Palestine

IS Urges Members to Fight Syria's New Government

The Islamic State group on Saturday urged its fighters to confront Syria's new authorities, in its spokesperson's first audio message in two years. In a recording posted online, Abu Huzaifa al-Ansari said IS members in Syria must fight "the new Syrian regime, with its secular government and national army" and "make that ...

Hamas Official Says Group in Final Stage of Choosing New Chief

A senior Hamas official told AFP on Sunday that the Palestinian Islamist movement was in the final phase of selecting a new leader, with two prominent figures competing for the position. Hamas recently completed the formation of a new Shura Council, a consultative body largely composed of religious scholars, as well as a new political ...

Report: Trump to Unveil Multi-Billion Dollar Gaza Reconstruction Plan

President Donald Trump is set to launch a multi-billion-dollar initiative to rebuild Gaza and deploy a U.N.-authorized stabilization force, according to a report by Reuters citing senior U.S. officials. The announcement will take place at the inaugural meeting of Trump’s Board of Peace next week. The officials said the fund for Gaza will ...

PRESS RELEASE From Setbacks to Solutions: The Journey Toward Israel-Lebanon Peace and Regional Integration

THIS IS BEIRUT AND MIND ISRAEL CO-HOST PANEL DISCUSSION AT THE MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE ABOUT LEBANON-ISRAEL PEACE The panel, which will be livestreamed, will discuss the setbacks and progress made as Lebanon and Israel engage in dialogue, and will look ahead to the road toward peace (MUNICH): On Saturday, February 14 at 12:30 PM (Eastern ...

Trump Hosts Netanyahu at White House, Says U.S. to Continue Iran Nuclear Talks

U.S. President Donald Trump said, following his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Wednesday, that he did not reach any agreement with Netanyahu, but insisted on negotiations and told him that negotiating with Iran is currently the preferred option. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with ...

Turkey Arrests Two on Charges of Spying for Israel

Turkish intelligence has arrested two people on suspicion of spying for Israel's Mossad and providing information that helped the spy agency target its enemies, state news agency Anadolu reported Friday. Security sources said Mehmet Budak Derya and Veysel Kerimoglu had been arrested in Istanbul, saying they had long been on the radar of ...

Turkey's Erdogan Visits Saudi as Ties Between Former Rivals Warm

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Riyadh on Tuesday in his first visit in more than two years, as ties warm between Saudi Arabia and its rival-turned-ally. Ankara hopes to "finalise negotiations towards a free trade agreement between Turkey and the member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)", the Turkish presidency said. "The two ...

Palestinian President Abbas Calls First-Ever PLO Parliament Elections

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas said elections will be held on November 1 for the Palestinian National Council, the parliament of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), the official news agency Wafa reported Monday. This is the first time members of the council will be elected by direct popular vote, while in the past they were appointed ...

World Food Program Terminates All Staff Contracts in Rebel-Held Yemen: UN Official

The World Food Programme is ending the contracts of all 365 staff in Houthi-controlled Yemen, a UN official told AFP on Thursday, effectively ending operations in a zone gravely afflicted by hunger. The United Nations agency suspended work in rebel-held areas in late August after the Iran-backed Houthis detained 38 employees in a series of raids, ...

Trump Invites Foreign Leaders to Join Gaza 'Board of Peace'

U.S. President Donald Trump has invited Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to join the so-called Board of Peace that will oversee post-war Gaza, Turkey said Saturday. Erdogan received the proposal in a letter sent Friday by Trump inviting him to "become a founding member" of the board, Turkish presidential communications director ...