All Stories Archive

The European Union and Russia have called for an end to support for armed groups in Syria, saying that they endanger regional stability. EU Foreign Ministers demanded on Monday that all parties involved in providing such support should call a halt to helping armed groups that are active in...

Nine Palestinian inmates at Israel's Ashkelon Prison were wounded on Monday night when security forces swept through their rooms before transferring them to cells, it has been revealed by the Palestinian Prisoners' Club. All of the prisoners were treated badly, a club statement alleged. In response to the resistance...

In today's edition, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz revealed that six Western countries are attempting to fortify Israel's position within the UN Human Rights Council, in order to prevent its condemnation. The newspaper reported that it had received a copy of a letter sent by the ambassadors of six Western...

The head of the Palestinian Authority (PA), Mahmoud Abbas, has asserted that the PA will continue with the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations on schedule, despite the fact that Israel is expanding its settlement projects in the occupied Palestinian territories. In an exclusive interview with Agence France-Presse, Abbas said: "We are committed...

Exclusive Images The Palestinian transportation ministry installed on Monday 15 seaport lights along the Gaza coast used by fishermen. An Italian activist group called "Not to be forgotten" sponsored the project, which was carried out by technicians from the transportation ministry. The lights are supplied with solar plates. Transportation...

Israeli warplanes carried out on Wednesday night a series of airstrikes against the Gaza Strip, leaving dozens of Palestinian children traumatised. Witnesses said that several sites throughout the Strip were targeted last night by Israeli F16s. Most of the strikes targeted empty areas, but were still close to residential...

Syria's permanent representative to the UN, Bashar Al-Ja'afari, has stated that his country refuses to recognise a resolution on human rights in Syria that Saudi Arabia submitted to the UN General Assembly's Third Committee, which focuses on human rights. Al-Arabiya news quoted Ja'afari yesterday as saying that "armed (takfiri)...

Palestine's Governmental Employees' Union has denounced a Palestinian Authority decision on the cost of living allowance, saying that the government has "declared war on the law". The PA cabinet has said that it will only pay the cost of living allowance to its employees for October, November and December...

The vast gas reserves discovered in waters claimed by Israel in recent years may transform the state into a major gas exporter. The government sees a promising future, whilst the opposition warns of a possible economic catastrophe. Is Israel on its way to becoming an economic empire through the...

A court in the UAE has jailed a social media user for two years for publicly criticising a recent political trial on Twitter, activists announced on Tuesday. The activists identified the Twitter user as Waleed Al-Shehi and added that he was also fined 500 UAE dirham ($136,000). One of...

The Deputy Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) has said that the ongoing peace talks hinder the prosecution of Israel for its crimes, especially through the International Criminal Court for the assassination of Yasser Arafat. Hassan Khreisheh told Al Ghad news that the Palestinian leadership is committed to...

Deputy Leader of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan Zaki Bani Rasheid has warned that "dissolving the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan is a miscalculation that would have negative outcomes and consequences." Bani Rasheid noted that some mass media, in the wake of what happened in Egypt, have started to incite...

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the deal to destroy Syria's chemical weapons arsenal as a "model" that must be followed when addressing Iran's nuclear programme. In a joint press conference at the Kremlin with Russia's President Vladimir Putin, Netanyahu said that this approach would be "a peaceful and...

The head of the Palestinian Authority (PA), Mahmoud Abbas, has cited World Bank reports suggesting that Palestine's economy annually loses billions of dollars as a result of the occupation, which prevents full access to the Palestinian territories and its natural resources. During his speech before the Third Arab-African Summit,...

Arab student groups at the Hebrew University demonstrated on Wednesday evening against the Prawer Plan, which is aimed at Judaising the Negev and expelling Arabs from their own villages. The organisers of the demonstration said that their action is part of an escalation of activities ahead of the "Day...

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman called on Wednesday for Israel to find new allies in light of his country's "deteriorating" relations with the US, according to an Israeli newspaper. Yedioth Ahronoth reported Lieberman observing that: "Our relations with the US are continuously deteriorating… Therefore, Israel has to start searching...

The Bedouin village of Al-Araqeeb in the occupied Negev region has been destroyed by the Israeli occupation forces for the 61st time. Local Palestinian sources said that bulldozers protected by a heavy police presence were used to knock homes to the ground. "This time, the Israeli forces also uprooted...

EXCLUSIVE IMAGES James Rowley, the UN's Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs in the Palestinian Territories, visited Gaza this week and is warning that the Strip is currently facing an urgent crisis as a result of the Israeli blockade and the closure of the tunnels between Gaza and Egypt. Rowley said...

Turkey's Department of Defence has announced that between 613,000 and 715,000 landmines have been planted along the Turkish-Syrian border. Turkish Defence Minister Ismat Yilmaz told Jihan News Agency that: "1,734 mines have already been removed," pointing out that Turkey stopped planting landmines in 1998 and started activities that same...

Al-Aqsa Foundation for Religious Endowments and Heritage has revealed that several Israeli organisations, including the so-called Temple Mount groups, have called on Jews to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque during the Hanukkah Festival (Festival of Lights) which begins on Thursday and lasts for eight days. The foundation said that a senior...

A specialist in Jerusalem's history, Khalil Ibrahim, has claimed that the Israeli authorities built three new Jewish synagogues to practice biblical prayers, including chambers to host women's prayers, inside the tunnels that are scattered beneath the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Ibrahim, who also works as a tour guide, told Palestine Online:...

The secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, has indicated that the foreign ministers who represent the organisation's member states will discuss a recommendation during their meeting in Conakry to sever diplomatic ties with countries that either recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital or transfer their...

Yesterday Israeli occupation forces notified the Palestinian residents of Al-Dairat town, east of Yatta in the West Bank, that thousands of acres of their land will be seized to construct a new road that will service the region's illegal settlements. According to the coordinator of the Popular Committee Against...

The International Union for Muslim Scholars has urged all Muslims around the world to consider Friday a special day to support Jerusalem, the Al-Aqsa mosque and the steadfastness of Palestinians living in Jerusalem, by talking about them in Friday sermons, lectures and seminars and by praying for them. The...

EXCLUSIVE IMAGES Miles of Smiles Convoy 23 has arrived in the Gaza Strip, with solidarity activists from around the world entering the besieged territory, including some from Algeria, Libya, Jordan, Britain, Sweden and Malaysia. Partners for Peace & Development for Palestinians (PPDP) said in a media statement that the...

Sources in Israel have admitted that it has lost the current round in the dispute with Iran. "We lost the fight for this round ; we have to hope that the final agreement is much better," officials told the Ynet website. The statements came after Israelis appear to...

Gaza is not living in political isolation and its communications with Arab and international parties have not stopped, a spokesman for the Hamas-led Palestinian government has insisted. Dr Bassem Naim said on Wednesday that many foreign delegations are visiting the Gaza Strip despite the closure of the Rafah border...

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has expressed his skepticism about ever reaching a permanent peace agreement with the Palestinians, claiming the "time is not appropriate." Speaking at a Contractors Conference in City of Eilat on Friday, he said: "The efforts being currently exerted in this regard are similar to...

An Israeli writer, Barack Rafid, has cited Israeli and American officials as saying that the gaps between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Barack Obama are unbridgeable. In an article published by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz today, Rafid said that in their last telephone conversation, which lasted for one...

Head of the International Union for Muslim Scholars Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi called on Friday for all Palestinians to put an end to their division and unite before being devoured by Israel. During his Friday sermon, Al-Qaradawi also criticised Arab leaders, who are busy in "deterring and terrorising" their nations,...

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has issued a decree on Saturday appointing a new Commander in Chief of Dubai Police to succeed General Dhahi Khalfan; who is widely known for his hostility to the Muslim Brotherhood. The...

WikiLeaks has leaked a confidential document dating back to 29/6/2006 which includes an admission by Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan affirming that if elections were held in the UAE, the Islamists would win. During a lengthy meeting at an exclusive Emirati restaurant with...

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif returned to the Iranian capital Tehran on Sunday evening accompanied by his delegation after cutting a historic deal with world powers over his country's nuclear programme. Hundreds of cheering Iranian supporters gathered outside Mehrabad airport to welcome Zarif and his team, carrying pictures...

Qatar has welcomed the deal between the P5 +1 and the Islamic Republic of Iran over Tehran's nuclear programme. An official at the Qatari Foreign Ministry described the deal sealed in Geneva as an "important step" towards peace and security in the region. Speaking to the Qatar News Agency,...

The Syrian opposition suggested on Monday postponing the Geneva II conference until February, when they are expected to be more prepared, media sources reported. A delegation of the Syrian opposition is scheduled to meet today in Geneva with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, UN and Arab League envoy...

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman expressed his sadness on Sunday over the deal reached in Geneva regarding Iran's nuclear programme, calling it a "big victory for Iranian diplomacy". Speaking to Israeli Radio, Lieberman complained: "The deal recognises Iran's right to enrich uranium." In the same context, the Israeli government...

Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons under administrative detention started a hunger strike on Monday to protest against their poor treatment. Head of the Palestinian Prisoners' Club Qadoura Fares announced that: "Detainees at Ofer and Majeddo prisons started their strike on Monday morning. Dozens of detainees in other prisons may...

EXCLUSIVE IMAGES Hebron's Old City is one of the oldest souks in the world. Historically it was the hub of activity and life in the city. In 1994 Baruch Goldstein, a Jewish settler in Hebron who was also a practicing doctor born in New York, walked into Ibrahimi Mosque...

Oil prices dropped on Monday morning in Asia's exchange markets after Iran and world powers reached an agreement over Tehran's nuclear programme. Iran holds the fourth largest oil reserves in the world. Brent price fell by 2.26 per cent, or $2.51 down to $108.54 per barrel, while US light...

A diplomatic source told Agence France Presse (AFP) on Sunday that the tripartite meeting held on Saturday night in Riyadh between Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar came in the wake of a Saudi request from the Gulf Cooperation Council to "condemn the actions of Qatar" in Egypt and Yemen....

An Israeli studies research centre has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of shifting the goalposts every time it looks as if a peace agreement might be possible. The Palestinian Forum for Israeli Studies (Madar) pointed out that Netanyahu scuppers such agreements by claiming that recognition of Israel as a...

A full general strike paralysed the Negev's towns and villages on Sunday, 24 November. The strike, which was staged by various institutions and commercial organisations, was held in protest of a visit to the Negev by the Interior Committee, an Israeli governmental body preparing for the second and third...

IMAGES A group of American citizens with Palestinian heritage are filing a complaint with a New York court against an extremist Israeli organisation responsible for "price tag" attacks, demanding that the US include the organisation in the list of banned terrorist organisations in the US. The mayor of the...

US and Libyan sources have confirmed that the head of the Palestinian Authority intelligence services has been honoured in Washington for supplying information to the CIA. Brigadier Majed Faraj provided details which led the CIA to the whereabouts of Abu Anas Al-Libi in Tripoli, and his subsequent kidnapping by...

VIDEO The Euro-Mid Observer for Human Rights revealed on Monday that hundreds of Europeans are voluntarily working as mercenaries in the Israeli occupation forces. In a comprehensive report due to be published shortly, Euro-Mid also found that dozens of Europeans have been actively recruited to participate in the killing...

The Ministry of Local Government in the besieged Gaza Strip has warned of a health catastrophe if the current shortage of fuel is allowed to continue. Aside from the lack of fuel for hospital generators and ambulances, said Minister Mohamed Al-Farra, the vehicles used to transport domestic and business...

A spokesman for the Palestinian president has condemned Israel's decision to approve 800 new housing units in settlements in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. Nabil Abu Rudaineh said that the Israeli government shouldn't seek to score points against the US at the Palestinians' expense. This was a reference...

Haaretz said on Tuesday that several Western countries have asked Israel, publicly and in private, to stop criticising the Geneva deal over Iran's nuclear programme. According to the Israeli newspaper European diplomats said that they had conveyed messages to Israel advising it to stop criticising the interim deal between...

Palestinian lawyer Fahmi Shabaneh has charged that Palestinian Authority and Fatah leaders are complicit in the killing of former Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. Shabaneh, who is a former senior official in the PA's intelligence services, is accusing both PA President Mahmoud Abbas and former senior Fatah leader Mohamed Dahlan...

The Beit Lahia Municipality, a town located in the north of the Gaza Strip, has warned of a potential environmental disaster based on fears that the sewage basins might flood at any time due to the ongoing power outages. The mayor of Beit Lahia, Khalil Matar, told Saffa news:...