- Likud minister proposes Israeli sanctions on US
Jun 12, 2009 - 05:14:35 AM
In a sign of growing concern in Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's government over US President Barack Obama's Middle East policies, Minister-without-Portfolio Yossi Peled proposed Israeli sanctions on the US in a letter to cabinet ministers on Sunday. In the 11-page letter, obtained by The Jerusalem Post from a minister on Monday, Peled recommends steps Israel can take to compensate for the shift in American policy, which he believes has become hostile to Israel. [...] - Meanwhile, back in Israel: No one to seriously talk to
Jun 12, 2009 - 05:07:50 AM
So let's take a look at what's happening in our country after U.S. President Barack Obama's speech. A historic speech like his was supposed to make waves in Israel, stimulate discussion and spark debate. And here is what has happened: Our own Barak, Defense Minister Ehud, who used to be considered at least as brilliant as Obama, told Etgar Keret in an interview with Haaretz yesterday: "Where does the [Palestinian nation] live? In a cage? A jail? A swimming pool?" And Barak's own answer to this question: "It lives in its country." After the prime minister's top diplomatic adviser determined that two states is a childish solution, along comes another statesman and determines that we're all children. Stupid children, it must be said, to whom you can sell any bit of nonsense, including all the nonsense in that interview. [..] - Report: 3,200 units of housing built in settlements since 2008
Jun 11, 2009 - 06:30:46 AM
Bethlehem – Ma’an – More than 3,200 housing units have been built in illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land in the West Bank since the beginning of 2008, Israel’s most popular newspaper reported on Tuesday. As US special Middle East envoy George Mitchell met with Israeli officials to discuss a current US-Israeli split over settlements the report in the newspaper Yedioth Ahrnoth made clear that the Israeli government’s policy has not changed since Prime Minister Ehud Olmert handed over power to Benjamin Netanyahu. The Netanyahu government claims to be cracking down on so-called settlement “outposts” that were not authorized by the state. At the same time, however, Netanyahu and his cabinet are committed to expanding existing settlements, calling it “natural growth.” [...] - Defiant settlers rebuild Maoz Esther outpost
Jun 07, 2009 - 11:31:04 AM
In defiance of US President Barack Obama's call on Israel to stop settlement activity, defiant settlers built a new outpost on Friday morning between Migron and Kochav Ya'acov. At the outpost, which they named Oz Yehonatan, the settlers built a wooden structure they mockingly called the "Obama Hut," saying it was a sign of appreciation for the US president for his actions that had led to a dramatic rise in the number of outposts... - Israel dismantles (1) West Bank settlement outpost
May 21, 2009 - 04:15:08 PM
Israeli police said they razed a tiny Jewish settlement outpost in the West Bank in what Israeli media called a gesture to President Obama, AFP reports. The international community considers all settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory illegal, while Israel considers as illegal only the outposts built without Israeli government authorisation. Israel reiterated at Annapolis in 2007 it would freeze settlement activity but Peace Now says 1,518 new structures were built in settlements and outposts in 2008, compared to 898 structures in 2007... - Egypt entices Palestinians to unite with Gaza crossings pledge
May 17, 2009 - 02:16:49 PM
Egypt told rival Palestinian factions meeting in Cairo that the country will reopen its border with the Gaza Strip if the two sides can reach a reconciliation agreement, participants in the discussions said Sunday. Hamas and Fatah began a fifth round of talks Saturday aimed a striking a deal to share power and ending a nearly two-year split that occurred after Hamas seized control of Gaza in June 2007, leaving Fatah with authority over the West Bank. Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, who is mediating the discussions, gave the two sides until the beginning of July to reach an agreement and promised Egypt would open the Gaza border if they succeeded, two Fatah officials told The Associated Press...
