- IMEMC News

In an interview to Haaretz, the Palestinian Foreign Minister Nasser Al-Kidweh warned U.S. President George W. Bush that not resolving the Palestinian problem would endanger his plans in the Middle…

The Israeli Knesset voted, on wednesday,  to establish a parliamentary committee to investigate cases of increase corruption in the government. The inquiry came upon a call by National Union party…

Israel informed the Palestinian Authority that it is prepared to discuss the possibility of releasing the fighters who assassinated the Israeli Tourism Minister, Rehavam Ze’evi, in October 17, 2001, Fatah…

 Senior Israeli military officials recommended that Israel should transfer security control over the northern West Bank city of Jenin to the Palestinian Authority before implementing disengagement, which is scheduled for…

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…

The Israeli police reported on Wednesday at night, that pullout opponents blocked segment of Tel Aviv highway, burnt tires and managed to block major traffic. “Pullout opponents burnt tires along…

More than one thousand families from the Gush Katif bloc of settlements in the Gaza Strip have signed a document expressing readiness for voluntary collective evacuation to permanent homes in…

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…

Israeli sources reported on Thursday that the Army is planning to call up some 8,000 reservists during the implementation of the disengagement plan, slated for August 15 until Mid September.…

Settlers of the Kfar Darom settlement in the Gaza Strip turned away the Director-General of the Prime Minister’s Office Ilan Cohen as he was planning to visit the settlement for…

The Israeli center for Human Rights B’tselem published a report saying that the assassination of claimed wanted Palestinians are symptoms of implementing death penalty against those people. The center reported…

Palestinian Minister of Prisoner and Ex-Prisoner Affairs, Sufian Abu Zaida, commented that Sharon is ‘trying to make the release of 400 Palestinian prisoners who were supposed to be released two…

The Knesset approved in a first reading Wednesday an amendment to the Citizenship Law meant to allow the extension of family unification restrictions. The bill allows Palestinians men over the…

Wednesday afternoon, Israeli soldiers intensified military presence in Bab al-Zawiya area, in the center of Hebron, and interrogated dozens of residents. A local source in Hebron reported that soldiers broke…

The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) reported that Jerusalem Municipality intends to demolish 88 houses in the el-Bustan area of Silwan village in East Jerusalem. The ICAHD revealed in a…

Academic institutions and Palestinian factions demanded Al Quds University President Dr. Sari Nusseibeh to resign from his position after signing an agreement of cooperation with the Hebrew University. The institutions…

It has often been assumed that the problem of Jerusalem is exceptionally difficult because of religious claims made upon the Holy City and its holy sites by members of the…

The Tuesday night meeting in the Beach Hotel in Gaza, between the Egyptian delegate and representatives of Hamas did not bring forwards any new positions except clarifying Hamas’ position on…

The highest Christian convention of Orthodox Patriarchs decided Tuesday to dismiss Jerusalem Patriarch Irineos I over responsibility for the latest major Jerusalem property deal with Jewish investors. 13 of the…

Palestinenet news website reported that Israeli soldiers informed residents of Khazza’a area in Khan Younis, who live near the Kissufim settlement road, to store food enough for twenty days. Apparently…

The al-Aqsa brigades, the military wing of Fatah, denied military reports that it dispatched two teens carrying explosives to Huwwara check post, south of the West Bank city of Nablus.…

According to the United Arab Emirates newspaper al-Bayan, the U.S. and the European Union have offered Hamas a deal to remove the group’s name from the list of terror organizations…

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…

Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister Nabil Sha’ath said Wednesday that the PA cannot organize parliamentary election by mid-July, pointing to the unsettled dispute between Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah lawmakers.…

  Translated by George Rishmawi-IMEMC {mosimage}Farouk Al-Qadoumi, chair of the Political Department of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, (PLO) says in an interview he gave to the Arab Media Internet Network…

On eve of the Wednesday Palestinian-U.S. summit, Palestinian Authority officials expressed concerns that the visit will not yield any significant achievements, Palestinian sources said on Tuesday. During his meeting with…

Tuesday at night, an Israeli military source reported that soldiers intend to break into Ansar detention, in the Negev, if the detainees do not stop their strike. The detainees are…

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Tuesday that a coordinated disengagement could signal a "new era of trust" with the Palestinians.  Addressing the audience in the AIPAC conference in Washington…

Tuesday morning, Israeli soldiers leveled a home, and three big constructions used as a farm, seed storage and electricity generators, in the village of Ithna, south of Hebron. The WAFA…

Ahead of his visit, to start on Thursday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas complained Tuesday about ’Israel’s incitement against him and its lack of cooperation with the Palestinian Authority, saying he…

Dan Rubenstein, an Israeli attorney working with the Israeli online daily Haaretz, reported that 300 Palestinians, including children, were killed near Nitzarim settlement in Gaza since the beginning of the…

Haifa District Court convicted Tuesday Alexander Rabinovitch, 22, from Haifa, of involvement in terror activity against Israeli Arab residents. Rabinovitch was found guilty of the attempted murder of MK Isaam…

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…

After the horrific story of soldiers abusing two Palestinian workers, and forcing one of them to drink the soldiers’ urine until he fainted, one of the soldiers stood in court…

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…

The high committee for local Palestinian elections declared on Monday that the elections in disputed areas will be repeated on May 31, Palestinian sources reported. According to a court ruling,…

The Central Election Committee responsible for organizing the Legislative elections held a meeting to discuss chances of holding the elections on time in light of the changes on the election…

Spokesman of the Islamic Resistance movement Hamas, Musheer Al-Masri said on Monday that the movement did not receive letters from the United States Administration and the government of the United…

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is seeking American assurances that implementation of the road map will begin as soon as Israel completes its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, Abbas, who will…

Israeli TV, channel 10 reported on Monday night, that Israeli soldiers used a Palestinian child as a human shield in the village of Doura, near the West Bank city of…

Monday afternoon, an Israeli military source reported that that a Palestinian youth was arrested near the Gush Atzion settlement bloc, west of Bethlehem. According to the army report, the youth…

With no body noticing, the problem of Palestinian refugees’ rights was solved around ten years ago. Israeli Prime minister Ariel Sharon is busy right now to save Israel the damage…

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas may decide to delay the upcoming legislative elections scheduled for July 17 for few months due to lack of preparations, Israeli sources reported. The Central Election…

Palestinian Interior Minister Nasser Yousef presented Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz with a plan for deploying PA security forces in the Gaza Strip during and after the implementation of the…

Sunday afternoon, Israeli soldiers forced dozens of families out of their homes and residency barracks in Msafer Yatta area, south of Hebron. Saber al-Hreiny, head of al-Litwani village council, which…

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…

Speaking at a meeting with American Jewish leaders in New York early Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said he refused to compromise on Jerusalem even if this will lead…

Israel will turn the Philadelphi Route along the Gaza-Egypt border over to the Egyptians if they stop Palestinian arms smuggling, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Monday during a trip…

Nine detainees held by Palestinian security forces over suspicions of involvement in a suicide bombing in Israel have begun a hunger strike to demand their release, Palestinian security officials said…

Against recent media report on a likely several months’ delay upon the request of senior army officers, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Sunday at the start of a three-day…

Sunday morning, Israeli army radio reported  that the army is ‘ready to conduct military operations in the Gaza Strip”, if the firing of homemade shells at Israeli settlements continues. Israeli…

Mossa Abu Marzouq, deputy of Hamas’s political bureau head, called on Saturday the Palestinian Authority to form a cabinet of technocrats after the Palestinian legislative elections, moving political decisions to…

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 Israeli army has postponed the collection of weapons from Gaza Strip settlers, and will reexamine at the last minute whether there is a need to do so at all,…

Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni’s bureau issued Saturday a statement explaining that the minister’s press conference of last week was misunderstood as an ultimatum. "The week-long period given the settlers…

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a statement on the weekend, saying the situation in the Gaza Strip was "under control". The statement came after four days of violence triggered by…

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…

Saturday afternoon, Israeli soldiers arrested some 30 left-wing Israeli peace activists in the southern West Bank city of Hebron. An Israeli military source reported that the activists were protesting in…

The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas demanded the US president George Bush to take a clear stance on the Road Map plan after Israel completes its Gaza Withdrawal. Abbas said that…

Palestinian resistance fighters have agreed to halt a wave of mortar and home-made shells attacks on Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian Authority official said on Saturday.Palestinian Interior…

Saturday afternoon, an Israeli military source reported that Hezbollah fighters fired machine guns at Israeli military positions in the Sheba Farms area, on the Israeli-Lebanese borders. According to the army…

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei met in Amman with the Israeli Vice-Premier Shimon Peres to discuss promoting peace efforts in the region, Israeli sources reported on Saturday. The meeting, which…

Saturday afternoon, freed Palestinian detainees protested in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, demanding that the Palestinian Authority employ them. Hamdi al-Najjar, spokesperson of the National Coalition of Liberated…

  Download MP3 (9.40 MB) | Listen to Real Audio  (9:53 min) This Week in Palestine – a service of the International Middle East Media Center, IMEMC.org, for the week of Friday…

The family of detainee Samer Nidal Issa, 20, appealed to humanitarian organizations to aid them in locating their son who was shot, mauled by military dogs, and arrested by the…

Resistance fighters in Nablus and Balata refugee camp reported that Israeli soldiers have not stopped their attempts to arrest or assassinate Palestinian fighters, despite having promised to do so as…

A local source in the camp reported that soldiers, broke into dozens of homes, conducted military searches, and arrested one resident. Also, soldiers used the home of Ammar Musallam as…

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem continue to attract the attention of Palestinians, Jordanians and Greeks alike. The decision by more than two thirds of the Holy Synod of the Church…

To the uncritical eye, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas looks like an ordinary statesman residing over an equally ordinary political reality. Nothing could be further from the truth. As I disinterestedly…

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ political honeymoon is almost over. And the results are worrisome. Palestinians gave Arafat’s heir a huge boost in the January presidential elections in which he ran…

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…

Friday afternoon, armed settlers attacked three residents in Al-Sihla square, in the old city of Hebron, and hurled stones at dozens of homes near Abraham Abino settlement outpost. The WAFA…

A medical source in Sheikh Zayed hospital, in Ramallah reported that one resident was injured in the village of Bilin, west of Ramallah, dozens suffocated after inhaling gas fired by…

A Fatah leader in Gaza harshly criticized Hamas for objecting the court ruling to throw out the results of some Gaza local councils due to voting irregularities. Ahmad Heles, a…

The newly elected city council elected Friday Dr. Victor Battarseh as the mayor of the West Bank city of Bethlehem. Eight council members voted for Battareseh, 6 voted for his…

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Friday he had no plans to postpone parliamentary elections set for July 17. "I have no intention to postpone the elections. The parliamentary elections will…

The Ministry of Local Government in Bethlehem reported that Israeli soldiers and settler groups intensified their attacks against farmlands which belong to residents of al-Khader, near Bethlehem, in order to…

Friday morning, Israeli soldiers invaded Balata refugee camp, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, wounded three residents, and arrested four including one of the wounded residents. A…

A Palestinian medical source in Dir al-Balah said that the fighter who was killed earlier on Friday, was identified as Mohammad Ribhi Baraka, 22, from Dir al-Balah, in the central…

Israeli sources reported that an agreement to start a Palestinian-Israeli academic cooperation is signed in London between the Hebrew University and Al-Quds University. The agreement is signed by heads of…

A militant group named Jundallah ‘God’s Brigades’ became first known earlier this week as it declared responsibility for an attack on an army post near the Gaza Strip city of…

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon approved Thursday Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s tax reduction plan, which the later described as ‘imperative for market growth.’ The plan is expected to be submitted…

An attack by extreme-right Jews on Haram Al-Sharif (Temple Mount) would trigger a large-scale war between Israel and the Muslim world, former Shin Bet chief Carmi Gillon told Haaretz on…

Ammunition and night-vision equipment disappeared from the army post at the West Bank settlement of Yitzhar on several occasions, senior army official told Israeli newspaper Haaretz this week. Army suspects…

Hamas announced Thursday that it objects the court ruling annulling some municipal election results in the Gaza Strip which favored Hamas. Dr. Mahmoud al-Zahar, believed to be the leader of…

Senior Israeli army officers warned Thursday that if Israel did not act to strengthen Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, ‘he’ll fall, and then we’ll have to give more abatement to Hamas,…

The Israeli security, Shabak, prevented parents of Khamees abu Aser, from Gaza, from moving him to an Egypt hospital, after sustaining a critical injury to his head. Khamees was injured as a result…

The Jerusalem Central Court sentenced two Israeli soldiers after convicting them of abusing and degrading two Palestinian residents studying at Abu Dis University, near Jerusalem. The students, Firas al-Bakri, 22,…

In a step that could cause Hamas to suffer an election blow, a Palestinian court, on Thursday, canceled some municipal results in the northern Gaza strip city of Beit Lahia.…

Israeli Defense Minister, Shaul Mofaz, issued direct orders to the army to kill any Palestinian who attempts to fire at Israeli settlements or military camps in the Gaza Strip. The…

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…

Thursday morning, three women and one child were injured, after a group of settlers attacked them in Tal Rmeida neighborhood in southern West Bank city of Hebron. A medical source…

A freed detainee from Tubas area in the West Bank described the situation in al-Ramleh detention, Ayalon branch, as a “living hell”, as a result of the repeated attacks against…

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…

Thursday morning, an Israeli military source reported that Palestinian resistance fired seven shells at Netzarim settlement in the Gaza Strip, no injuries were reported. The source stated that Palestinian resistance…

Prisoners Supporters Society in the Galilee reported that Detainee Yassin Mohammad Abdul-Khaliq Qasem has been in detention since three years after he was arrested in his parents’ home in Beit…

On Wednesday afternoon, the Palestinian Legislative Council rejected a proposal submitted by 25 percent of its members to conduct parliamentary elections totally by proportional representation, a senior Palestinian official told IMEMC. Former Minister of…

The Israeli government gave Wednesday Gaza Strip settlers a seven days ultimatum to sign up for a plan to relocate to the Nitzanim area after they are evacuated from the…

Arab Israeli Member of Knesset Jamal Zahalka complained at the office of the Israeli Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu against the ongoing utilization of the Absentees Law in east Jerusalem.…