There is a building boom taking place now in Gaza, despite the blockade Israel has imposed on the Strip since Hamas took power there. The boom is due in part to an intricate network of tunnels dug into the sandy soil reaching from Gaza, extending over the international border, and ending in Egypt. Israel Allows… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: Israel
Blair Blasted as Biased Quartet Envoy
The former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is being accused of “parroting” the same demands as Israel is making, de-legitimizing his role as unbiased mediator in the eyes of the leadership in Palestine. Blair Disappoints Palestinians One senior Palestinian leader, Nabil Shaath, has stated that Palestinian officials seriously considered whether or not to make a… Continue Reading
Israel Succeeds in Peaceful Takeover of Blockade Running French Ship
Flaunting the warning that Israel would repel any attempt to cut through its sea blockade of the Gaza Strip, the French ship “Dignity al-Karama” nevertheless approached the Strip, only to be stopped by Israeli defense forces. Quiet, Orderly Takeover The takeover of the ship was said to be peaceful and without incident. No harm was… Continue Reading
Life in Gaza One Year after Mavi Marmara
One year has passed since the Israeli raid by commandos on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, which left nine dead. The Mavi Marmara was part of a larger flotilla whose stated aim was to break the blockade on Gaza and bring desperately needed supplies, like medicine, school supplies and construction materials into the area. Gazan… Continue Reading
Israel and Lebanon File Protests at UN Over Border Confrontation
Diplomats representing Lebanon and Israel at the United Nations formally submitted protests concerning the violent border clashes that took place between Israel, Lebanon and Syria on May 15, Nakba Day, this past Sunday. Nakba is Day of Catastrophe May 15th is the day the Arab world calls Nakba, the Arabic word for ‘catastrophe.’ The day… Continue Reading
Reaction to bin Laden Slaying Mixed in Middle East
As the Middle East continues to deal with instability and changing political realities a new element has been added into the mixture, with unclear results. The news of the death of Osama bin Laden was met with a large variety of responses from Middle East observers; from shock and anger, to satisfaction and delight. Saudi… Continue Reading
Abu Sisi Indicted in Beersheva Court for Rocket Attacks from Gaza
Dirar Abu Sisi the 42 year-old engineer who was arrested by Israel while traveling in the Ukraine, was indicted yesterday in an Israeli court for being a member of Hamas and for designing rockets for the Islamist group’s military branch. Indictment for Rocket Manufacture and Membership in Hamas The official summary of the court indictment,… Continue Reading
Israel Approves New Construction in Wake of Massacre
Reports that at least 30,000 people were in attendance at the funeral of five members of the Fogel family, who were brutally murdered on Friday night while asleep in their beds. According to the Israeli army, two terrorists entered the town of Itamar, not far from Nablus, at about 10:30pm. The first house they entered… Continue Reading
South Sudan Discusses Diplomatic Relations with Israel
On the cusp of becoming and independent nation, Africa’s newest nation of South Sudan is planning to establish diplomatic relations with the Jewish State of Israel. The declaration of independence is expected to occur this coming July, and in anticipation of that day the head of a delegation of South Sudanese, Suleiman Alhariri, invited Deputy… Continue Reading
Live Coverage From Tahir Square
Here is a link to live coverage on Aljazeera from Tahir square where a giant demonstration called “million man march.” It is increasingly a tense situation in Cairo and throughout Egypt as opposition parties seem to have united behind Mohamed Elbaradei for the time being. Protesters have demanded that Mubarak step down. The fall of… Continue Reading