Waarnemers Syrië zien na één dag ‘niets beangstigends’

Een vrouw rouwt bij het dode lichaam van een familielid. Terwijl het bewind in Syrië nog dagelijks slachtoffers maakt, toonde het hoofd van de waarnemersmissie van de Arabische Liga zich vandaag optimistisch over de situatie in het dictatoriaal geregeerde land. ‘Gisteren was het rustig en er waren geen gevechten. We hebben geen tanks gezien, maar [...]

France Urges Restraint as Israeli Raids Cause Deaths in Gaza

Paris, December 28 (QNA) – France on Wednesday urged restraint in order to preserve the fragile truce between Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza. Israeli raids have caused several victims in the past few days in Gaza as Israeli aircraft made fresh sorties against the Palestinian territory. There is speculation in the area that a new [...]

Egypt Islamist party says wants to boost tourism

CAIRO: The Muslim Brotherhood’s party, leading in a parliamentary election, wants to boost tourist numbers to Egypt and will not take steps that would harm the industry, a party official told a rally in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh. The strong showing by Islamsists in Egypt’s staggered parliamentary poll has aroused fears among [...]

Peace on ice: Palestinians fix sights on global activism

With peace talks in the doldrums, the Palestinians have fixed their sights on global activism and unity between their rival factions in order to advance their cause. “We are in a ‘hudna’ (truce) until January 26,” senior Palestinian official Nabil Shaath told reporters at a recent briefing. “But this political ceasefire will end on January [...]

IDF soldiers ordered to shoot at Gaza rescuers, note says

Handwritten Hebrew note found in Gaza home may prove troops told to shoot at Palestinian, Red Cross rescuers. GAZA STRIP – “Rules of Engagement: Open fire also upon rescue,” was handwritten in Hebrew on a sheet of paper found in one of the Palestinian homes the Israel Defense Forces took over during Operation Cast Lead. [...]

PAPPE: Confronting intimidation, working for justice in Palestine 29Dec11

Demonstration in commemoration of the killing of Mustafa Tamimi, Nabi Salih, West Bank (16 December 2011). by Ilan Pappe  -  The Electronic Intifada  -  27 December 2011 If we had a wish list for 2012 as Palestinians and friends of Palestine, one of the top items ought to be our hope that we can translate the dramatic shift [...]

Israel approves 130 new settler homes in East Jerusalem

Laborers work on a construction site in the Jewish settlement of Gilo in occupied East Jerusalem on Dec. 22, 2011. JERUSALEM (Ma’an) — Israeli authorities on Wednesday approved 130 new settler homes in occupied East Jerusalem. Jerusalem municipality gave the go ahead to build three 12-story tower blocks in Gilo settlement, city councilor Pepe Alalu told [...]

Israel ‘will launch significant Gaza offensive sooner or later’

Israel Defence Forces chief of staff speaks on third anniversary of start of a major three-week Gaza assault Benny Gantz said there would be ‘no escape from conducting a significant operation’. A new Israeli military offensive against Gaza will be launched “sooner or later” and will be “swift and painful”, Israel‘s most senior military officer has warned. Benny [...]