Mofaz says army suspends targeted killings
Israeli defense minister Shaul Mofaz told Israeli cabinet ministers on Sunday that army operations against wanted Palestinians have been temporarily frozen. {mosimage}He also said that he had granted approval to…
Truce bending Assurances on Prisoners’ release
Various Palestinian resistance groups affirmed Saturday that a mutual truce is only possible if assurances for the release of all Palestinian prisoners are provided. {mosimage}Hamas and Islamic Jihad affirmed on…
Egyptian troops to secure the Philadelphi route
A senior official in Egypt told the Egyptian official news agency on Saturday, the his country and Israel agreed to sign an agreement of Thursday which enables the Egyptian army…
P.A releases DFLP officials arrested on Saturday morning
The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine said that the Palestinian security released two of its three leaders arrested on Saturday morning. {mosimage}Saleh Zeidan, one of the leaders of…
The two Palestinians Killed on Friday were unarmed
After a thorough combing, An Israeli army source said Saturday that the two Palestinians who were killed on Friday by Israeli soldiers near Neir Amm settlement were unarmed. {mosimage}The same…
PA arrests DFLP officials in Gaza Strip
Palestinian security forces arrested on Saturday three top officials of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian security forces arrested on Saturday three top…
Al-Aqsa Brigades denies ties to arms found in a kid’s bag
Israeli Army arrested 15-year-old Mahmoud Al-Tabbouk at Huwwara checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus, said was carrying a bag with two explosive belts, a hand gun and some…
Sharon’s Aid to Cairo, No Agreement on freeing Prisoners
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon top adviser Dov Weisglass, will leave to Cairo on Sunday for consultations with Egyptian officials, two days prior to Tuesday summit meeting. Israeli Prime Minister…
Israeli official: `“Abu Mazin is exactly what we were hoping for`
An Israeli source reported that a senior military official in the Israeli army told the military Radio that Israeli should be “generous with Abu Mazin since he is exactly what…
Anti wall protest in a village near Hebron
At least ten international peace activists joined on Friday hundreds of the residents of the village of Kharas near Hebron, south of the West Bank. {mosimage}Among the protesters were owners…
Israeli authorities release Mervat Taha and her child
Thursday afternoon, Israeli authorities released Mervat Mahmoud Taha, from Jerusalem, after she spent nearly three years in Israeli jails, with her baby boy Wael, who she gave birth to while…
Mashal: ‘summit, a test to Israel’s real intentions’
Translated by Saed Bannoura-IMEMC Head of Hamas political bureau, Khaled Mashal said that Hamas considered Sharm Al-Sheikh summit as a positive step which enables the Palestinians examine the real Israeli…
When Democracy becomes a pretext
The campaign against Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip and four marginal settlements in the Westbank is gaining momentum. Right-wing Zionist and ultra-orthodox religious activists are joining forces to derail…
Prison administration denies a detainee the needed treatment
Family of detainee Jawad Abdul-Latif Eshteyya, 29, from the village of Tal, west of the northern West Bank city of Nablus said that prison administration in Shatta detention rejected to…
Egypt to send Security delegation to Gaza for further truce talks
Senior Egyptian intelligence officials will arrive in Gaza on Sunday, in order to advance cease-fire talks with Palestinian resistance groups, Israel radio reported Friday. Meanwhile, the Fatah central committee expressed…
Two Palestinians killed in Beit Hanoun
Friday at night, Israeli soldiers killed two residents close to Kibbutz Nier Am, near Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip. Army claims that the two residents attempted to infiltrate…
Only Abbas is willing to take risks
Would it work? A pre-mature answer would be: ‘very unlikely’ {mosimage}The current optimism over a likely solution to the Palestinian-Israeli crisis is based on two unusual moves; an Israeli unprecedented…
Sharon: Palestinians are not doing enough to stop attacks
The Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon claimed on Friday that the Palestinians are not working enough to stop attacks against Israel, and must do more for the peace process to…
Rice won’t join Tuesday’s summit
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday she does not plan to attend next Tuesday’s Middle East summit meeting in Egypt. ‘Not every effort has to be an American…
Jordan: decision on Ambasador return to follow summit
Jordinina Foreign Minister Hani Fawzi Mulki said Friday that Jordan would hold off on deciding whether to return its ambassador to Israel until the outcome of next Tuesday’s Sharm el-Sheikh…
PLC implements proportional representation, removes women quotas
The Palestinian Legislative Council agreed to implement a proportional representation system and to remove of the quota for female legislators. The Council also agreed to increase the number of its…
Palestinian Families will lose 6000 Dunams for ‘Ariel’ Wall
Palestinian sources reported that at least 6000 Dunams (1500 Acre) will be lost from Palestinians villages in the northern West Bank for Israel to build the wall around the Jewish…
Rice Suggests to turn Palestinian Operatives on Pension
The U.S. secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice proposed establishing ‘pension fund’ for at least one thousand Palestinians who would agree to give up their weapons for the PA, Israeli sources…
Free for all
Contemplating Bush’s speeches there is the temptation to discuss words and their meanings. But Bush does not write his own speeches. Commentaries on his inaugural address of 20 January in…
Free for all
Contemplating Bush’s speeches there is the temptation to discuss words and their meanings. But Bush does not write his own speeches. Commentaries on his inaugural address of 20 January in…
Mashal: `“The Israeli position will be examined in Sharm Al-Sheikh summit`
Translated by Saed Bannoura-IMEMC Head of Hamas political bureau, Khaled Mashal said that Hamas considered Sharm Al-Sheikh summit as a positive step which enables the Palestinians examine the real Israeli…
Army patrol ambushed, Four soldiers wounded near Hebron
Four Israel soldiers were wounded Thursday night when an army patrol came under fire near the settlement of Eshkolot, southwest of Hebron. Two of the soldiers suffered serious wounds and…
Erikat: releasing prisoners serving short term only is not acceptable
Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erakat said Friday that Israel proposes to free prisoners serving relatively short terms only, but hinted that the dispute around the prisoners issue is possible to…
New Settlers’ Tactic to Oppose Pullout
A number of Gush Katif settlers are looking into forfeiting their Israeli citizenship in order to stay in their settlements even if the disengagement is implemented. {mosimage}’If it comes to…
Immediate U.S. $41 million aid to Palestinians
The Bush administration informed the Congress on Thursday it would provide an initial $41 million in aid to the Palestinians in a show of support for President Mahmoud Abbas. The…
Mazuz Vows administrative detention against Pullout Resisters
Israeli Attorney General Menachem Mazuz said Thursday that administrative detention would be increased as punishment for settlers who resist the pullout decision. Mazuz explained that Jews could be arrested if…
Pressure to hold referendum on Pullout, Mounting
Ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism (UTJ) MK Avraham Ravitz, a partner in the governmental coalition, announced Thursday that he would support holding a national referendum on the disengagement plan. Ravitz spoke…
Israeli High Court approves land annexation for bypass road to Rachel’s Tomb
Thursday, the Israeli High Court of Justice rejected a petition filed by Bethlehem and Beit Jala municipalities against the path of the annexation Wall surrounding Rachel’s Tomb. Lawyer Arieh-Cohen who…
Israeli High Court approves land annexation for bypass road to Rachel’s Tomb
Thursday, the Israeli High Court of Justice rejected a petition filed by Bethlehem and Beit Jala municipalities against the path of the annexation Wall surrounding Rachel’s Tomb. Lawyer Arieh-Cohen who…
Palestinian Policemen head to Egypt for training
42 Palestinian policemen from different security devices left to Egypt on Thursday to receive training there, in order to control the security in the Gaza Strip prior to the Israeli…
Egyptian Ambasador Might Return to Tel Aviv Soon
Israeli political sources predicted that Egypt will officially announce the return of its ambassador to Israel during the Sharm Al-Sheikh summit, next Tuesday. Israeli predicts that after the Egyptian president…
Bush vows to increase aid to the Palestinians
The American president George W. Bush pledged on Wednesday $350 million in aide to the Palestinian authority in order to support the economic and security development, in order to show…
Rightest Campaign Targetting Religious Officers
Concerns by the Israeli Army and Shin Bet are increasing regarding the series of harassment acts by extreme right-wing activists aimed at religious officers who live and are station in…
Israel to release 500 Palestinian prisoners, Strict Attitude against the ‘wanted’
An Israeli media source reported that the special ministerial committee will discuss the release of 500 Palestinian prisoners as the Israeli-Palestinian- Egyptian summit meeting in Sharm a-Sheikh approaches. In addition,…
Resident dies of wounds sustained in Beit Lahia
Dr. Moawiya Hassanen, head of the emergency unit at the ministry of health reported on Thursday, that a resident oh Khan Younis died of critical injures sustained during the last…
Dahlan: `“Truce will be under international supervision`
Mohammad Dahlan, former Palestinian security minister said that the Abbas-Sharon summit aims to specify the right basis in order to resume the peace process on solid basis. Dahlan told reporters…
Five West Bank cities to be under P.A responsibility, 500 detainees to be freed
An Israeli special ministerial team decided on Thursday afternoon a draft of arrangements with the Palestinian Authority, the draft will be presented by Sharon on Tuesday’s summit with Mahmoud…
Bush’s State of the Union , state of the ME speech
 Gglobal war against ‘Terrorism’ U.S. president George Bush affirmed advancing his global war against terrorism through fighting ‘terror groups, enhancing domestic and global security, acting forcefully against ‘tyrant regimes’…
The long waited summit – Analysis
Upoun the initiative of the Egyptian President Husni Mubarak, leaders from Israel, Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority will hold a summit meeting in the Egyptian Sharm Al-Sheikh resort on…
Summit in Sharm a-Sheikh on Tuesday
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Jordanian King Abdullah II, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will hold a summit meeting in the Egypt’s Red Sea resort of…
PA said to have destroyed arms tunnel
Palestinian security announced Thursday that security forces have destroyed a weapons smuggling tunnel Wednesday along the Gaza-Egypt border. The tunnel was destroyed by filling it with water and sand, Israeli…
Peace Now: Settlement construction continued in 2004
Despite the government’s commitment to dismantle unauthorized settlers’ outposts, Settlement and settlement outpost construction continued in 2004, according to Peace Now’s annual outpost report published Wednesday. According to Peace…
Peretz Proposes to Ayalon to run jointly in Knesset Election
Ami Ayalon, the former head of the Israeli Public Security Service, Shin-Bet, a proposal from the head of the trade union in Israel to run jointly in the Knesset elections…
Sanaqra: `“Our patience is running out, the army did not halt its attacks`
Ala ‘ Sanaqra, one of the leaders of Al-Aqsa brigades said that the patience of the brigades is running out, as the Israeli army continued its attacks, which contradict with…
Pines-Paz blasts Israeli `“racist citizen legislation`
The Israeli interior minister Ophir Pines-Paz is preparing a bill which, according to the Israeli online daily Haaretz, is meant to make it easier to grant Israeli citizenship to Palestinians…
Police Training to combat settlers’ violence
The Israeli police started training its units to effectively deal with disorder or any turbulence which might be carried out by the settlers during the evacuation. Israeli officials are currently…
Serious cuts in P.A 2005 budget
Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayyad said that the P.A might conduct serious cuts in the P.A budget in 2005 if it does not receive guarantees from the Donor Countries to…
No Majority for pullout bill
Sharon’s collation at the Knesset committee does not have the needed majority for the evacuation-compensation bill, which is needed for enabling the disengagement from the Gaza Strip and the northern…
Four peace protesters arrested, one wounded near Hebron
At least 300 Palestinians and dozens of international and Israeli peace activists protested near Palestinian owned lands in Khalayel Al-Maghribi, near Hebron {mosimage}At least 300 Palestinians and dozens of Israeli…
shells fired at Israeli settlements in Gaza
Palestinian resistance fired homemade shells at the Gush Katif settlement bloc in the Gaza Strip, damage reported in several cars, two settlers suffered of shock, according to Israeli sources. {mosimage}At…
Wanted
Palestinian Authority and Israeli security officials are engaged in hard discussions over the fate of Palestinians wanted by Israeli intelligence service. Up to recently, the hundreds of names included in…
Wanted – Analysis
Palestinian Authority and Israeli security officials are engaged in hard discussions over the fate of Palestinians wanted by Israeli intelligence service. {mosimage}Up to recently, the hundreds of names included in…
Settlement leader disrupts, ends army pullout meeting
Settlement leader and Kedumim Mayor Daniella Weiss on Tuesday disrupted a meeting for Israeli army officers at the settlement in preparation for the evacuation of four settlers outposts in the…
joint committee on wanted men
An Israeli-Palestinian joint committee, setup to deal with the cases of Palestinian resistance operatives Israel claims wanted after a cease-fire is formally announced is scheduled to meet next week for…
2000 Palestinian children arrested since September 2000
The Palestinian Prisoners Society revealed that Israeli soldiers arrested 2000 Palestinian children since the outbreak of the Intifada in September 2000. 350 child detainees were imprisoned in Telmond, Ofer, Negev,…
Tel Aviv Court indicts Danish resident of spying for Hezbollah
Tel Aviv Court indicted on Wednesday a Danish resident of Lebanese descent after charging him oh spying to the Lebanese based Hezbollah party. The court said that Eyad Al-Shua…
Army: Settlers still building in unauthorized outposts
The settlers are proceeding with construction in unauthorized outposts, including the ones earmarked for evacuation, army source reported. The army civil administration authority reported that in Givat Haroeh outpost, near…
Knesset approves a law which denies Palestinian detainees access to lawyers
Monday evening, the Israeli Knesset approved with a noticeable majority. a law which contradicts with human rights agreements and principles, by denying the detainees access to their lawyers. According to…
Canadian Jews slam lectures about `“’Israeli Apartheid Week’ in Toronto
The University of Toronto permitted an Arab students club to hold weeklong series of lectures about the Annexation Wall erected by Israel in the West Bank; Jewish groups condemned the…
Israel to bring remaining 20,000 Falashmura by 2007
20,000 Falashmura are what is left form the Ethiopian Jews slated to immigrate to Israel by the year 2007, according to a recent Israeli government decision taken on Monday. To…
Family reunion after twenty years
Translated by Saed Bannoura, February, 01, 2005 Etched into the memory of Miqdad Al-Kahteeb, Abu Mahmoud, 40, from Balata refugee camp, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus,…
Rafah Crossing Reopened
The Israeli online daily Haaretz reported on Tuesday, that the Israeli defense minister Shaul Mofaz agreed to a response by the Palestinian Authority to reopen the Rafah border crossing, in…
Steinitz:` Egypt is Preparing for Possible Military Confrontation with Israel`
Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Yuval Steinitz claimed on Monday, that Syria and Egypt are capable of striking Israeli air basis. “In spite of the peace treaty between…
Army claims Palestinian child killed in Rafah was shot by Palestinian fire
The Israeli army claimed that the Palestinian child killed in Rafah on Monday, was killed by Palestinian fire during celebrations after pilgrimages return from Mecca , and claimed that soldiers…
400 Palestinians arrested in January
A Palestinian security source reported that the Israeli army arrested since the beginning of 2005, at least 400 Palestinian in several areas in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.…
Settlers threaten to demolish Palestinian homes in the West Bank
The Israeli online daily Haaretz reported that the head of the Supreme Court in Israel Aharon Barak, issued preemptive ruling barring the “civil administration†in the West Bank from demolishing…
Germany holds up contract sale of new APCs to Israel
Israeli sources reported on Tuesday that the German Government is delaying the signing of a contract for a sale of Dingo armored cars to Israel fearing that the Israeli army…
Peres promotes a proposal regarding Palestinian welfare system
In his meeting with the U.S, State Department envoy to the Middle East William Burns, the Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres promoted a proposal to pay a monthly allowance of…
Israeli Police to Recruit Civilians to Help Evacuating Settlements
Facing the threats by the settlers council to resist the Israeli army when removing the Gaza Strip settlements under the disengagement plan, the Israeli police has been recruiting hundreds of…
Resistance to continue attacks if army continues incursions
Eight Palestinian resistance groups warned Monday night they would resume attacks against Israel in light of “the ongoing policy of army incursions into Palestinian   The eight main Palestinian resistance groups,…
Rice: There cannot be peace without viable and contiguous Palestinian state
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Monday that there cannot be peace in the Middle East unless the Palestinians attain a state that satisfies their aspirations. Rice also said…
Israel back to conditional moves
Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz Monday night told senior Palestinian security official Mohammed Dahlan that there would be no transfer of West Bank cities to the Palestinian Authority without a…
Poll: 28% of settlers support disengagement
In a poll conducted by Market Watch, upon request from the Israeli Peace Now movement, shows that 28 percent of the settlers support disengagement, including the pullout from Gaza Strip…
Abbas meets Putin in Moscow
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with top Russian officials Monday, seeking Moscow’s support in upcoming peace talks with Israel. Rusian President Vladimir Putin expressed hope that Abbas succeeds in jump-starting…
Israeli Police raids homes, offices in East Jerusalem
In a crackdown on Palestinian businesses and individuals, the Israeli police and military have raided offices, shops and restaurants whose owners or employees have ties to the Palestinian Authority (PA).…
Detainees in administrative detention, numbers and facts
At least 3000 detainees are imprisoned in the Negev detention, suffering of all sorts of hardships, yet are always under the threat of having their detention period expanded without any…
Child killed at school in Rafah, another injured
Monday at noon, Israeli soldiers killed a 10-year-old child, injured another child, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, while she was playing in the playground at a UN administered…
Sharon Continues Attempts to Expand Collation
Two months ahead the final date for approving the 2005 balance at the Knesset, the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, continued his efforts to expand his collation, and held a…
Female detainees in Telmond, harsh procedures and medical neglect
The Palestinian Prisoners Society reported on Sunday that female detainees in Telmond prison are suffering of daily hardships, medical neglect and continuous provocative acts by the Israeli soldiers. Raed Mahameed,…
Palestinian and Israeli Tourism Ministers plan to meet the Pope
The Palestinian Minster of Tourism, Mitri Abu Eita and his Israeli counterpart, Abraham Hershenzon agreed on Sunday to meet with His Holiness Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in…
Hamas, Hezbollah, to Uphold Resistance, Islamic Jihad might conditionally freeze attacks
Israeli media source reportedly said on Monday the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas and the Lebanese resistance party Hezbollah have agreed to sustain resistance against the Israeli occupation. The source said,…
$1.5 Billions arms deal between Israel and Turkey
Further discussions of security and military cooperation between Turkey and Israel are ongoing, the cooperation involves renovation of 48 Turkish air force’s F4 phantoms and 200-300 M48 Patton tanks; Turkey…
Rice to meet with Sharon’s aides on Monday
Condoleezza Rice, the U.S. Secretary of State is scheduled to meet with the Israeli PM Ariel Sharon, in talks ahead the planned meeting between Sharon and the Palestinian President Mahmoud…
Qurei: `“Palestinian factions will announce a truce within a few days`
Hasan Abu Libdeh, Palestinian Cabinet Secretary, said that the Palestinian PM, Ahmad Qurei, met on Sunday at night with Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip, and leader of Palestinian movements…
Prisoners issue among four demands from Abbas to Sharon
Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper quoted a senior Egyptian official on Monday as saying that the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will demand the release of 8000 Palestinian prisoners during his meeting with…
What is this ‘relative calm’?
When Israeli government officials report that there is ‘relative calm’ in the region, the American media line up to repeat the claim. But the reality, in almost every case where…
Massive anti-disengagement rally in Jerusalem
Tens of thousands gathered in Jerusalem Sunday evening to protest against the disengagement plan. Organizers of the protest said the number was close to quarter of a million, media sources…
Israel worried PA security in WB not ready for handover
Israel is worried that the PA security forces in the West Bank, unlike those in the Gaza Strip, have been completely debilitated in the last four years and are not…
Implementing absentee law made without AG consent
Israeli Attorney General Menachem Mazuz announced Monday the government’s decision to confiscate East Jerusalem property owned by Palestinians was made without his knowledge or consent.  Upon the request of…
Resident killed in Rafah
A Palestinian medical source in Rafah reported that the resident who was killed earlier on Sunday in Rafah was identified as Eid Abu Jreide’, 55 years old. Abu Jreide’ sustained…
Abbas Confirms Truce Deal with Factions
In an interview with the Egyptian AlSharq Alawsat newspaper, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas affirmed that a truce agreement was reached with all Palestinian resistance groups, but that he was awaiting…
How were Unauthorized Settlers’ Outposts Established
The report prepared by state prosecutor office attorney Talai Sason reveals how most of the government institutions disregarded law and allowed the emergence of more than 120 settlers’ unauthorized outposts.…
Israel Plans to Destroy Arab Neighborhood in J’lem
Israel is planning to demolish an Arab neighborhood in Jerusalem, saying that the act is necessary to “protect†the separation wall built in the area.  Amitai Levy, the Border…
PA Security to Deploy in four WB cities on Wednesday
Palestinian security forces will deploy in four West Bank towns on Wednesday, as part of Israel’s gradual transfer of security control to the Palestinians, Palestinian source reported. Forces will deploy…
Abbas Confirms Truce Deal with Factions
Translated by Ghassan Andoni-IMEMC In an interview with the Egyptian AlSharq Alawsat newspaper, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas affirmed that a truce agreement was reached with all Palestinian resistance groups, but…