Tag Archive for Mahmoud Abbas

| September 27, 2012
No comments

Israeli leader focuses on Iran’s ‘aggression’ while Palestinian leader accuses Israel of ‘ethnic cleansing’

“It’s not a question of whether Iran will get the bomb. The question is at what stage can we stop Iran from getting the bomb,” Netanyahu said.

By Michael Martinez, CNN

 

(CNN) — Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas asked the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday for nonmember observer status, one step up from the authority’s current position as a permanent observer.

Abbas was later followed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who criticized Abbas’ speech but focused more on excoriating Iran’s attempts to develop nuclear weapons.

Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel, speaks during the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, September 27, at U.N. headquarters in New York. The event unites more than 100 heads of state and government for high-level meetings on nuclear safety, regional conflicts, health and nutrition and environment issues.

Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel, speaks during the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, September 27, at U.N.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| September 19, 2012
No comments

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas Threatens to Quit (for the 15th Time)

Fatah leader & Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has reportedly announced he is stepping down — again.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

Palestinian Authority Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas has allegedly announced he is stepping down.

Israeli television Channel 10 news reported Wednesday, based on a statement from a Palestine Liberation Organization official, that Abbas gave the organization just 10 days to find a replacement.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of severe financial difficulties in the PA, with a so-called “PA Winter” on the way. Prices are rising along with unemployment and economic hardship — and donor nations that have pledged support are having a tougher time coming through with their promises. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags:
| September 14, 2012
No comments

Retired Jordanian Colonel: No tension between Israel & Jordan

Rateb Amro, retired Jordanian colonel says PA’s bid at UN is ‘unreasonable’ but relations between Israel and Jordan are still good. Amaro warns however that not one Arab country will allow Israel or the US to attack Iran

Roi Kais

 

“When I was in the army, I fought against Israelis but those who suffered from war the most, were those who were convinced we must work towards peace. I do my job and I don’t care what others say,” Rateb Amro, a retired colonel in the Jordanian army told Ynet at the annual conference on counter terrorism held in Herzliya. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| September 9, 2012
One comment

PA president: Despite U.S. pressure, Palestinians will seek UN recognition

Abbas says Palestine wants recognition as non-member state; also says gov’t employees will not receive full salaries in October because ‘donor countries’ haven’t delivered their promised charity.

 

 

Mahmoud Abbas announced Saturday that the Palestinian Authority has decided to seek United Nations recognition as a non-member state. This will happen, said the Palestinian president, despite United States pressure opposing the move.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas talks at a press conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas talks at a press conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Sept. 8, 2012. Photo by AP

Abbas, who spoke to reporters Saturday afternoon in the West Bank city of Ramallah, said the PA intends to submit the request to the UN General Assembly on September 27. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| September 2, 2012
No comments

Both Liberman & Abbas call on the Hague to try the other

Israel’s Foreign Minister says Abbas should be tried for supporting terror. Ramallah accuses Liberman of advocating the assassination of PA president.

By HERB KEINON

 

 

The war of words between Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas reached new heights over the weekend with representatives from each side saying the other should be charged with war crimes at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Avigdor Lieberman - Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski

Avigdor Lieberman – Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski

On Friday, the PA charged that Liberman’s recent statements calling for Abbas’s ouster constitute incitement and said that he should be prosecuted in international courts for extremism.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| August 29, 2012
No comments

Netanyahu: Non-Aligned Movement is a disgrace to humanity

PM: Large presence at NAM conference proves “never again” is a hollow pledge; PA’s Abbas arrives in Iran for summit.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, KHALED ABU TOAMEH

 

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday evening strongly condemned the Non-Aligned Movement summit taking place in Tehran, calling it a disgrace.

PM Netanyahu speaks to Jewish immigrants at BGU - Photo: REUTERS

PM Netanyahu speaks to Jewish immigrants at BGU – Photo: REUTERS

“Today, over 120 countries are meeting in Tehran, while the regime there denies the Holocaust, and works to destroy the Zionist state … this is a disgrace to humanity,” the prime minister said.

Netanyahu made his comments during a meeting with German politician David McAllister.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| August 27, 2012
No comments

Palestinian President Denies Jewish Temple & Christian Theology

Mahmoud Abbas refers to the “alleged” Jewish Temple, and then if not Jewish, how did the money changers chase Jesus?

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

 

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas frequently refers to the “alleged” Jewish Temple, but if it was not Jewish, there is no basis for Christian belief, as written in the New Testament in Matthew (21:12), that Jewish “moneychangers” chased Jesus from the Holy Temple. However, Christians so far have not reacted to the implicit denial of their belief.

Temple Mount – Photo: Phillip Pasmanick

The PA campaign to eradicate Jewish history at the Temple Mount , as well as in the rest of Israel, has escalated sharply in the past two years. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| August 26, 2012
No comments

Abbas responds to Lieberman letter accusing Israel’s gov’t is destroying any chance for peace

Remarks by PA President during meeting with Israeli MKs comes after Lieberman suggestion to the Quartet’s foreign ministers, in which he called to replace Abbas as Palestinian chief.

By Barak Ravid

 

For the first time, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas responded on Sunday to Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s letter to the Quartet’s foreign ministers calling for general elections to replace him. The Quartet, made up of the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia, is involved in mediating the Middle East peace process.

Mahmoud Abbas - Reuters - 5.8.2012

Mahmoud Abbas speaking to the media during a press event in the West Bank city of Ramallah August 5, 2012.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| August 23, 2012
No comments

DebkaFile Reports Hamas infiltrated in Abbas’ Bodyguards

Bearing out Israel’s worst fears, senior ranks of Abba’s personal guards are riddled with Hamas agents.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

 

Hamas has infiltrated into the senior ranks of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abba’s own security forces, bearing out Israel’s worst fears that the PA might turns it guns on Israelis, according to the DebkaFile website.

Debka, staffed by former journalists and former intelligence personnel, said that the Palestinian Authority arrested this past Sunday two Hamas agents of the terrorist’ organization’s military branch who infiltrated into the elite hand-picked security force that guards Abbas.

The PA reportedly has clamped a blackout on the arrests. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| August 5, 2012
No comments

Israel bars five foreign ministers from meeting Abbas in Ramallah

Only the 7 foreign ministers of countries with ties to Israel will be allowed to attend meeting of Non-Aligned Bloc called by PA President Abbas to discuss renewed statehood bid at the UN.

PA President Mahmoud Abbas [file photo]

PA President Mahmoud Abbas
Photo: Luis Galdamez / Reuters

Israel will allow through its gates the foreign ministers of seven countries that have ties with Israel making their way to an emergency meeting Sunday of the ‘Palestine Committee’ of the Non-Aligned Movement in Ramallah, but not those foreign ministers from countries without ties with Israel.

Government officials said a decision was made Sunday to allow the foreign ministers of Egypt, India, Colombia, South Africa, Senegal, Zambia and Zimbabwe to attend the conference.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags:
| August 4, 2012
One comment

Palestinians to seek UN statehood bid at General Assembly

Palestinian FM Riyad al-Malki says Palestine will seek status of non-member observer state during next UN General Assembly, a move that will allow them to join UN agencies & Int’l Criminal Court

 

By Reuters

 

The Palestinians will next month renew a bid to upgrade their status at the United Nations, their foreign minister said on Saturday, a move which could strengthen their statehood claims after talks with Israel stalled.

Riyad al-Malki Photo: AFP

FM Riyad al-Malki
Photo: AFP

Palestinians are listed as a UN observer “entity” with no voting rights. They will ask to be made a non-member observer state at the UN General Assembly on Sept. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| August 3, 2012
No comments

Jerusalem ‘angry’ at Mahmoud Abbas’ failure to reciprocate any goodwill

Internal government memo says PA President Abbas “unable to enter into negotiations that will require concessions.” Continues at ‘Israel-bashing’.

By HERB KEINON

 

The Palestinian failure to respond positively to a series of recent Israeli goodwill gestures shows that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is “unable to enter into negotiations that will require concessions,” according to an internal government memo made known to The Jerusalem Post.

PA President Mahmoud Abbas - Photo: Luis Galdamez/Reuters

PA President Mahmoud Abbas – Photo: Luis Galdamez/Reuters

The memo, according to senior government officials, reflects “anger in Jerusalem” over the PA’s recent behavior.

“It appears that despite a series of steps taken by Israel, the Palestinian Authority nevertheless continues in a very negative pattern of behavior,” one official said.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| July 16, 2012
No comments

PA Mahmoud Abbas asks Cuba to release American Jew, Alan Gross from prison.

An unexpected source requested Cuba to release Alan Gross, a Jewish prisoner jailed in Cuba. In early March, President Mahmoud Abbas, went to the Cuban leader Raul Castro, with the unusual request.

By: John Roberts

 

According to a senior Israeli negotiator who established the ties, Abbas wanted Castro to free Alan Gross, an American Jew imprisoned in Havana since late 2009.

The broker, peace activist Gershon Baskin, says Gross “is being held hostage.” The view is shared by much of the U.S. Jewish community and the State Department, which has no direct ties to Cuba. Palestine, however, has an excellent relationship with the island nation, so Baskin contacted Abbas. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| July 11, 2012
No comments

Palestinian Authority Rejects Levy Report

Officials in Ramallah say they’ll never accept  a single Jewish community in Judea, Samaria, or eastern Jerusalem.

By Gabe Kahn

 

Officials in Ramallah on Wednesday slammed the Netanyahu government’s plans to accept the conclusion of the Levy Commission report on Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria.

“We will not sign any peace agreement if there is a [single] settlement on Palestinian Land,” Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ spokesman Nabil Abu Rodier said.

The Levy report concluded Israel is not an occupying power in Judea and Samaria, and that Jewish communities in the region are therefore legal under international law.

“Israel has no right to be on Palestinian lands,”Rodier said, adding the PA rejected the Levy report in no uncertain terms.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags:
| July 8, 2012
No comments

Abbas: Palestinians to resume UN bid if no peace talks

Abbas says he is not issuing ultimatum, talks with Netanyahu depend on release of prisoners.

By DPA

 

The Palestinians will resume attempts to get the United Nations to recognize a Palestinian state, if no peace talks with Israel are forthcoming, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in remarks broadcast Saturday night.

He told Israel’s Channel 2 News that while negotiations remained his “first, second, and third” option, the UN bid would be pursued if there was no horizon for peace. He did not give a timetable for the move.

Mahmoud Abbas Photo by AP

Mahmoud Abbas – Photo by AP

A Palestinian bid for UN membership – in effect recognition of Palestinian statehood – fell through last year when it became clear that the necessary Security Council votes were lacking. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags:
« Older Entries   Recent Entries »