TheRepublic.com - West Bank News

Palestinians toughen line on Israel talks

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:52:30 -0400

RAMALLAH, West Bank - The Palestinian president and his Fatah movement on Wednesday signaled a tough line on talks with Israel, casting new doubt on U.S. efforts to revive long-stalled negotiations.

Israeli general warns of unrest if no peace talks

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:57:34 -0400

JERUSALEM - Failure to restart Israeli-Palestinian negotiations could stir unrest in the West Bank, Israel's top army commander in the territory warned Tuesday.

Hamas urges former ally Hezbollah to leave Syria

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:19:33 -0400

RAMALLAH, West Bank - The Palestinian militant group Hamas on Monday urged Lebanon's Hezbollah militia to withdraw its fighters from Syria and accused it of stoking sectarian tensions, leveling unprecedented public criticism against a former ally.

AP Interview: Bleak outlook for West Bank economy

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:53:47 -0400

RAMALLAH, West Bank - The Palestinians this week replaced one internationally respected, U.S.-trained economist with another in hopes of solving long-running problems in the West Bank, including a drop in foreign aid, a crippling budget deficit and Israeli development restrictions.

Limits on Palestinians living with Israeli spouses

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:51:30 -0400

BARTAA, Israel - When Israeli Arabs search for a spouse, they don't just worry about looks, job prospects or future in-laws. They must think about whether their partner will be allowed to live with them.

Boulder rejects West Bank town as sister city

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:35:20 -0400

BOULDER, Colorado - Officials have rejected a proposal to name Nablus, a town on the West Bank, as Boulder's eighth sister city after opponents said it would be an inappropriate partnership due to human rights issues under the Palestinian Authority.

AP Interview: Wieseltier fears for Israel's future

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 14:55:36 -0400

TEL AVIV, Israel - Leon Wieseltier has long maintained a close relationship with the state of Israel. But the Jewish-American author now fears the country's survival may be in jeopardy - and says much of the blame lies with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Abbas swears in academic, political newbie as PM

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 12:52:27 -0400

RAMALLAH, West Bank - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has sworn in a new government headed by a politically inexperienced academic in what is seen as an attempt by Abbas to consolidate power.

Officials: Kerry returning to Mideast next week

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 16:41:35 -0400

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State John Kerry is returning to the Middle East next week in another bid to revitalize peace hopes, officials said Monday, with the contours of a package possibly emerging to lure Israel and the Palestinians back into direct negotiations.

Spain, England, Germany the pick at U21 Euros

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:02:52 -0400

TEL AVIV, Israel - Spain, England and Germany will be among the favorites when the Under 21 European Championship kicks off Wednesday against the backdrop of a campaign to protest Israel's selection as host.

Conjoined twins with shared heart can't be split

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 13:26:08 -0400

HEBRON, West Bank - Conjoined Palestinian twins with a shared heart and other vital organs returned home to the West Bank Monday after Israeli doctors determined they could not successfully separate them.

Holy Land archaeological treasure hurt by politics

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 14:01:26 -0400

SEBASTIA, West Bank - The ancient town of Sebastia is one of the major archaeological sites of the Holy Land, with its overlapping layers of history dating back nearly 3,000 years. But today the hilltop capital of biblical kings, later ruled by Roman conquerors, Crusaders and Ottomans, is marred with weeds, graffiti and garbage.

AP Interview: Israel deputy FM proud to be settler

Mon, 27 May 2013 11:15:41 -0400

JERUSALEM - Zeev Elkin has faced a wave of criticism since he was made the de facto chief of Israel's Foreign Ministry two months ago: He isn't prepared for compromise with the Palestinians. He doesn't speak English well enough. He is a West Bank settler.

West Bank and romance prominent in 'Omar'

Thu, 23 May 2013 15:29:13 -0400

CANNES, France - One of the more buzzed-about films at the Cannes Film Festival, "Omar," is set in the West Bank, and the Palestinian conflict is a key part of the plot.

AP Interview: Syria conflict uproots Palestinians

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:56:06 -0400

DAMASCUS, Syria - Syria's fighting has uprooted more than half of the country's 530,000 Palestinians - descendants of refugees from a Mideast conflict half a century ago - and their situation is becoming increasingly desperate, the head of a U.N. aid agency said Thursday.

Kerry detours for Palestinian shwarma

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:16:30 -0400

RAMALLAH, West Bank - Secretary of State John Kerry says he's all in for Palestinian shwarma.

Palestinian group: Ruler rights abuses increasing

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:46:56 -0400

RAMALLAH, West Bank - A Palestinian report shows human rights abuses by the rival governments in the West Bank and Gaza are on the rise.