US “deeply troubled” by Israel’s approval of settler building permits
Jerusalem/Washington DC, US Reuters The United States on Monday objected to a decision by Israel’s nationalist-religious government to approve the construction of around 5,700 additional housing units for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank. The United States was “deeply troubled” by the move, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters, adding that US officials […]
Essay: How Israel’s missing constitution deepens divisions between Jews and with Arabs
In an article first published on The Conversation, scholar BRENDAN SZENDRO outlines why he sees a constitution for Israel as a key to addressing the nation’s political instability…
Red Cross chief urges Israel, Palestinians to end cycle of violence
GazaReuters The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross urged Israel and the Palestinians on Wednesday to find a political solution so violence like last month’s hostilities over the Gaza Strip border might be prevented. On his first visit to Gaza in four years, Robert Mardini toured areas devasted by Israeli bombardments during […]
In Gaza and Israel, people readjust after ceasefire
GazaReuters After huddling at home during Israel’s 11-day bombardment of Gaza, the shock of seeing houses and other buildings destroyed after yet another conflict tempered Palestinian joy that this round of fighting was over. “It’s like a tsunami,” said Abu Ali, standing next to a heap of rubble that had been a 14-storey tower in […]
Netanyahu, Gaza militants fight on as Biden urges “de-escalation”
GazaReuters Israel and Gaza militants vowed to keep fighting after US President Joe Biden urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to seek a “de-escalation” on Wednesday on the path to a ceasefire in the 10-day-old conflict. An Egyptian security source said the two sides had agreed in principle to a ceasefire after help from mediators, although […]
Blinken discusses Gaza in calls with Qatari, Egyptian, Saudi foreign ministers
Cairo, EgyptReuters US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the violence in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza in phone calls with the Qatari, Egyptian and Saudi foreign ministers, the State Department said on Sunday. Blinken and Qatar’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani discussed “efforts to restore calm in Israel and the West Bank and […]
Israel air strikes kill 42 Palestinians, rockets fired from Gaza
Gaza/JerusalemReuters An Israeli air strike in Gaza destroyed several homes on Sunday, killing 42 Palestinians, including 10 children, health officials said, as militants fired rockets at Israel with no end in sight to seven days of fighting. The Israeli military said the civilian casualties were unintentional. It said its jets attacked a tunnel system used […]
Gaza conflict rages as Israeli PM says air strikes will continue
Gaza/JerusalemReuters Israel pounded Gaza with air strikes into the early hours of Sunday, destroying a tower block that housed news media organisations, while Palestinian militants fired rocket salvoes at Tel Aviv. The hostilities showed no sign of letting up as they entered a seventh day, with Palestinians saying at least 145 people have been killed […]
Fear stalks streets of Israeli city where Jews and Arabs mixed freely
Acre, IsraelReuters In the mixed Arab and Jewish city of Acre, the holiday festival of Eid al-Fitr that marks the end of Ramadan would normally see families mingling freely and taking their children to fairs and on boat rides along the coast. But fear and mistrust pervaded the Israeli port’s nearly deserted centre on Thursday, […]
Death toll rises as violence rocks Gaza, Israel and West Bank
Gaza/JerusalemReuters Israeli planes renewed air strikes in Gaza early on Saturday and Hamas militants responded by firing rockets into Israel as their battle entered a fifth night and US and Arab diplomats sought an end to the violence. Palestinian medics said at least four people were killed in one of several air strikes in northern […]