TheRepublic.com - Palestinian territories News

AP PHOTOS: Palestinians in Egypt exiled, forgotten

Sat, 18 May 2013 13:52:01 -0400

GEZIRAT AL-FADEL, Egypt - In 1948, Suleiman Mamoudi fled by foot with his parents and other families from their village of Bir el-Sabae in Palestine. The 28-year-old and his family walked west for several hundred miles, crossing the Sinai Peninsula before settling in an area around 90 miles (145 kilometers) north of Cairo.

Egypt police close Gaza border to protest kidnap

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:32:19 -0400

CAIRO - Dozens of disgruntled border policemen forced the closure of Egypt's main crossing point into the Gaza Strip on Friday to protest the abduction of their colleagues by suspected militants, underscoring the lawlessness and crisis of authority in the country two years since the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak.

Turkish PM talks Syria with Obama at White House

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:33:17 -0400

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said Thursday that the U.S. and Turkey will keep ramping up pressure to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad from power, but there's "no magic formula" to stop his violence.

Watchdog: Israel trying to legalize settlements

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:29:34 -0400

JERUSALEM - An Israeli watchdog group on Thursday accused the government of taking steps to legalize four unauthorized settlement outposts in the West Bank, days before the U.S. secretary of state is set to arrive on a new peace mission.

7 Egyptian security personnel abducted in Sinai

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:28:52 -0400

CAIRO - Suspected militants in Egypt's Sinai abducted seven security personnel as they headed to Cairo for holidays early Thursday, security officials said. It was the first such kidnapping of security forces in the lawless peninsula.

Critics assail Israeli silence on Arab peace plan

Wed, 15 May 2013 02:20:51 -0400

JERUSALEM - On the surface, the Arab League's improved peace initiative offers Israel everything it ever dreamed of - normal relations with an entire region that has long objected to the very existence of the Jewish state, and even the chance to keep some war-won land.

Dutch won't charge company in Israeli barrier case

Tue, 14 May 2013 06:26:27 -0400

THE HAGUE, Netherlands - In a blow to pro-Palestinian activists, Dutch authorities said Tuesday they will not prosecute a company on war crimes charges for renting out equipment to construct Israel's West Bank separation barrier.

Politics commandeer stage in Mideast TV contest

Sun, 12 May 2013 14:33:04 -0400

BEIRUT - TV singing contests around the world tend to serve up light, glitzy entertainment with a dash of emotional drama. But in the Middle East's version of "American Idol," it's the region's troubles that often take center stage.

Jets' Aboushi a rare Palestinian-American in NFL

Sat, 11 May 2013 14:36:05 -0400

FLORHAM PARK, New Jersey - The congratulatory messages flooded Oday Aboushi's Twitter page for a few days after he was drafted by the New York Jets two weeks ago.

Palestinians chose a new president - on reality TV

Fri, 10 May 2013 16:00:59 -0400

BETHLEHEM, West Bank - The Palestinians haven't elected a president since 2005, but now they are finally getting a chance to do so - virtually - thanks to a hit reality TV show.

Islamic cleric in Gaza, rejects Israel's existence

Thu, 09 May 2013 08:37:07 -0400

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - A prominent Islamic scholar who is making a landmark visit to the Gaza Strip has declared that Israel has no right to exist.

China urges Israel to hold talks with Palestinians

Wed, 08 May 2013 22:10:21 -0400

BEIJING - China's premier has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to remove obstacles to restarting talks with the Palestinians, as Beijing seeks to bring its growing international influence to bear on the Middle East peace process.

Stephen Hawking backs boycott of Israeli academics

Wed, 08 May 2013 18:19:19 -0400

LONDON - British physicist Stephen Hawking has dropped plans to attend a major international conference in Israel in June, citing his belief that he should respect a Palestinian call to boycott contacts with Israeli academics.

Kerry to return for a new effort on Mideast peace

Wed, 08 May 2013 10:11:15 -0400

ROME -

Analysis: Syria has limited response options

Tue, 07 May 2013 17:21:41 -0400

BEIRUT - The Syrian regime on Tuesday dispatched an obscure proxy, a Damascus-based Palestinian militant group, to threaten retaliation for two Israeli airstrikes over the weekend.

Google lists Palestinian territories 'Palestine'

Fri, 03 May 2013 14:17:54 -0400

JERUSALEM - Google is de facto recognizing a state of Palestine - at least on its local home page in the Palestinian territories.

Danes, Finns upgrade Palestinian diplomatic status

Fri, 03 May 2013 11:20:44 -0400

STOCKHOLM - Finland and Denmark have become the latest European countries to upgrade the status of Palestinian diplomatic missions.

China could hold Israel-Palestinian talks if asked

Fri, 03 May 2013 04:56:06 -0400

BEIJING - The Chinese government says it is willing to set up a meeting between the Israeli prime minister and the Palestinian president when the two leaders visit Beijing next week, if the sides expressed interest in doing so.

Disabled Gaza baby lives in Israel hospital

Fri, 03 May 2013 02:26:22 -0400

RAMAT GAN, Israel - In his short life, Palestinian toddler Mohammed al-Farra has known just one home: the yellow-painted children's ward in Israel's Tel Hashomer hospital.

Lebanon: Main suspect in 2011 kidnapping arrested

Thu, 02 May 2013 14:17:51 -0400

BEIRUT - Security forces have arrested the main suspect in the 2011 kidnapping of seven Estonian tourists and the more recent abduction of a Lebanese citizen that led to a wave of tit-for-tat kidnappings in areas near the Syrian border, police officials said Thursday.

Gov. says trade mission to Israel successful

Wed, 01 May 2013 17:50:07 -0400

SALT LAKE CITY - Gov. Gary Herbert says his weeklong trade mission to Israel to promote Utah as a business and tourism destination exceeded his expectations.

Religion news in brief

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:14:13 -0400

Bishops who filed lawsuit against Alabama immigration law feel vindicated

Jewish groups oppose Nablus as Boulder sister city

Wed, 01 May 2013 12:55:28 -0400

BOULDER, Colorado - Some Jewish organizations and residents are calling on Boulder to reject a proposal to make the West Bank town of Nablus the city's eighth sister city.

Arab League sweetens Israel-Palestinian peace plan

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:20:07 -0400

JERUSALEM - The Arab League's decision to sweeten its decade-old proposal offering comprehensive peace with Israel has placed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a bind and swiftly exposed fissures in his new government.

Arabs soften stance on Israel's final borders

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:20:41 -0400

WASHINGTON - Arab countries endorsed a Mideast peace plan Monday that would allow for small shifts in Israel's 1967 border, moving them closer to President Barack Obama's two-state vision.