Tag Archive for UN

| November 23, 2012
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France FM Hints they Will Support PA’s UN Bid

Laurent Fabius reminds senate that President Hollande promised to promote recognition of a Palestinian state.

By Elad Benari

 

France is considering voting in favor of the Palestinian Authority’s unilateral statehood bid at the United Nations, its foreign minister hinted on Thursday.

Speaking at a hearing in the French senate, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius reminded that French President Francois Hollande promised during his election campaign to promote the issue of Palestinian statehood.

Laurent Fabius - Photo: BERTRAND

Laurent Fabius – Photo: BERTRAND

“I would like to mention that in his election campaign, President Hollande said he would work toward international recognition of a Palestinian state,” Fabius said. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| November 14, 2012
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Prosor to UN Security Council: Time to Condemn Hamas for Terrorism

Israel’s ambassador to the UN sends a letter of complaint over the 150 rocket attacks on southern Israel by Hamas’ ruled Gaza.

By Elad Benari

 

In the wake of the ongoing rocket fire by Gaza-based terrorists at southern Israel, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ron Prosor, sent on Tuesday a letter of complaint to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and to the UN Security Council.

“Hamas and other terrorist organizations in Gaza have fired more than 150 rockets in recent days,” Prosor wrote. “Civilians and many Israeli soldiers have been wounded and damage has been caused to property. More than one million citizens live under the constant threat of terrorism. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| November 11, 2012
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If Palestinians seek UN recognition, Israel says it will close cash tap

Finance Minster Yuval Steinitz tells town hall meeting in Be’er Sheva, ‘It cannot be that they hit us unilaterally & then expect bilateral cooperation with us on economic matters,’

By Reuters

 

Israel will stop collecting tax revenues for the Palestinian Authority and not hand over any money if President Mahmoud Abbas continues to seek observer state membership of the United Nations, Israel’s finance minister said on Saturday.

Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz.

Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz. – Photo: Michal Fattal

“If the Palestinians continue to advance their unilateral move they should not expect bilateral cooperation. We will not collect their taxes for them and we will not transfer their tax revenues,” Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| November 6, 2012
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Iran to join nuclear-free Middle East Conference

A day after IAEA chief said Tehran not cooperating with probe of its nuclear program, Iran’s ambassador to UN offers to take part in the December conference in Helsinki.

By and Reuters

 

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations nuclear watchdog said on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic would take part in a proposed international conference in December on creating a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East.

Iran nuclear Arak - AP - Archive

Heavy-water production plant in the central Iranian town of Arak, – Photo by AP

“The Islamic Republic of Iran now finally has decided to participate at the conference in Finland, in Helsinki, in December on a Middle East [nuclear] free zone,” Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, told reporters in Brussels where he attended a seminar on nuclear non-proliferation. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| November 6, 2012
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A BDS Supporter in the UN with his Boycott recommendation

Op-ed: Richard Falk had 2 options –
1) forced hospitalization or
2) taking job as UN Rights Council rapporteur

By Yoaz Hendel

While the UN shows that it has no problem observing the chaos and carnage in Syria with intellectual curiosity from afar, the activity aimed at condemning Israel has reached new heights.

The UN’s Richard Falk – Photo: AFP

Earlier this week, Richard Falk, the special rapporteur to the UN Human Rights Council, released a report in which he calledfor a boycott of private companies that are “engaged in profit-making” in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

In the report, Falk singled out 13 companies, including Hewlett Packard, Motorola, Volvo, Caterpillar and even Veolia, which holds shares in the company that operates the Jerusalem light rail system and provides transportation for the residents of the capital’s eastern sector. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| November 2, 2012
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NGO Urges Basic Fact-Finding Standards & Ethical Principles for UN Body

Watchdog group to UN expressed concern over the Mission’s working methods & calling for compliance with fact-finding standards & ethical principles.
Don’t be like Goldstone. Check your facts, reveal your sources, & who was paid $105,300 for 2 months of work?

By Maayana Miskin

 

The NGO Monitor watchdog group has filed a submission to the UN Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC) “independent international fact-finding Mission on the Israeli Settlements,” expressing concern over the Mission’s working methods and calling for compliance with fact-finding standards and ethical principles. The submission demands, at a minimum, strict adherence to the principles of impartiality and objectivity, transparency in all interactions with NGOs and professional guidelines for assessing the credibility and factual and legal claims of NGOs. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| November 1, 2012
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Erekat warns of ‘retaliation’ from US & Israeli after UN bid

Top PLO negotiator says Washington & Jerusalem may take punitive measures in response to Palestinian bid to upgrade to non-member state, says Palestinian Authority need to prepare for reactions to “avoid a state of internal chaos.”

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

The Palestinians must be prepared for the possibility that the US and Israel may impose severe economic restrictions on the Palestinian Authority the day after the UN upgrades the status of a Palestinian state to non-member, Chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat warned Thursday.

“It’s very important to be prepared for Israeli reactions to the upgrading of the Palestinian state’s status so as to avoid a state of internal chaos [in the Palestinian territories],” Erekat said in an report about the implications of the statehood bid.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| October 31, 2012
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Hollande & Netanyahu call for tougher sanctions on Iran

Israel’s PM meets with French president in Paris where Hollande backs more EU sanctions on Tehran, urges ‘unconditional’ resumption of peace talks but rejects possible military action.

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and French President Francois Hollande called Wednesday for firmer sanctions on Iran to keep it from developing nuclear weapons.

France's President Francois Hollande and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - Reuters.

France’s President Francois Hollande, left, and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attending a joint news conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, October 31, 2012. – Photo by Reuters

In a visit to Paris on Wednesday, Netanyahu praised French pressure on Iran and called for “even tougher sanctions.” Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| October 28, 2012
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Palestinian officials report: Abbas advancing his bid for UN recognition

Despite continued pressure from both  Israel & the US, Mahmoud Abbas is expected to ask the UN General Assembly to approve request for “nonmember state” status this November.

Palestinian officials say Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is moving forward with his plan to seek upgraded observer status at the United Nations next month, despite American and Israeli threats of financial or diplomatic retaliation.

Abbas at the UN General Assembly

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters. – Photo by AP

One official said Abbas is expected to ask the UN General Assembly to approve a Palestinian request for “nonmember state” status on November 15 or November 29. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| October 25, 2012
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UN official calls for boycott of firms linked to Israeli settlements

A UN rapporteur on human rights alleges that companies dealing with settlers are in violation of int’l human rights laws.

 

By and Reuters

 

A U.N. investigator on Palestinian human rights urged a boycott of companies tied to Jewish settlements in occupied Palestinian Territories on Thursday, but the United States criticized the call as “irresponsible and unacceptable.”

IDF soldiers in a West Bank settlement

IDF soldiers in a West Bank settlement – Photo by Emil Salman

Richard Falk, the independent special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian Territories, said the companies – which include Hewlett Packard, Motorola, Volvo and Caterpillar – should be boycotted until they adhered to international rights standards and practices. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| October 12, 2012
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Israel’s UN envoy demands UNSC censure of Gaza fire

Amb. Ron Prosor sent to UN chief & Security Council a letter protesting their disregard of Hamas rocket fire on Israel’s civilian communities.

By Yitzhak Benhorin

 

WASHINGTON – Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Ron Prosor sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the president of the Security Council Thursday, over their failure to condemn Gaza’s rocket fire on Israel.

The Security Council – Photo: AP

Prosor pointed out that while the UN was quick to condemn similar fire by Syria, it

“Over the past three days, terrorists fired 37 more rockets into Israeli communities. The Hamas campaign of terror continues to strike our homes, schools, and hospitals. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| October 10, 2012
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Abbas suggests to Israel peace talks resumption after UN vote on ‘nonmember state’ status

If Abbas receives UN recognition of a Palestinian state that includes all of the West Bank, PA officials believes a settlement freeze would no longer be a condition for negotiations

 

The Palestinian president appears to be backing away from his longstanding demand for Israel to halt West Bank settlement construction before peace talks resume.

PA President Abbas with the Jordanian Prime Minister Fayez Al Tarawneh.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, right, shake hands with Jordanian Prime Minister Fayez Al Tarawneh during their meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah, October 4, 2012. – Photo by AP

Mahmoud Abbas told European diplomats Tuesday that he will resume talks after the UN votes on a Palestinian request for “nonmember state” status. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| October 1, 2012
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Syria blasts France & U.S. for supporting ‘terrorists,’ says Israel must submit to NPT

Syrian FM Walid al-Moualem accuses France & U.S. of “blatant interference in the domestic affairs of Syria,” & says Israel must join NPT & be forced to submit nuclear sites to IAEA supervision.

By Reuters and Jack Khoury

 

Syria accused the United States, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey on Monday of hijacking the country’s 18-month conflict between government forces and pro-democracy rebel groups by supporting ‘terrorism’  with arms, money and foreign fighters, and said Israel should be forced to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

AP

al-Moualem, Foreign Minister of Syria, addresses the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters, October.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| September 30, 2012
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UNICEF uses Israel-made water purification tablets in Syria

Israel Chemicals given special authorization to sell water purification tables to UN to rehabilitate Syria’s water sources

By Avital Lahav

Israel Chemicals (ICL) was given a special authorization Sunday to have one of its European subsidiaries sell water purification tablets to UNICEF with the knowledge that they will be used in the agency’s relief mission in Syria.

Syria In ruins. – Photo: Reuters

UNICEF is overseeing a project meant to rehabilitate Syria’s water sources, which have suffered significant damage during the 18-months revolt against President Bashar Assad.

The deal will be carried out by ICL’s Ireland-based subsidiary, Medentech. The company needed government approval for the deal since it involved the delivery of Israeli products to an enemy state. Continue Reading »

Category: Innovations & Discoveries, Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| September 29, 2012
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Lieberman: Abbas Blames Israel to Divert Responsibility

Lieberman explains to foreign dignitaries how Abbas uses Israel as a scapegoat rather than make peace.

By Maayana Miskin

 

Israel cannot make peace with the Palestinian Authority while it is led by Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said. Lieberman spent his time at the United Nations General Assembly last week meeting with dignitaries from around the world and – despite previous backlash – told them that Abbas is the primary obstacle to peace.

Abbas is uninterested in, and incapable of, providing true leadership, Lieberman accused. Instead, he seeks to use his PA chairmanship to travel the world and incite against Israel, while using Israel as a scapegoat for problems at home, he continued. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
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