needs to…
Israel to release 350 Palestinians from Desert Prison
Palestinian sources reported that 350 Palestinian prisoners will be released from the desert detention camp, Ansar 3, in the Negev desert. {mosimage}The source said that the prison administration handed a…
Peres attacked by right wingers in Sderot
Shimon Peres, in a conference, held in the Negev Israeli town of Sderot said that “the right wing in Israel cause huge damage to the state of Israel , after…
`“We dealt with Rabin, now with Sharon `
Graffiti, ostensibly written by right wing Jewish groups in Ra’nana, in Tel Aviv, threats Sharon with the same “treatment given to Rabin’, “i.e. assassinationâ€Â. The graffiti describes Sharon as a…
International Welcoming of the Summit results
The Mideast Summit held in Sharm A-Sheikh on Tuesday and joined the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas with the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon with an Egyptian and Jordanian Presence, was…
Pullout compensation bill passed by Arab MK vote
Israeli Education Minister Limor Livnat called the vote legal, but not legitimate, creating uproar among opposition groups. {mosimage}Livnat to ld Israeli army radio that she felt ‘uncomfortable’ knowing that passage…
U.S. Leans to send PA reforms’ envoy, not an overall peace one
The Bush administration is considering naming an official to help coordinate Palestinian economic and political reforms, U.S. diplomatic sources said on Tuesday. EU and other countries in the region…
Israeli Gestures limited to work permits
Following the Sharm summit, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz Tuesday approved a list of ‘gestures’ towards palestinians. With the exception of allowing Palestinian public transportation through the Gush Katif junction…
Against Sharon’s will, Shalom to lead campaign for referendum
Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said Tuesday he intends to lead the campaign for holding a referendum on disengagement; an idea that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon vehemently oppose. Shalom,…
Egypt and Jordan to return ambassadors to Israel
Jordan and Egypt announced Tuesday they were sending their ambassadors back to Israel. The announcement followed the declaration of a mutual cease-fire at Sharm Al-Shaeikh summit earlier in the day.…
Bseso: `“The summit is a positive beginning`
Sakher Bseso, member of the Fatah revolutionary council said that Sharm Al-Sheikh summit is considered a positive starting point to put the peace process back to track, and to show…
Nazzal: `“The P.A disappointed the Palestinian people`
Mohammad Nazzal, one of the leaders of Hamas, said that the Palestinian Authority disappointed the Palestinians, and not only Hamas, and that the summit did not achieve any progress to…
Israeli army invades Nablus
Tuesday afternoon, Israeli soldiers, supported by two tanks and a number of Jeeps invaded the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and detained residents and students for several hours. {mosimage}Earlier…
Israel to annex lands south of Hebron
Israeli soldiers handed residents form the village of Yatta , east of Hebron , military orders to annex family farmlands in the areas of Tal Al-Tawani, and Um Sabba. {mosimage}Moshe…
Sharm Summit: Cease-fire declared, Gaza pullout will be part of the Road Map
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon declared Tuesday they would stop all resistance and violent military activity against each other, pledging to break the four-year cycle…
Procession in support of releasing the Palestinian detainees
Thousands of residents and leader of Palestinian factions gathered in front of the Palestinian legislative Council in Gaza city in support of the Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons and detention…
Israeli High court allows the construction of the Wall north west of Jerusalem
The Israeli High Court allowed, on Tuesday, the resumption of the construction of the annexation wall, North West of Jerusalem. The new decision cancels an interim injunction freezing the construction…
Commander `“in confirm kill` scandal released
The Israeli online daily Haaretz that captain R, from the Givati Brigade at the Israeli army, who repeatedly shot a 13-year-old girl in Gaza was released from custody, but will…
Unauthorized Outposts to be removed only after Pullout
A senior Israeli security officials said on Monday that Israel will evacuate unauthorized settlers outposts in the West Bank after the implementation of the unilateral disengagement plan {mosimage}A senior Israeli…
Extreme-right faction fails to win seats in Likud secretariat
Likud secretariat election ended with a major failure for the far-right Jewish Leadership faction, as Moshe Feiglin’sm the main candidate failed to win representation, Israel Radio reported on Tuesday. However,…
Assad extends support to Sharm’s summit
According to the Egyptian daily Al-Ahram, Syrian President Bashar Assad sent a letter to Egyptian President Husni Mubarak, praising his efforts to promote peace. Egyptian media sources reported Monday that…
Bush: Praises Abbas
U.S. President George Bush said Monday that he hopes to meet with the new Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in the White House this spring. Speaking to reporters, Bush was full…
Abbas’ Truce Open, Sharon’s Conditional
According to Israeli and Palestinian sources, at the Sharm Al-Sheikh summit, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will announce a cease-fire, but Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will only promise to end…
Palestinian sentenced to 20 years in Prison
The Israeli central court in Ten Aviv sentenced of Monday a Palestinian to twenty years after convicting him of attacking three Israelis with an axe last year in Ramat Gan…
Palestinian Egyptian meeting to rehabilitate the P.A security
Palestinian officials met on Monday with the Egyptian security delegate, headed by Mustafa Al-Boheiry, deputy chief of the Egyptian intelligence, who is currently visiting the Gaza Strip. The meeting, which…
Rice: `“leveling the settlements in not a good idea`
An Israeli source said on Monday evening that the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hinted during her meetings with Israeli officials that she does not support leveling the settlements…
500 detainees to conduct hunger strike on Tuesday
At least 500 detainees in Ohali Qidar detention Bir Shiva announced on Monday evening that they will conduct hunger strike on Tuesday, in protest to the Sharm Al-Sheikh summit which…
Israel , PA to officially declare truce at summit
The Israeli online daily Haaretz reported in Monday at night that the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas will declare a “formal end to more…
Hamas, Islamic Jihad demand Abbas to consult with Palestinian factions prior to announcing truce
The Islamic resistance movement Hamas, and the Islamic Jihad stressed on the importance of discussing the truce with the Palestinian factions prior to announcing it. Mahmoud Zahhar, a prominent Hamas…
Military Court Releases soldier charged with killing Gaza 13-year Girl
The military court of the southern command’s division at the Israeli army decided in Sunday, to release a military officer charged with killing a 13-year-old girl in Rafah at “point-blank…
Bashar Assad: We Want Peace
The Syrian President Bashar Assad told the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in a letter on Sunday, ‘We want peace.’ This statement by Assad comes one day prior to the Sharm…
A New Palestinian Cabinet within 24 hours
A Palestinian political source voiced some expectations that a new Palestinian Cabinet will be announced within the coming 24 hours. The source said that some ministerial changes took place where…
Revlin to Gush Katif settlers: `“It’s over`
Members of the Israeli Foreign and Security committee met with dozens of settlers in the Gush Katif settlement bloc in the Gaza Strip, head of the Knesset, Reovin Revlin, who…
Dahlan- Weisglass understandings concerning the wanted resistance fighters
The ArabYnet news website published in Sunday the document reached between Mohammad Dahlan and Sharon’s advisor Dove Weisglass concerning the wanted resistance fighters. The Two parties agreed to transfer the…
Abbas: `“We arrived to an agreement with the Palestinian factions`
One day before the Sharm Al-Sheikh summit, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, Abu Mazen, met on Monday afternoon, with Condoleezza Rice, the U.S. Secretary of State, and announced in a press…
US to dispatch a security coordinator
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Monday that the states will conduct active involvement in the Middle East peace process, and that the states will dispatch a security…
Worries in Likud of Right-Wing take over
Some Likud ministers said they are concerned that right-wingers might take over the party, ahead of Monday’s elections for members of the Likud secretariat, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Monday.…
Rice: ‘Don’t undermine him’
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Israel on Sunday to take steps to strengthen Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, so as not to miss the opportunity created by his election.…
Egyptian Delegation in Gaza for Security Talks
The Egyptian delegation security delegation met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and senior PA security officials in Gaza on Sunday to discuss PA security needs and a comprehensive Palestinian security…
EU to push for ceasefire
The foreign ministers of Canada and France and the European Union’s commissioner for external affairs will arrive in Israel on Monday in an attempt to persuade Israel to accept a…
Israel: Hague ruling on Wall is irrelevant
The Israeli state prosecution claims the opinion of the International Court of Justice at the Hague on the separation wall was partially based on outdated information, therefore is irrelevant. This…
Al-Aqsa brigades rejects moving its fighters to Palestinian controlled cities
Ala ‘ Sanaqra, a prominent leader of Al-Aqsa brigades, the military wing of Fatah, said that the brigades’ rejects moving its fighters to Palestinian controlled cities after the Israeli army…