Mel Frykberg

Mel Frykberg writes for Inter Press Service.

Israel and EU Clash Over Settlements

RAMALLAH – The Israeli Foreign Ministry’s concern over an "unusually harsh statement" by the European Commission over Israel’s settlement policy indicates a growing unease between Israel and the EU. The European Commission (EC), the executive arm of the EU, said that Israel’s settlement policy in the West Bank was strangling the Palestinian economy and forcing … Continue reading “Israel and EU Clash Over Settlements”

Future of Fatah in Doubt

RAMALLAH — The future of Palestinian unity talks is far more complex than the bitter rivalry, bloodshed and division which represent the yawning chasm separating Palestine’s two main political factions, Hamas and Fatah. There are serious issues within Fatah that need to be resolved. After two decades of power struggles and acrimony within the organization, … Continue reading “Future of Fatah in Doubt”

Hamas-Fatah Violence May Derail Reconciliation

RAMALLAH – Egyptian mediators have set July 7 as deadline for final Palestinian reconciliation talks in Cairo. The Egyptians say time is running out, and if there is no progress in July, they will no longer be prepared to arbitrate. Continued political detention and abuse of Palestinian prisoners by Hamas in Gaza and by the … Continue reading “Hamas-Fatah Violence May Derail Reconciliation”

Aid Agencies Slam Gaza Blockade

Forty international aid agencies and NGOs released a joint statement Wednesday condemning Israel’s blockade of Gaza, to mark the second anniversary of the coastal territory being hermetically sealed off from the outside world. It read, in part: "We, United Nations and non-governmental humanitarian organizations, express deepening concern over Israel’s continued blockade of the Gaza Strip … Continue reading “Aid Agencies Slam Gaza Blockade”

Palestinian Officials Unimpressed With Netanyahu’s Offer

RAMALLAH – Yasser Abed Rabbo, secretary of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s executive committee, and a close confidant of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, has dismissed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s foreign policy speech Sunday night as a big zero. Abed Rabbo said the speech was empty of content, and pointless. "Netanyahu is a swindler … … Continue reading “Palestinian Officials Unimpressed With Netanyahu’s Offer”

Palestinians Begin to See Real Hope

RAMALLAH – Chief Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat believes Palestinians are politically in their strongest position ever in their decades-long conflict with the Israelis. There also appears to be growing consensus and confidence in both Palestinian and Arab circles that the U.S. administration could be offering more than just lip-service to Palestinian independence aspirations this … Continue reading “Palestinians Begin to See Real Hope”

For West Bank Palestinians, Some Unclean Drops to Drink

FAQUA, Northern West Bank — Faqua village has found itself unfortunately named. Faqua in Arabic means spring water bubbles; the village was named after the abundant natural underground springs that were once found all around it. Today the people are on their own; the water springs have been taken over by Israel. Faqua’s problems started … Continue reading “For West Bank Palestinians, Some Unclean Drops to Drink”

Israel Cracks Down on Minority Rights

RAMALLAH – Three bills recently making the rounds in the Israeli parliament have caused outrage among Israel’s Arab minority. "They reveal an obscene and dangerous targeting of the individual and collective rights of Palestinian citizens," the independent BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights in Israel said in a press release. One bill … Continue reading “Israel Cracks Down on Minority Rights”

Palestinian Authority Going the Israeli Way

RAMALLAH — A surge in confidence, following unprecedented U.S. political support, led to the Palestinian Authority’s bloody crackdown on a Hamas cell in the northern West Bank on Sunday which left six Palestinians dead. However, reports of questionable Palestinian Authority (PA) tactics, including the use of Palestinian civilians as human shields, has brought the operation … Continue reading “Palestinian Authority Going the Israeli Way”

Bloody New Battles Suit Israel

RAMALLAH – The inevitable has happened. Simmering tensions between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have left six Palestinians dead, in the bloodiest confrontation between the two groups since Hamas ousted Fatah from Gaza in June 2007. A bloody gun battle broke out Sunday morning in the northern West Bank town of Qalqilia between a … Continue reading “Bloody New Battles Suit Israel”