Tag: israel

As the clash between the U.S. and Israeli governments over settlements in the occupied territories intensifies, many of Israel’s traditionally staunch defenders in Washington have been pushing back, tentatively but with increasing assertiveness, to urge the Barack Obama administration to alleviate its pressure on Israel. The settlements battle has put these defenders in a delicate … Continue reading “Pro-Israel Groups Push Back Against Settlements Policy”

JERUSALEM — Israel’s newly installed ambassador in Washington says the "disagreement" with the U.S. over Israel’s settlement policy will be resolved "soon." Speaking on Israel Radio, Michael Oren was giving his first interview since taking up his post. His upbeat assessment is challenged by many other Israeli officials and by most political pundits who foresee … Continue reading “Defiant Netanyahu Plays His Jerusalem Card”

No one would have been more surprised than Fawziya Khurd by the recent pronouncement of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, that Israel operates an "open city" policy in Jerusalem.  Mr Netanyahu told his cabinet on Sunday that Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem following the 1967 war — what he called the city’s "unification" — … Continue reading “The Reality of Israel’s ‘Open’ Jerusalem”

RAMALLAH — The northern Palestinian West Bank is turning into a flashpoint as Israeli settlers continue to attack Palestinian civilians and their property as part of a "price tag" policy. On Tuesday Walid Assaf, a Palestinian Legislative Council member, was injured after Israeli settlers near the northern West Bank city Qalqilya threw a rock through … Continue reading “Rampaging Settlers Shatter Fragile Calm”