RAMALLAH

Pence's 'messianic' speech a 'gift to extremists'

Ramallah - Muslimchronicle

US Vice President Mike Pence's speech to Israel's parliament Monday, reaffirming Jerusalem as Israel's capital, was "messianic" and a "gift to extremists," a top Palestinian official said. "The messianic discourse of Pence is a gift to extremists and has proven that the US administration is part of the problem rather than the solution," Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the PalestineRead more

Warnings of fallout after US freezes funding

Ramallah - Muslimchronicle

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees warned Wednesday it faced its worst funding crisis ever after the White House froze tens of millions of dollars in contributions, a move Palestinian leaders decried as cruel and blatantly biased. The agency provides Palestinian refugees and their descendants across the Middle East with services including schools and medical care, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long accusedRead more

Israel judge orders Palestinian teen Ahed Tamimi held until trial

Ramallah - Muslimchronicle

An Israeli military judge on Wednesday ordered a Palestinian teenager arrested after a viral video showed her hitting two Israeli soldiers held in custody until trial. “I found no alternative other than to order her detention in custody until the end of proceedings,” the judge ruled. “The gravity of the offences of which she is accused do not allow anRead more

Palestinians threaten major step but will they act on it?

Ramallah - Muslimchronicle

A call by Palestinian leaders to suspend recognition of Israel in response to US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital could have major implications but is unlikely to be implemented for now, analysts said. The vote late on Monday could be another devastating blow to the so-called peace process -- long on life support -- although the Palestinians argue US President DonaldRead more

Trump and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Ramallah - Muslimchronicle

Since taking office, US President Donald Trump has shown unfailing support for Israel in its conflict with the Palestinians, distancing himself from the two-state solution and recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital. - Radio silence - In January 2017, the White House refuses to comment on whether the president backs Israel's decision to approve 2,500 new settler homes in the West Bank. "IsraelRead more

Palestinians meet to respond to Trump's 'slap of the century'

Ramallah - Muslimchronicle

Palestinian leaders met Monday to plan a response to what they see as US President Donald Trump's attack on their long bid for statehood, after Mahmud Abbas denounced White House peace efforts as the "slap of the century". The rare meeting of the Palestinian Central Council -- a high-ranking arm of the Palestine Liberation Organisation -- was called after Trump's controversial December 6Read more

Palestinian president calls Trump peace offer ‘slap of the century’

Ramallah - Muslimchronicle

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas denounced US President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace efforts as the “slap of the century” on Sunday after the White House recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Abbas also said Israel had “ended” the landmark Oslo peace accords of the 1990s with its actions, while branding the US ambassadors to the UN and to Israel, Nikki HaleyRead more

Palestinian shot dead by Israeli army in West Bank clashes

Ramallah - Muslimchronicle

A Palestinian was shot dead during clashes with Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank on Monday, Palestinian officials said. Ahmed Saleem, 24, was shot in Jayyous near Qalqilya, close to the separation line between Israel and the West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said, with official Palestinian media saying the incident occurred during clashes. He was the 17th PalestinianRead more

Palestinians to meet to discuss Trump Jerusalem response

Ramallah - Muslimchroncile

Senior Palestinian leaders will meet in Ramallah on Sunday to debate responses to US President Donald Trump's controversial recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Among the options to be considered is the potential suspension of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation's (PLO) recognition of Israel, delegates said. Such a move could call into question a founding principle of the peace efforts between IsraelRead more