Facts, News, Trends, Analysis
The Palestinian-Israeli Crossfire site, bitterlemons, has four perspectives on the ceasefire and domestic politics. This is a very useful site with regular commentary from multiple viewpoints on important dimensions of the Arab-Israeli conflict. David Hulme Bookmark It Hide Sites $$(‘div.d3884′).each( function(e) { e.visualEffect(‘slide_up’,{duration:0.5}) });
With a recent blockade of the Gaza Strip put in place by the Israeli government, there is no way for humanitarian aid to reach the area. A ship from Qatar carrying 3,000 tons of humanitarin aid has already tried to go through the blockade, but authorities sent the ship right back to where it came [...]
Since November 4, Israel has refused to open its borders with the Gaza Strip due to the violence that occurred between the two societies especially since Hamas has taken control. However, tensions have died down a little today. Israel was ordered by Defense Minister Ehud Barak to deliver truckloads of food, water, fuel, and other [...]
Tense relations between Egypt and Hamas have soured after Cairo for the first time openly accused the Islamists of torpedoing Palestinian reconciliation talks. Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit was quoted as saying on Thursday that months of Egyptian-mediated talks between rivals Hamas and Fatah failed in November because of “Hamas’s lack of enthusiasm toward reconciliation.” [...]
Two Palestinians were killed in an airstrike in southern Gazan town of Rafah, while a third Palestinian was killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank. The Israeli army said six mortar bombs had been launched by militants in Gaza. The man killed in the West Bank had been pardoned by Israel as part of [...]
The Hamas authorities in control of the Gaza Strip have threatened to prevent Muslim pilgrims leaving Gaza to attend the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, unless a dispute over visas is resolved. According to the BBC, Egypt has said it will only allow pilgrims to enter its territory from Gaza, if their Saudi visa applications [...]
Egyptian police have found a cache of explosives in Sinai that were probably destined for the Gaza Strip, a security official said. Police seized about 150 kilograms (330 pounds) of TNT, and dozens of mortar rounds and anti-tank grenades on Saturday after a tip-off from local residents near the Gaza border. “They were probably being [...]
The Libyan ship Al-Marwa, laden with food, medicine and other aid, was turned back by Israeli naval vessels before reaching Gaza. According to Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Andy David, the crew of the Al-Marwa “understood that the navy was there and decided to turn around,” clarifying that there was no conflict or confrontation. He added, [...]
An Israeli reporter who defied her country’s blockade of Gaza returned to Israel after Hamas told her to leave due to security concerns. Amira Hass is an award-winning writer for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. She arrived by boat with pro-Palestinian activists who were trying to draw attention to the hardship in Gaza. Israel let the [...]
Israel’s February’s election will be an important one for Washington and the new Obama administration. Though the Likud Party is the more conservative, the Kadima Party, with which Bush has worked most recently, has promoted an accelerated “two state solution.” The Bush Administration has agreed with this approach. Critics say that because of President Bush’s [...]
