Israel

Source : Agencies | Gaza | 11 May 2012

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh warned Israel about the face of Palestinian prisoners who are in hunger strike for weeks, saying Israel must keep the promises it made when Shalit was released

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said on Thursday Reuters in an interview the grand coalition formed this week by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which gives him an unassailable majority in parliament, had been established for internal reasons but could also have "external motives".

By Ali Sawafta | Reuters | Ramallah | 07 May 2012

Israel’s Supreme Court turned down on Monday an appeal by two Palestinians, who have been on hunger strike for the past 70 days, to free them from detention without trial.

But in its decision, released by the Justice Ministry, the court said security authorities should consider freeing them for medical reasons.

By Reuters | Jerusalem | 04 May 2012

Facing Israel’s highest court in their wheelchairs, two Palestinian prisoners on the 66th day of their hunger strike appealed yesterday for their release from detention without trial.

Thaer Halahla and Bilal Diab, suspected by Israel of security offenses, are among at least 1,550 Palestinian prisoners refusing food in Israeli jails in a protest against so-called “administrative detention.”

Source : UNHR | Geneva | 30 Apr 2012

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Wednesday expressed deep concern about current or recent moves in a number of countries to curtail the freedom of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other civil society actors to operate independently and effectively.

By Reuters | Jerusalem | 29 Apr 2012

A former Israeli spymaster has branded the country’s leaders unfit to tackle the Iranian nuclear program because of what he called the “messianic feelings” behind their threats to launch a pre-emptive war on Iran.

Other veterans have come out against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak recently, but the criticism from former domestic intelligence chief Yuval Diskin was especially strong.

By Maayan Lubell | Reuters | Jerusalem | 25 Apr 2012

Israel’s military chief said he does not believe Iran will decide to produce an atomic bomb, describing its leadership as “very rational” in an interview published on Wednesday.

Lt. General Benny Gantz’s characterization of Iran’s rulers appeared to be at odds with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s oft-stated warnings that Islamic leaders could opt to use nuclear weapons even at the risk of devastating retaliation.

By Jeffrey Heller | Reuters | Jerusalem | 25 Apr 2012

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced support on Tuesday for the first time for Palestinians to establish a contiguous state, saying their future country should not look like “Swiss cheese.”

But only hours earlier, a ministerial committee in his right-wing government granted Israeli legal status to three previously unauthorized Jewish settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank, drawing Palestinian and international criticism.

By Arab News | New York | 25 Apr 2012

Saudi Arabia has expressed its deep concern over Israel's continuing assaults on East Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque and its attempts to destroy, burn and weaken the foundations of the mosque, the third holiest place of worship for Muslims.

“The Israeli occupation authorities have been continuing their abhorrent methods of displacement and expulsion of Palestinians, arbitrary detention, ill-treatment of prisoners and settlement building,” said Abdullah Al-Muallami, the Kingdom’s permanent representative to the United Nations.

Source : Agencies | Cairo | 23 Apr 2012

Egyptian energy companies have terminated a deal to supply Israel with natural gas.

An Israeli partner in the business made the step public on Sunday but an Egyptian firm said the decision to cancel the deal had been made on Thursday.

The Egyptian decision was announced in Israel by Ampal-American Israel Corporation, partner in the East Mediterranean Gas Company (EMG), which operates a cross-border pipeline supplying gas to Israel.

Source : Cihan | Ankara | 21 Apr 2012

Turkey has blocked Israel’s participation in NATO’s upcoming Chicago summit in a sign of Turkey’s determination to maintain demands that stemmed from a deadly ship raid.

Turkish and Israeli relations worsened in May 2010 and have remained strained since then after Israeli naval commandos stormed the Mavi Marmara, a ship carrying humanitarian aid to break Israel’s Gaza blockade, killing nine Turkish civilians.