Palestine
Latest stories
Jerusalem Arab Father Denies Son Spied on IS for Israel

The father of an Arab Israeli teen from Jerusalem denied on Friday a claim by the Islamic State group that his son was an Israeli agent captured after infiltrating the organization in Syria.

In the latest issue of its online English-language magazine Dabiq, IS published an alleged interview with 19-year old Mohammed Said Ismail Musallam in which he reportedly says Israel's Mossad agency recruited him to spy on the jihadist group.

W140 Full Story
Palestinian Schoolgirl Freed after Six Weeks in Israeli Jail

Israel freed on Friday a 14-year-old Palestinian schoolgirl, whose jailing six weeks ago for planning to attack Israelis became a focus for anger over the arrest of children in the occupied territories.

An Agence France Presse photographer in the West Bank town of Tulkarem said Malak al-Khatib was released there and greeted by her parents, relatives and the mayor, before being taken home to Beitin village, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) away.

W140 Full Story
Israel Electoral Commission Bans Arab MP's Reelection Bid

Firebrand Arab MP Haneen Zuabi, a regular critic of Israel's right-wing government, was banned Thursday from standing in next month's general election.

The elections committee gave no reason for the disqualification, reported on its website, but Zuabi's lawyer Hassan Jabareen said it was because she was deemed "hostile to the Jewish state."

W140 Full Story
Netanyahu Admits 'Profound Disagreement' with Obama on Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted Tuesday he has a "profound disagreement" with President Barack Obama over efforts by the U.S. and world powers to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.

However, he said he is still trying to minimize the impact of the dispute on his country's relations with the United States.

W140 Full Story
Sweden Tells Abbas Aid to Palestine Comes with Responsibilities

Sweden announced a multi-million-euro Palestinian aid package Tuesday as President Mahmoud Abbas made his first visit to Stockholm since 2009.

Sweden became the first major Western European country to recognize Palestine in October, but Prime Minister Stefan Loefven stressed that the recognition came with responsibilities.

W140 Full Story
Netanyahu Insists He Will Address Congress over Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday he is determined to address Congress next month over Iran's nuclear program, brushing off U.S. fears his intervention could derail talks with Tehran.

"I am determined to address Congress, that is why I decided to go to Washington and present Israel's position," Netanyahu told participants at an election event by his Likud party.

W140 Full Story
Abbas Visits Sweden amid Israel Spat

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Stockholm on Monday for an official visit tainted by a diplomatic row with Israel following Sweden's recognition of Palestine.

Swedish relations with Israel sank to an all-time low after the Nordic country's center-left government decided in October to recognize Palestine, just weeks after it took office.

W140 Full Story
Hamas Leader Calls for Lebanon, Syria Branches to Attack Israel

A senior Hamas leader called Wednesday for the formation of Palestinian militant groups loyal to his Gaza-based Islamist movement in refugee camps in Lebanon and Syria for attacks on Israel.

Mahmud Zahar told reporters in the Gaza Strip that Lebanese and Syrian branches of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing, should launch attacks on Israel "to help us liberate Palestine".

W140 Full Story
'IS' Temporarily Kidnaps Gaza Journalist Working for Dutch

A Palestinian journalist who also works as advisor in the Gaza Strip to Dutch diplomats was kidnapped and beaten by men claiming to belong to the Islamic State group, a relative said Wednesday.

Mohammed al-Maghayer went missing Tuesday morning and was released several hours later after having been interrogated about his links to the Dutch, the relative said.

W140 Full Story
Abbas Orders Probe into West Bank Mohammed Cartoon

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has ordered an investigation into a drawing of the Muslim Prophet Mohammed which appeared in a West Bank newspaper, local media reported Tuesday.

The cartoon, which appeared Sunday in al-Hayat al-Jadida, depicted what appeared to be a giant Mohammed standing on top of the world, sprinkling grains of love and acceptance from a heart-shaped satchel.

W140 Full Story