Tag Archive for Palestinian Authority

| January 10, 2013
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1st Sign of Anarchy: Fatah Gunmen Form New Opposition Organization

In response to PA’s weapons confiscation drive, renegade Palestinians in Balata refugee camp announce establishment of ‘army of free fighters’ 

By Elior Levy

 

A group of Fatah gunmen from the Balata refugee in Nablus camp have announced the establishment of “the army of free fighters” on Wednesday.

החמושים במחנה בלאטה

Gunmen in Balata refugee camp

The group members celebrated the occasion by holding a march at the camp during which they fired in the air.

Palestinian security forces have been engaged in a large-scale mission to confiscate illegal weapons in the Jenin and Balata refugee camps in recent months.

The raids often involved fire exchanges with the gunmen, some of whom are former members of Fatah’s military wing the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| January 6, 2013
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Palestinian PM angry at Arab ‘donors’

 

‘Palestine’ PM Fayyad accuses Arab states of failing to uphold their promises of cash support, says his government close to being ‘ completely incapacitated’

Associated Press

 

The Palestinian self-rule government is close to being “completely incapacitated,” largely because Arab countries haven’t delivered hundreds of millions of dollars in promised aid, the Palestinian prime minister said in an interview Sunday.

Salam Fayyad – Photo: Noam Moskowitz

If allowed to continue, the Palestinian Authority’s unprecedented financial crisis will quickly double the number of Palestinian poor to 50 percent of a population of roughly 4 million, Salam Fayyad told The Associated Press. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| January 6, 2013
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PA arrests group that called for intifada

Sources in Hebron report that most of the men who called for 3rd intifada in video are being held by PA’s Preventive Security Force.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

Palestinian Authority security forces in the West Bank have arrested members of a new terrorist group who recently declared the beginning of a third intifada.

zzzzzIn a video posted on YouTube last month, nine masked men from Hebron declared the establishment of a group called the Brigades of National Unity and called for a third intifada.

A spokesman for the group vowed to pursue the fight against Israel until the liberation of all of Palestine, “from the river to the sea.”

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| January 5, 2013
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Palestinian Authority now officially known as: ‘State of Palestine’

WAFA reports the PA has officially changed its name, with Abbas signing his 1st presidential decree after successful UN statehood bid.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

The Palestinian Authority officially changed its name to the State of Palestine, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

UN General Assembly

PA President Mahmoud Abbas officially signed his first decrees that bear the name of the State of Palestine on Friday, according to WAFA, in an apparent move to reflect the recent upgrade of the Palestinians’ status to non-member observer state at the United Nations.

Palestinian stamps, signs and letterheads will be changed to reflect his decision, WAFA reported.

Also on Friday, tens of thousands took to the streets in Gaza in a demonstration marking 48 years since Fatah’s founding.

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| January 3, 2013
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Netanyahu to ambassadors: Iran hasn’t yet crossed nuclear red line

The Prime Minister meets envoys and warns Hamas could take control of the Palestinian Authority “any day.”

 

 

Iran has not yet crossed the red line that Israel set on its nuclear program, and Israel remains determined to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Thursday.

NetanyahuNetanyahu was speaking at the last session of the annual year-end meeting in the foreign ministry for Israel’s ambassadors abroad.

During a speech at the UN in September, Netanyahu drew a red line on a picture of a bomb signifying when Tehran would be 90% on the way to development of a bomb, meaning before it had acquired enough enriched uranium to build a nuclear detonator if it so decided. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| December 31, 2012
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What Does Abbas’s Latest Threats to Quit Really Mean?

 

 

Why doesn’t Abbas consider the possibility of handing the “keys” to another Palestinian? Abbas apparently believes that if he cannot lead the Palestinian Authority no one else should — that if he comes down, then the entire Palestinian Authority should also collapse. A changing of the guard is something that the US and the EU, the major funders of Abbas and his associates, could play a major role in bringing about.

By Khaled Abu Toameh

 

Mahmoud Abbas has once again threatened to dismantle the Palestinian Authority which he heads in the West Bank.

This time he chose to make his new old threat in an interview with the daily Haaretz. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| December 30, 2012
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Palestinians: US pressuring Arab FMs not to visit Ramallah

Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Amru accompany Arab League Secretary-General in his 1st visit to Ramallah while 4 other Arab foreign ministers cancel their visit at the last minute.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

 

Palestinian officials in Ramallah on Saturday accused the US of putting pressure on Arab foreign ministers not to visit Ramallah.

The accusation came as Arab League Secretary- General Nabil Elaraby arrived in Ramallah for talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Nabil Elaraby visiting Ramallah.- Photo: REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman

Nabil Elaraby visiting Ramallah.- Photo: REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman

This was the first visit to the West Bank by an Arab League secretary-general.

Four Arab foreign ministers who were supposed to accompany Elaraby backtracked at the last minute.

Continue Reading »
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| December 30, 2012
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UK Arab Human Rights group accuse the PA of inhumane practices

Arab human rights group reports: Between 2007-2011, Mahmoud Abbas’ PA detained 13,271 Palestinians,  torturing 96% of them that resulted in 6 deaths.

By JONNY PAUL, JERUSALEM POST CORRESPONDENT

 

LONDON – An Arab human rights group based in London accused the Palestinian Authority of inhumane practices and human rights violations against Palestinian civilians in a scathing report published on Friday.

PA police grapple with Hamas supporters

PA police grapple with Hamas supporters – Photo: Ammar Awad/Reuters

The Arab Organization for Human Rights has put the primary blame for the human rights abuses on PA President Mahmoud Abbas and called on the UN, Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation to take urgent action. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| December 26, 2012
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Israel stops issuing VIP cards to PA officials

Palestinian Authority official reports that the gov’t move was a response to Ramallah’s successful bid to upgrade UN status to non-member state.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

 

Israel is refusing to renew the VIP cards of several senior Palestinian Authority officials, a Palestinian official in Ramallah said Wednesday.

IDF checkpoint – Photo: REUTERS

IDF checkpoint – Photo: REUTERS

The Israeli-issued cards, which enable their holders freedom of movement in the West Bank and Israel, had been granted to dozens of top PA officials over the past two decades.

One of the PA officials affected by the new policy is Nabil Sha’ath, member of the Fatah Central Committee and a former negotiator with Israel. Continue Reading »

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| December 25, 2012
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Qatar May Be Buying a Way for the Palestinians to Divorce from Iran

After Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Ibn Khalifa al-Thani, brought a check to Gaza, he now plans to bail out Abbas next week. His strategy may be to separate Iran from the Palestinians.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

 

Qatar’s emir, after having brought a $250 million check to Hamas in Gaza, plans to bail out Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas next week, possibly as part of a strategy may be to isolate Iran from Hamas.

Abbas speaks next to Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister

Abbas speaks next to Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister – Reuters

Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Ibn Khalifa al-Thani said he will make good on his pledge to bail out the PA, according to the Bethlehem-based Ma’an news agency. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| December 24, 2012
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Hamas Refutes Reports to Take Over Judea, Samaria from Fatah

Hamas, the Gaza based terrorist organization denies reports of its intent to replace by force the Palestinian Authority-controlled areas of Judea & Samaria.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

The Hamas terrorist organization is denying reports of its intent to take over Palestinian Authority-controlled areas of Judea and Samaria.

Spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri was quoted in a report posted on the terror group’s Al Qassam website as telling the Quds Press the reports were nothing more than “Israeli incitement” aimed at dividing PA factions. Abu Zuhri made the comment in response to an article published in the UK-based Sunday Times that alleged Hamas intends to launch a coup in the Fatah-led regions. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| December 21, 2012
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Israel Foreign Ministry: Palestinians are ‘power-drunk’

Foreign Ministry warns PA’s pledge to take ‘far-reaching steps against Israel’ if Netanyahu wins elections is ‘suicidal & delusional’

Jerusalem gears for possible Int’l Criminal Court backlash

Itamar Eichner

 

“Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is seeking to incite a confrontation with Israel no matter what,” the Foreign Ministry said Friday, following the Palestinian leader’s announcement that Ramallah will actively try to isolate Israel in the international arena.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas – Photo: Reuters

On Thursday, the Palestinian Authority, bolstered by its new UN status, said that should the Right, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, win the coming elections – which is a near-certain possibility – it will actively try to destabilize both the Israeli government and Jerusalem’s standing worldwide. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| December 20, 2012
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Palestinians plan to isolate Israel with new steps & more violence

Emboldened by upgraded UN status, Palestinian officials plan tough steps against Israel if Netanyahu is re-elected including ending all security cooperation

By Associated Press

 

Weeks ahead of Israeli elections, Palestinian officials are already plotting a series of tough steps against Israel to be taken if, as polls predict, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is re-elected and peace efforts remain stalled.

Riots in Hebron (Photo: AFP)

Riots in Hebron – Photo: AFP

Emboldened by their newly upgraded status at the United Nations, the Palestinians are talking of filing war crimes charges against Israel, staging mass demonstrations in the West Bank, encouraging the international community to impose sanctions, and ending the security cooperation that has helped preserve quiet in recent years. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| December 17, 2012
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PA Goes to UN Security Council on Jerusalem Construction Plans

The Palestinian Authority says it will lodge a complaint at the UN Security Council over plans for new housing construction in Jerusalem.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

The Palestinian Authority said Monday night it will file a complaint with the United Nations Security Council over progress in plans for a housing project in Jerusalem’s Ramat Shlomo neighborhood.

PA officials denounced the decision by Israel’s Interior Ministry to tell developers they must resubmit the plan for “final approval,” reduced by 100 units.

The plan authorized by Interior Minister Eli Yishai in August 2011 called for construction of 1,600 housing units. But after the ministry’s planning committee heard objections at a public meeting held Monday, developers were told they must reduce the number by 100, and make other adjustments before resubmitting the plan for “final approval.” Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| December 17, 2012
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New poll reveals: Majority of WB Palestinians support Hamas

Palestinians are “frustrated” with Israel, “They may turn to Hamas not because it’s Hamas, but because it’s the movement that opposes negotiations with Israel.”

 

The majority of Palestinians have said that they support Hamas’s response to the latest Israel-Gaza conflict, according to a new poll by a research center in Ramallah.

A Palestinian Hamas supporter with her child attends a Hamas rally marking the 25th anniversary of the Islamist movement's foundation, in Nablus, northern West Bank, on Dec. 13, 2012.

A Palestinian Hamas supporter with her child attends a Hamas rally marking the 25th anniversary of the Islamist movement’s foundation, in Nablus, northern West Bank, on Dec. 13, 2012. – Photo: ATEF SAFADI/EPA

According to the 1200-person survey by the Arab World Research and Development Center, nearly 90 per cent of Palestinians living in the West Bank supported the terrorist organization’s bold response in comparison to that of Fatah. Continue Reading »

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