A unity agreement between the two major Palestinian political parties, Fatah and Hamas, has been greeted with scepticism from Palestinian youth activists, writes Nigel O’Connor, a freelance journalist in Ramallah.
Israel Palestinian conflict
As Syrian toll climbs, strategic intervention looms
Syrian protesters have called for the UN and NATO to enforce a no-fly zone in belief it would end the regime’s violent attacks, writes Crikey intern Alexander Cornwell.
Strange bedfellows: new nexus between Israel and far Right
This is an extract from an essay in On Utøya: Anders Breivik, right terror, racism and Europe.
Shalit swap a sign of failing peace hopes
This week’s celebrations for prisoner swaps are unable to hide the fact that Middle East peace seems further away than ever.
Israeli soldier’s release a win-win
As Israel celebrates, and the world welcomes, the release of soldier Gilad Shalit, Hamas, the Islamist party controlling the Gaza Strip, has emerged with a significant victory in its push for Palestinian political supremacy, writes freelancer Nigel O’Connor.
Palestinians, Israelis targets of settler violence in lead-up to UN vote
In the lead-up to the United Nations vote on the recognition of Palestinian statehood, there is an overwhelming sense, in Israel and Palestine, of uncertainty, writes freelancer Nigel O’Connor.
Political snippets: Kev flying by the seat of …
Kevin Rudd’s ambition to secure a seat for Australia on the United Nations Security Council is causing the first serious public rift for years within the Labor Party over Israel.
Richardson: opportunity abounds for the Palestinians
The Middle East has unexpectedly become the land of opportunity, and attention is starting to be drawn to whether the Palestinians can take advantage of some of it, or will miss out again.
Essential: voters still unhappy about carbon price
Recent falls in support for a carbon price and the NBN have reversed in this week’s Essential Report.
The Palestine Papers: inside the peace process
Secret Palestinian documents reveal insights into Israel-Palestine peace meetings, including news that Palestinian negotiators would concede all but one of the East Jerusalem contested settlements. Al-Jazeera and The Guardian share the scoop.
Scramble to save Middle East peace talks
Despite the US proudly launching peace talks with Palestinian and Israeli leaders just a month ago, no resolution could be reached before the end of Israel’s freeze on West Bank settlement construction. What will Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas do now?
UN condemns Israel for flotilla attack
Israel’s military “betrayed an unacceptable level of brutality” and violated human rights in its attack on the Gaza flotilla in May, declared a UN panel set up to investigate the controversy.
Still no peace in sight for Israel-Palestine
Only a fortnight remains of Israel’s settlement freeze, but despite days of intense peace talks brokered by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, no resolution was reached.
Letter from...: Tel Aviv: I feel safer here than in Melbourne
Despite the presence of guns, Tel Aviv feels peaceful, like most cosmopolitan cities although some reminders of danger exist — bags are searched before entering shopping centres and train stations, writes Ben Iaquinto.
Should the US support Israel?
Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu is set to visit the White House this week. But the facts show that supporting Israel just increases Arab terrorist attacks on the US, writes Thaddeus Russell.
Israel in the dock — but what do Israelis think?
Despite the country’s “siege mentality” image, a few days in Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem shows that many people are sensitive to what the world thinks. Simon Roughneen reports from Tel-Aviv.
Blockade ease won’t save destroyed economy
While the lifting of the Gaza blockade is welcomed, the mood in Gaza is still bitter and frustrated. The economy is a mess and the Hamas government want sanctions need to be lifted completely.
Israel lifts Gaza blockade
Israel PM Binyamin Netanyahu has eased the Gaza blockade, announcing that all civilian products are now allowed and only weapons and arms manufacturing products will be banned. But will the actions match the words?
Turks hack Israeli Facebook accounts over Gaza blockade incident
Individual Facebook users have become targets of political hacking — presumably by two Turkish hackers — over the Gaza blockade incident.
Gaza: cake now allowed, freedom still banned
Israel has thrown a few scraps to Gaza in the form of cookies, soft drink and potato chips, with junk food now permitted through the Gaza blockade. But is this just a distraction from the flotilla attack?
Farewell Helen Thomas
Helen Thomas, a White House correspondent ever since JFK was president, announced her retirement yesterday. In Washington there was one set of rules for the White House press corps and another for Helen Thomas.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: The trouble with reporting about Israel
One Crikey readers says it would be a shame if Rundle readers stopped after the first inflammatory sentence. Plus, why should the miners have been consulted before the RSPT introduced?
Why Israel’s lefties are waving their Israeli flags high
This week young Israelis — a mix of gay, straight, students and non-political types — united to defend Israel being slandered by the rest of the world. Ethan Perlson explains.
