West Bank

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Blair Floats Palestinian Jobs Plan
Blair Floats
Palestinian Jobs Plan

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

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

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...

Enemies May Overstate Hamas Split
Enemies May Overstate Hamas Split

Enemies May Overstate Hamas Split

It's a muddle of 'sub-leaderships,' says Economist

(Newser) - Reports of strife within the Palestinian faction Hamas are likely exaggerated, the Economist says. The Islamist party may be splitting under the pressure of sanctions, but reports are hard to judge because “few observers are neutral.” There are “sub-leaderships," though. After seizing Gaza in June, for...

Fatah, Hamas Unite for Ramadan
Fatah, Hamas Unite for Ramadan

Fatah, Hamas Unite for Ramadan

Despite shared start date for holy month, tensions still run high

(Newser) - Ramadan this year will mark a brief expression of unity for the rival Palestinian governments of Hamas, in Gaza, and Fatah, in the West Bank. The holy month begins today or tomorrow—and deciding the date can cause tension between factions across the Muslim world, the AP reports. And despite...

For Palestinian Hamas Faction, Surprise Payday

Fatah accidentally bankrolls rival's security forces

(Newser) - To victors in Palestinian factional fighting went the spoils, if temporarily, the BBC reports. Officers of Hamas' security force, which wrested control of the Gaza Strip from rival Fatah in June, were notified yesterday that Fatah had paid their salaries. The West Bank-based, Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority rushed to correct its...

Jewish Squatters Protest West Bank Evacuation

Dissidents hurl rocks, light bulbs at police

(Newser) - As Israel moves closer to an evacuation of the West Bank, hundreds of Jewish protesters barricaded themselves in Hebron's market today, Haaretz reports, using barbed wire, oil drums, and burning tires. Police evicted two families as teenagers on rooftops lobbed rocks, eggs, and light bulbs at forces trying to break...

Olmert, Abbas Talk on Palestinian Soil

Jericho get-together signals progress in stalled peace process

(Newser) - Ehud Olmert and Mahmoud Abbas met in the West Bank city of Jericho today, the first time an Israeli head of state has been to the Palestinian territories in 7 years. The meeting was an attempt by both parties to bolster the moderate Fatah party’s standing and to bring...

Rice Pushes Peace Talks With Olmert, Abbas

Takes mission to Jerusalem, West Bank

(Newser) - Condoleezza Rice took her diplomatic tour to Jerusalem and the West Bank today, hoping to rekindle peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian government of Mahmoud Abbas. Rice comes bearing a promise from Saudi Arabia to support the peace conference proposed by the White House for later this year, Reuters...

Hamas Rips Blair Peace Mission
Hamas Rips Blair Peace Mission

Hamas Rips Blair Peace Mission

Former Brit chief 'not honest, not helpful'

(Newser) - Hamas, the Palestinian group now in control of Gaza, blasted Tony Blair's appointment as a Mideast peace envoy yesterday, characterizing the former British prime minister as "not honest and not helpful," and a puppet of the US and Israel, the BBC reports. Blair's new role, formalized hours after...

Israel to Release 250 Fatah Prisoners

PM Olmert makes pledge at summit with Arab leaders

(Newser) - Israel plans to free 250 Fatah members as part of an international push to shore up Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the Washington Post reports.The announcement came at the close of a summit at a Red Sea resort, where Mideast leaders gathered to talk about dealing with Hamas in the...

Egypt Will Host Mideast Summit
Egypt Will Host Mideast Summit

Egypt Will Host Mideast Summit

Abbas and Olmert to meet in effort to isolate Hamas

(Newser) - Alarmed by the Hamas takeover in Gaza, Egypt will host a summit Monday, bringing together the Western-backed Palestinian president and the Israeli PM, along with Jordanian and Egyptian leaders, Reuters reports. The move is a show of support for the moderate Mamoud Abbas-led emergency government, and an effort to isolate...

Fatah Elements Exact Revenge
Fatah Elements Exact Revenge

Fatah Elements Exact Revenge

Masked militias defy Abbas, run riot against Hamas loyalists in West Bank

(Newser) - In the week since Hamas staged an armed coup in Gaza, violent reprisals by Fatah-linked rivals have plagued the West Bank. Despite Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas'  demands for peace, militants loyal to the PM's group have staged massive looting and kidnapping of the Hamas faithful, including both unarmed supporters and...

Israel Takes Fight to Gaza
Israel Takes Fight to Gaza

Israel Takes Fight to Gaza

Four Palestinians dead after Israeli tanks and planes battle enter chaotic strip

(Newser) - Israeli aircraft and tanks attacked locations in Gaza today, killing four militants in their first assault on the strip since Hamas took over. An Israeli aerial strike targeted two rocket launchers in northern Gaza as tanks moved into southern Gaza, sparking a shootout that produced the four casualties.

Gazans Stuck in Israel Tunnel
Gazans Stuck in Israel Tunnel

Gazans Stuck in Israel Tunnel

No way out for those trapped in Erez passage en route to West Bank

(Newser) - Hundreds of Gazans hoping to escape Hamas are boxed in a filthy tunnel at a major crossing point with Israel, awaiting safe passage to the calmer West Bank. Israeli authorities are citing security concerns in checking the Palestinians, some of whom were wounded when Hamas attacked the tunnel at the...

Bush, Olmert Meet on Palestine
Bush, Olmert Meet on Palestine

Bush, Olmert Meet on Palestine

Israel considers picking up peace process as US resumes aid

(Newser) - President Bush and Israeli PM Ehud Olmert will convene today to discuss future relations with a newly divided Palestine. The US has resumed aid to Mahmoud Abbas' moderate Fatah government, now balkanized from its militant Hamas rivals, and Olmert has signaled his a potential willingness to push peace negotiations by...

Israel Plans Attack on Gaza
Israel Plans Attack on Gaza

Israel Plans Attack on Gaza

Olmert government making plans for military action to destroy Hamas

(Newser) - The Israeli government is readying its army for an invasion of Gaza, in the wake of Hamas' victory in last week's civil war against Fatah there. The London Times, quoting Israeli military sources, says defense minister apparent Ehud Barak has drawn up plans for an incursion with 20,000 troops,...

Abbas Names New PM, Asks for Gov't
Abbas Names New PM,
Asks for Gov't

Abbas Names New PM, Asks for Gov't

During eerie calm in Gaza, rivals claim post; Hamas extends amnesty

(Newser) - Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has asked a former finance minister to form an emergency government, hours after the Hamas-Fatah coalition authority collapsed. Salam Fayyad, an independent legislator, will have to contend with Hamas' Ismail Hayineh, who still lays a claim to the PM's office.

Hamas Executes Captives
Hamas Executes Captives

Hamas Executes Captives

Palestinian Authority on brink of collapse as Fatah 'collaborators' shot

(Newser) - The Palestinian Authority is teetering on collapse after Hamas declared victory in Gaza, executing captured Fatah leaders accused of collaborating with Israel. The Palestinian government  was dissolved by President Mahmoud Abbas while Fatah militants in the West Bank ominously rounded up Hamas supporters. 

Palestinian Government Falls
Palestinian Government Falls

Palestinian Government Falls

Abbas declares state of emergency following Hamas takeover of Gaza

(Newser) - Hamas is in control of the Gaza strip this evening and Palestine's unity government dissolved, in what the moderate Fatah party is calling a coup d'etat. President Mahmoud Abbas declared a state of emergency in both the West Bank and Gaza, where the hard-line Islamic group seized control of the...

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