Israel and Palestinians – News Stories About Israel and Palestinians - Page 33

US to Privately Grade Mideast Peace Plan

Dec 23, 2007 4:02 PM CST

US to Privately Grade Mideast Peace Plan

Critics question secret oversight; official says it avoids public blame

(Newser) - Washington will secretly score Israeli and Palestinian adherence to the "road map" peace plan and hash out results with each side, Reuters reports. US diplomats plan to report to the White House on Israeli settlement growth and Palestinian vows to curb militants, two keys to the peace deal—but...

Olmert Nixes Hamas Truce: 'This War Will Continue'

Dec 23, 2007 12:19 PM CST

Olmert Nixes Hamas Truce: 'This War Will Continue'

Says Palestinian militants must first cease attacks, recognize Israel

(Newser) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today refused to consider a truce with Hamas until the militant Palestinian group recognizes Israel and halts attacks in Gaza, reports the BBC. Olmert told government officials that Israel is gaining ground in stopping rocket attacks, of which 1,000 have hit Israel since Hamas...

Hamas Seeks Israeli Ceasefire

Dec 19, 2007 12:49 PM CST

Hamas Seeks Israeli Ceasefire

In unusual call to Israeli media, PM asks for end to strikes in Gaza

(Newser) - The leader of Gaza’s Hamas party, weary of months of Israeli airstrikes and sanctions, has appealed for a ceasefire through Israeli media, the AP reports. "The occupation should stop its attacks and siege." In return, Hamas PM Ismail Haniya said in an unprecedented phone call to an...

Israeli Airstrikes Kill 13 in Gaza

Dec 18, 2007 7:17 AM CST

Israeli Airstrikes Kill 13 in Gaza

Biggest offensive in months against militants

(Newser) - Israeli airstrikes rained down on Gaza militants today, killing at least 13 in a series of separate attacks, Reuters reports. It was the country’s most intense offensive in months, a response to the frequent but largely ineffectual rocket attacks lobbed across the border. In response, militants threatened a round...

Al-Qaeda Rips Annapolis Talks

Dec 14, 2007 1:43 PM CST

Al-Qaeda Rips Annapolis Talks

Bin Laden's No. 2 accuses delegates of 'treachery' toward Palestinians

(Newser) - Al Qaeda's second-in-command condemned the Arab attendees at last month's Annapolis peace conference in an internet audio file posted today, the BBC reports. In the recording, Ayman Al-Zawahiri says the Arab leaders at the talks, in which most Arab countries took part, "were present as false witnesses to the...

Fatah Official Kidnapped in Gaza

Dec 14, 2007 9:32 AM CST

Fatah Official Kidnapped in Gaza

Senior Fatah official kidnapped, explosion kills 3 at funeral

(Newser) - A top Fatah official was kidnapped by 30 gunmen of rival Palestinian faction Hamas, who ransacked his family home in Gaza early this morning and accused him of collaborating with Israel. Omar Al-Ghoul, adviser to the Palestinian prime minister appointed after Hamas seized control of the Strip, was in Gaza...

Israeli Incursion in Gaza Imperils Peace Talks

Dec 11, 2007 4:38 PM CST

Israeli Incursion in Gaza Imperils Peace Talks

Government denies troop movement represents full-scale invasion

(Newser) - Israel's incursion into Gaza today, on the eve of the first peace talks with the Palestinians in 7 years, ensures the atmosphere tomorrow in Jerusalem will be tense and may even endanger the peace process, the London Times reports. The Palestinian death toll from the largest incursion into Gaza since...

Olmert: No Peace Likely in '08

Dec 2, 2007 3:38 PM CST

Olmert: No Peace Likely in '08

Israeli PM downplays chances for Annapolis success

(Newser) - Less than a week after promising to seek peace with the Palestinians by the end of 2008, Ehud Olmert says he doesn’t like the odds. “We will make an effort to hold speedy negotiations,” he said, “but certainly there is no firm timetable.” The remarks...

Fear of Iran Driving Push for Peace

Nov 28, 2007 3:19 AM CST

Fear of Iran Driving Push for Peace

Arab leaders at conference unified by mounting extremist threats in Mideast

(Newser) - Fear of Iran and Islamic extremism is the catalyst that's bringing together delegates at the Mideast peace conference in Annapolis, the New York Times reports. Sunni Arab leaders see their young people becoming radicalized and Iran's influence expanding, and fear the region could be transformed in new and dangerous ways....

Thousands Rally in Gaza

Nov 27, 2007 8:14 PM CST

Thousands Rally in Gaza

Police kill West Bank protester; Israel guns down three in other incidents

(Newser) - Massive crowds demonstrated in Gaza today, condemning the Annapolis conference and chanting "Death to America!" Hamas leaders told tens of thousands of supporters that the peace summit was "doomed to failure" and vowed that "whoever thinks we will recognize a Jewish state are deluding themselves."...

Bush Meets With Olmert, Abbas

Nov 26, 2007 4:01 PM CST

Bush Meets With Olmert, Abbas

Bush jump-starts peace talks a day ahead of Annapolis summit

(Newser) - On the eve of the Mideast peace summit, which begins tomorrow in Annapolis, President Bush held separate talks with Ehud Olmert and Mahmoud Abbas today in the Oval Office, reports the Washington Post. Between meetings, Bush thanked both leaders for participating in the talks and said he was “optimistic”...

Computer Game Lets Players Try Virtual Peace

Nov 25, 2007 4:12 PM CST

Computer Game Lets Players Try Virtual Peace

Peace center will distribute games to Israelis, Palestinians during US talks

(Newser) - A computer game that promotes peace in the Middle East will be distributed to Palestinians and Israelis this week while their leaders meet in the US to negotiate, the Associated Press reports. “PeaceMaker” players choose roles as Israeli or Palestinian leaders and respond to attacks from the opposing side....

Syria Headed for Annapolis Talks

Nov 25, 2007 1:53 PM CST

Syria Headed for Annapolis Talks

US gets full wish-list of Arab states to attend Israel-Palestine talks

(Newser) - Syria said today it will attend this week’s Israel-Palestine peace conference in Annapolis, a US victory in convincing every major Arab state—16 in all—to show, the AP reports. The US hopes such broad participation will help these talks succeed where previous efforts failed. Syria wants to discuss...

Bush's Palestine Play Doomed

Nov 25, 2007 8:00 AM CST

Bush's Palestine Play Doomed

Prez's late peace push faces bigger problems than Clinton's failed effort

(Newser) - George Bush, like Bill Clinton before him, is making a last-minute push to broker Arab-Israeli peace, but with much steeper odds, says Reuters' Arshad Mohammed. Bush, Mahmoud Abbas, and Ehud Olmert are all unpopular, especially compared to their 2000 counterparts—Clinton, Yasser Arafat, and Ehud Barak. “When Clinton tried...

Saudis Will Attend Mideast Summit

Nov 23, 2007 11:23 AM CST

Saudis Will Attend Mideast Summit

But there won't be any 'theatrical shows' of affection for Israel

(Newser) - Saudi Arabia will attend next Tuesday’s Arab-Israeli summit in Maryland, Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said today, but he won't be shaking hands with any Israelis, the BBC reports. Prince Saud said at a meeting of the Arab League that the Saudis were reluctant to go, but since the...

Dozens Invited to Mideast Peace Talks

Nov 21, 2007 4:14 AM CST

Dozens Invited to Mideast Peace Talks

White House presses Saudi Arabia and Syria, Olmert bolsters Abbas

(Newser) - The negotiating table may be packed Nov. 27 in Annapolis, when the Mideast peace conference brings together not only Israelis and Palestinians, but upwards of 40 other countries and institutions invited yesterday. The White House's priority is to persuade Saudi Arabia and Syria to attend the talks, to bolster the...

Blair Floats
Palestinian Jobs Plan

Nov 19, 2007 11:00 AM CST

Blair Floats Palestinian Jobs Plan

Mideast envoy offers 'quick impact project' ahead of Annapolis summit

(Newser) - In his first major undertaking as the international community's Mideast envoy, Tony Blair will disclose plans today to provide tens of thousands of jobs for Palestinians, the Guardian reports. The multimillion-dollar projects come in the lead-up to the peace talks in Annapolis next week. "This is part of the...

Olmert Releases 441 Palestinian Prisoners

Nov 19, 2007 9:23 AM CST

Olmert Releases 441 Palestinian Prisoners

Israeli PM courts Arab support ahead of next week's peace talks

(Newser) - Ehud Olmert today requested the release of 441 Palestinian prisoners and promised to stop building new settlements on the West Bank, in the hope of bolstering Arab enthusiasm for upcoming talks on Palestinian statehood. But the gesture was received coolly: Mahmoud Abbas had asked for 2,000 prisoners, and the...

'Bring Down' Hamas in Gaza:
Palestinian Prez

Nov 16, 2007 4:00 AM CST

'Bring Down' Hamas in Gaza: Palestinian Prez

Hamas is 'abusing our people,' says Abbas

(Newser) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday called for the overthrow of the Hamas government in Gaza for "abusing" people. "We have to bring down this bunch, which took over Gaza with armed force," he said in his most inflammatory remarks since Hamas took over in June. Abbas' angry...

Abbas: Palestinian State Possible by 2009

Nov 5, 2007 9:50 AM CST

Abbas: Palestinian State Possible by 2009

Palestinian president speculates on statehood before Bush leaves office

(Newser) - The Palestinians and the Israelis can broker peace before George Bush leaves office in January 2009, Mahmoud Abbas said today in a press conference with Condoleezza Rice. The Palestinian president parroted a statement last night by Israeli PM Ehud Olmert. Putting the leaders on the same page is an achievement...