Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday called on Hamas to help achieving inter-Palestinian reconciliation.
“The road is clear for reconciliation and the elimination of the causes of Palestinian division through the implementation of the Cairo Agreement in a comprehensive manner,” Abbas said at a meeting of the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah.
“If Hamas agrees to implement the reconciliation agreement, we are ready," Abbas added.
The Palestinian president also condemned recent Israeli aggression against Gaza.
The Arab League convened an urgent meeting on Thursday to discuss recent Israeli aggression in the blockaded Gaza Strip.Held at the league’s Cairo headquarters and attended by its permanent representatives, the meeting comes at the request of the Palestinian leadership.In its opening session, league representatives observed a minute of silence for Palestinians in Gaza recently martyred by Israeli airstrikes and artillery barrages.Saeed Abu Ali, league deputy secretary-general for Palestine affairs, called for an immediate halt to Israeli aggression and for international protection for the Palestinian people."The UN Security Council appears unable to shoulder its responsibilities regarding the Israeli aggression on Gaza," he said."The U.S. also continues to show its bias towards Israel and to thwart all attempts to condemn the [Israeli] occupation," Abu Ali added.Since Sunday, at least 14 Palestinians have been martyred -- by Israeli airstrikes and artillery -- across the blockaded territory.On Sunday night, an Israeli officer was killed -- and another injured -- in a botched ground operation in Gaza.Tensions appeared to ease slightly late Tuesday after Israel and Gaza-based resistance factions agreed to an Egypt-brokered cease-fire.Israel’s US-funded Iron Dome fails to down Hamas rockets
Arab League convenes urgent meeting on Gaza
Abbas also thanked all countries and parties that had contributed to a recent Hamas-Israel ceasefire.
"Our goal is to spare our people more massacres and war crimes," he said.
Since Sunday, at least 14 Palestinians have been martyred -- by Israeli airstrikes and artillery -- across the blockaded territory.
On Sunday night, an Israeli officer was killed -- and another injured -- in a botched ground operation in Gaza.
Tensions appeared to ease slightly late Tuesday after Israel and Gaza-based resistance factions agreed to an Egypt-brokered ceasefire.
The transfer of the Australian Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem would not be of any help in peace efforts, Malaysia's prime minister said on Thursday.Stressing that the move would likely trigger more terror instead, Mahathir Mohamad said during a bilateral meeting with his Australia counterpart Scott John Morrison on the sidelines of 33rd ASEAN Summit in Singapore.He added: “In dealing with terrorism, we need know what the trigger is.”Mahathir said Australia had not made any decision regarding plans to move its embassy from Tel Aviv, and the country claimed it was still working on the plan.Palestine’s Erekat appeals to international communityU.S. Donald Trump's president sparked a world outcry last December after announcing plans to move Washington's Israel embassy to Jerusalem and recognize the city as Israel's capital (which he did earlier this year).Since then, the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah has rejected any mediating role by the U.S. in the moribund Middle East peace process.Jerusalem remains the heart of the Middle East conflict, with Palestinian hope that occupied East Jerusalem since 1967 - might eventually serve as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.Israel’s Lieberman tenders resignation to PM NetanyahuIsrael’s US-funded Iron Dome fails to down Hamas rocketsIsrael’s Gaza war part of bin Salman plot to distract world from Khashoggi killing
Malaysia: Aussie embassy's transfer to Jerusalem of no use
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Secretary-General Saeb Erekat on Thursday called on the international community to help Palestinians gain independence from occupation. Erekat made the remarks in a statement issued on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Palestinian declaration of independence, which is marked each year on Nov. 15.On Nov. 15, 1988, late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, speaking from Algeria, announced the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital."Palestine is still waiting for the world to fulfill its political, legal and moral responsibility to translate the declaration into reality," Erekat said.This, he said, could only be achieved "by establishing the State of Palestine on the ground -- with its capital in East Jerusalem -- and ensuring a just solution to the issue of Palestinian refugees”.He also called for the immediate release of all Palestinians detained by Israel, going on to urge the international community to "compel Israel to meet its legal, political and moral obligations regarding the Palestinian people”.With the 1988 declaration, Palestine embarked on its current strategy of seeking international recognition as an independent state.In 2009 and 2010, the second phase of this strategy began, during which several international capitals formally recognized Palestine as a country.In 2012, the UN General Assembly voted to upgrade Palestine’s status at the world body to “non-member observer state”.
Palestine’s Erekat appeals to international community
Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Thursday submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu one day after announcing his intention to step down from the post, according to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority (IBA).On Wednesday, Lieberman announced his decision to resign in protest against a ceasefire deal hammered out one day earlier between Israel and Palestinian resistance factions.The hardline defense minister announced his intention to step down at a meeting of members of his Yisrael Beiteinu party, during which he reportedly described the Hamas-Israel ceasefire as “a surrender to terror”.Following Lieberman’s resignation, Education Minister Naftali Bennett threatened to withdraw his right-wing Jewish Home party from Netanyahu’s Likud-led coalition government unless he was given the defense portfolio following Lieberman’s exit.Netanyahu is now reportedly holding intensive consultations with several party leaders in hopes of heading off the crisis now facing his shaky coalition government.Sources close to Netanyahu reportedly told the IBA that the prime minister was considering making Bennett defense minister in hopes of keeping the latter’s party in his governing coalition.
Israel’s Lieberman tenders resignation to PM Netanyahu
The Israeli military is on high alert over its U.S.-funded “Iron Dome” air defense system, which shot to international fame, after it seems to have been overwhelmed by the intensity of Palestinian missiles.The anti-rocket system intercepted only 100 out of 460 missiles fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas in last three days, according to reports.Over the course of the last three days, at least 14 Palestinians in have been martyred in Gaza -- by Israeli airstrikes and artillery -- across the blockaded Palestinian territory.On Sunday night, an Israeli officer was killed -- and another injured -- in a botched ground operation in Gaza.Tensions appeared to ease slightly late Tuesday after Israel and Gaza-based resistance factions agreed to an Egypt-brokered cease-fire.Israel’s Lieberman resigns as defense ministerPalestinians renew their missile systemLieutenant-Colonel Jonathan Conricus, an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson, told reporters Palestinians upgraded their rocket system and that Israel assumes Hamas used Russian-made anti-tank guided missiles during their last airstrike.Yeni Şafak daily’s Hamas sources have also confirmed that the missiles were upgraded but refused to divulge the details about the new system.Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Wednesday abruptly resigned from his post one day after a ceasefire was reached between Palestinian resistance factions and Israel.Scores of Israelis demonstrated outside the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) on Wednesday to demand Netanyahu’s resignation, accusing him of “betraying” the people of southern Israel.Israel’s Gaza war part of bin Salman plot to distract world from Khashoggi killing
Israel’s US-funded Iron Dome fails to down Hamas rockets
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is said to have persuaded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to go to war in Gaza in a bid to divert attention from the Khashoggi case. According to a report published by the English-language Middle East Eye news website, the Saudi monarch tried to convince Netanyahu of going to war with Hamas in Gaza, which would help alleviate pressure mounting on the kingdom following the fallout from the Khashoggi murder. Khashoggi, a frequent contributor to The Washington Post, was killed on Oct. 2 inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.Turkey not satisfied by Saudi prosecutor comments on Khashoggi: FMAfter weeks of denying involvement, the kingdom admitted Khashoggi had been killed inside the consulate but claimed the Saudi royal family had no prior knowledge of any plot to murder the journalist.So far, 18 people -- including security officers -- have been arrested in Saudi Arabia in connection with the murder.The report, citing sources inside the Saudi kingdom, claims an escalation of the conflict in Gaza was among several scenarios proposed by an emergency task force established to counter mounting pressure on the oil-rich kingdom as more chilling details about the Khashoggi murder became known.Khashoggi’s body dismembered inside Istanbul consulate: Saudi prosecutorThe task force is said to be composed of officials from the royal court, foreign and defense ministries, and the intelligence service who brief the crown prince every six hours. The force advised bin Salman that a war in Gaza would divert U.S. President Donald Trump’s attention away from the Khashoggi killing, and would serve to remind him that the Kingdom is an asset to Washington when it comes to “bolstering Israel’s strategic interests.”According to the MEE report penned by MEE editor David Hearst, Netanyahu was “very eager” to help bin Salman, according to anonymous Israeli sources, as Riyadh and Tel Aviv’s secret rapprochement continues after the kingdom became a key player in Trump’s “Deal of the Century” plan.Prince Salman’s right hand men the royal family fearsOver the course of the last three days, at least 14 Palestinians in have been martyred in Gaza -- by Israeli airstrikes and artillery -- across the blockaded Palestinian territory.On Sunday night, an Israeli officer was killed -- and another injured -- in a botched ground operation in Gaza.Tensions appeared to ease slightly late Tuesday after Israel and Gaza-based resistance factions agreed to an Egypt-brokered cease-fire.World wondering who ordered Khashoggi killing, says AK Party spoxErdoğan says Khashoggi recordings 'appalling', shocked Saudi intelligenceTell your boss: Saudi kill team recordings connect Prince Salman to Khashoggi murder
Israel’s Gaza war part of bin Salman plot to distract world from Khashoggi killing