Egypt allows tons of building materials into Gaza

Smoke rises during an explosion from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on November 17, 2012. Egypt has allowed building materials into the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing for the first time since Israel imposed a blockade on the Palestinian territory more than five years ago. According to Egyptian and Palestinian officials, thousands of tons of cement, steel and other building materials started crossing into Gaza on Saturday. A Hamas government official confirmed that a total of 20 trucks carrying materials crossed the Rafah border into Gaza. Under the authoritarian rule of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, building … Continue reading Egypt allows tons of building materials into Gaza

Syria’s Assad fears sleeping every night in same bedroom: report

A portrait of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad burns during clashes between rebels and Syrian troops in near Aleppo. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad seems to be developing a highly cautious nature after reports revealed that he sleeps every night in a different bedroom and has restricted control over food preparation driven by his fear of being assassinated. The Syrian president who had vowed in his last television appearance to “live and die” in Syria, is now “restricting contacts to a small circle of family members and trusted advisers,” the Washington Post quoted U.S. and Middle Eastern officials as saying on Saturday. … Continue reading Syria’s Assad fears sleeping every night in same bedroom: report

US pressured Arab FMs not to visit West Bank: PA

PA Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki (C) speaks as Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi (L) and Egypt’s Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamal Amr listen on during a press conference in Ramallah on December 29, 2012. “The Americans prevented the Arab foreign ministers from visiting Ramallah.” PLO executive member Wasel Abu Yusef Palestinian Authority (PA) has criticized the US for putting pressure on Arab foreign ministers to cancel a planned visit to the West Bank. The criticism came after four Arab foreign ministers refused to accompany Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi during his first visit to Ramallah. “The Americans prevented the … Continue reading US pressured Arab FMs not to visit West Bank: PA

Bardawil: We reject the two-state solution

“Settling” constitutes a warcime according to international law and ICC statute. Even under US’ own military legislations’ Law resources below this article GAZA, (PIC)– Dr. Salah Bardawil, a leader in Hamas movement, renewed the movement’s rejection of the two-state solution if it means giving an inch of Palestinian land, also confirmed that his movement did not prevent Fath movement from the commemoration of its anniversary in Gaza. Bardawil denied in statement to Quds Press that “Hamas” has committed to a two-state solution, confirming that Hamas movement would never “give up one inch of Palestine. Regarding agreeing to a state within … Continue reading Bardawil: We reject the two-state solution

PA employees to strike this week

RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — Employees of the Palestinian Authority government will strike for two days this week, in a continuation of protests against delays in salary payments. The public sector union said Sunday it would suspend work on Wednesday and Thursday. They will then decide on the program for the following week. Government employees in the West Bank received part of their November salaries last week, but the remainder is still outstanding. The Western-backed PA has struggled with falling international donations and domestic revenues, and has had to delay payments to its 153,000 public sector workers several times this year. Since … Continue reading PA employees to strike this week

Fayyad signs deal for refugee camps to pay electricity costs

RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — Palestinian Authority premier Salam Fayyad on Sunday signed a deal with representatives of refugee camps in the West Bank to start paying electricity costs. Refugees living in the West Bank had been exempted from paying for electricity bills, and Palestinian power companies said the gap in payments was a main reason for their accumulating debts. Israel in early December seized Palestinian tax revenues and transferred the money to the Israeli Electric Company, which supplies their Palestinian counterparts. The loss of Israeli-collected revenues, around $100 million each month, put more pressure on the already struggling Palestinian Authority coffers, … Continue reading Fayyad signs deal for refugee camps to pay electricity costs

Vrees voor honderdduizend doden in Syrië

Vrees voor nog erger bloedbad in Syrië. Als er niet snel een manier wordt gevonden om de Syrische burgeroorlog te beëindigen zouden er volgend jaar wel honderdduizend doden kunnen vallen. Daar heeft de Syrië-gezant van de Verenigde Naties en de Arabische Liga, Lakhdar Brahimi, zondag voor gewaarschuwd. Als er niets aan de situatie verandert zal Syrië niet, zoals Joegoslavië in de jaren negentig, worden opgedeeld in verschillende landen, aldus Brahimi. Syrië gaat volgens Brahimi in dat geval de kant van Somalië op, met krijgsheren die de dienst zullen uitmaken en de bevolking zullen vervolgen. Sinds Brahimi in september Kofi Annan … Continue reading Vrees voor honderdduizend doden in Syrië

Israeli Policies Aim to Weaken PA, says Official

JERICHO, December 30 ,2012 (WAFA) – PLO Executive committee member Saeb Erekat Sunday said that Israel’s policies and actions such as the intensive settlement activities, especially in the occupied East Jerusalem and its outskirts, aim to undermine the Palestinian Authority. He said, during two separate meetings with the US council general Michael Ratni and Japan’s representative to Palestine, Junya Matsuura, that the withhold of Palestinians’ tax revenues, raids and arrests, blockade on Gaza, checkpoints in the West Bank, and settlers’ escalated attacks against Palestinians are directed to serve the same purpose. Erekat said that dissolving PA is not likely to happen, but … Continue reading Israeli Policies Aim to Weaken PA, says Official

Israeli-Arab politician who was on Gaza protest flotilla can stand for re-election

Supreme court rules ban on Haneen Zoabi’s candidacy for being on boat stormed by commandos is unconstitutional Hanin Zoabi arrives for the supreme court hearing, in Jerusalem. An Israeli-Arab politician who took part in a flotilla attempting to breach the blockade of Gaza in 2010 will be able to compete in the general election in three weeks after the supreme court unanimously overturned a ban on her candidacy. A panel of nine judges overruled a decision by the central elections committee to disqualify Haneen Zoabi from seeking re-election as a member of the Israeli parliament. The committee’s decision was based on her … Continue reading Israeli-Arab politician who was on Gaza protest flotilla can stand for re-election

Premier Haneyya meets with medical delegations from UK, Egypt and Indonesia

  One of the delegations pauses for a picture with Haneyya GAZA, (PIC)– Palestinian premier Ismail Haneyya received on Saturday medical delegations from Britain, Egypt and Indonesia and hailed their active role in helping Gaza people. During his meeting with the British medical delegation, premier Haneyya expressed his deep appreciation to its members for their longing to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian patients in Gaza. The premier also saluted thousands of British activists for organizing many protests in London against Israel’s violations in occupied Palestine. Haneyya also met with the delegation of Egyptian doctors and described their visit as … Continue reading Premier Haneyya meets with medical delegations from UK, Egypt and Indonesia