Israel says ‘no winds of war’ despite Syria air strikes

Published on May 6, 2013

Israel played down weekend air strikes close to Damascus reported to have killed dozens of Syrian soldiers, saying they were not aimed at influencing its neighbor's civil war but only at stopping Iranian missiles reaching Lebanese Hezbollah militants.

Syrian rebels capture 20 U.N. observers [VIDEO]

Published on March 6, 2013

Syrian rebels held 20 U.N. officials who monitor the Israel-Syria ceasefire, the first time such officials have been targeted in the insurgency.

Clinton warns Russia, Iran of Syria conflict spreading

Published on February 1, 2013

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Iran and Russia on Thursday to rethink their support for Syria, saying the most dire scenarios of the conflict spilling beyond its borders could come to pass.

Rice: U.S. does not recognize use of ‘Palestine’

Published on January 23, 2013

Participation in United Nations forums that refer to a "State of Palestine" does not constitute U.S. recognition of Palestinian statehood, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice said.

Israel complains to U.N. about rearming by Hezbollah

Published on December 20, 2012

Israel's U.N. envoy urged the Security Council on Thursday to condemn what he described as significant rearming by Hezbollah, saying the Lebanese militant group now possessed an arsenal of tens of thousands of missiles capable of hitting Israel.

Palestinians appeal to U.N. over Israel’s E1 housing plan

Published on December 6, 2012

The Palestinians appealed to the United Nations Security Council to stop Israel from making plans to build 3,000 apartments in a controversial area outside of Jerusalem.

Syria violating agreement with Israel, Ban tells U.N. Security Council

Published on December 4, 2012

The Syrian government is violating a 1974 disengagement agreement with Israel, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said.

Palestinians warn Israel must be held accountable over settlements

Published on December 4, 2012

The Palestinians accused Israel in a letter to the United Nations of planning to commit further "war crimes" by expanding Jewish settlements after the Palestinians won de facto U.N. recognition of statehood and warned that Jerusalem must be held accountable.

Rockets hit near Tel Aviv as war looms over Gaza

Published on November 15, 2012

A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip landed close to Tel Aviv on Thursday, in the first attack on Israel's biggest city in 20 years, raising the stakes in a military showdown between Israel and the Palestinians that is moving towards all-out war.

Gaza rocket hits city near Tel Aviv, no damage or casualties

Published on November 15, 2012

Three Israelis killed by rocket from Gaza as U.N. Security Council meets over Gaza attacks

Published on November 15, 2012

Three Israelis were killed when a rocket fired from Gaza hit their Kiryat Malachi home.

Egypt recalls envoy in Israel over assault on Gaza

Published on November 14, 2012

Egypt recalled its ambassador from Israel on Wednesday after Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip killed Hamas's top military commander and at least six other Palestinians, presidential spokesman Yasser Ali said.

Sudan threatens to ‘strike back’ at Israel

Published on October 25, 2012

A Sudanese government minister threatened to strike Israel, and the country called on the United Nations Security Council to condemn Israel, over the bombing of a weapons factory in Khartoum.

Australia UN Security Council seat

Published on October 19, 2012

Australia won a temporary two-year seat on the UN Security Council despite critics suggesting its support for Israel would hamper the bid.

Jewish legislator slams Australia’s U.N. Security Council bid

Published on October 15, 2012

A Jewish legislator in Australia slammed the Labor government's hypocrisy on Iran in Canberra's attempt to win a U.N. Security Council seat this week.

For U.S., stopping Palestinian unilateral actions is a key goal at U.N. assembly

Published on September 24, 2012

Halting Palestinian unilateral actions at the United Nations will be among the “broad priorities” of the U.S. government at the U.N. General Assembly meeting.

Palestinians seek U.N. upgrade opposed by U.S. and Israel

Published on September 20, 2012

The Palestinians will ask the United Nations to upgrade their status in the world body by year's end, enabling them to pursue Israel through the international courts, a senior Palestinian official said on Thursday.

Citing leak, Netanyahu disbands security cabinet meeting

Published on September 5, 2012

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disbanded a meeting of his security cabinet after information from the previous cabinet meeting was leaked to the press.

U.S. urges non-aligned nations to press Iran on nukes

Published on August 21, 2012

The Obama administration is urging countries attending the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Tehran next week to press Iran to comply with demands to make its nuclear program more transparent.

Dealing with Iran’s nuclear challenge

Published on August 8, 2012

Ten years ago this month a little- known Iranian dissident group — the National Council of Resistance of Iran — held a news conference in Washington, D.C. to present a finding that sent shock waves around the world: Iran had under construction two covert nuclear facilities — a large underground enrichment plant in Natanz and a heavy-water instillation in Arak — that, in time, could serve a nuclear weapons program.

Russia says downing of Turkish plane not provocation

Published on June 26, 2012

Russia said on Tuesday Syria's shooting down of a Turkish warplane should not be seen as a provocation and warned world powers against using the incident to push for stronger action against Damascus.

Palestinians to deliver Netanyahu ultimatum on talks

Published on April 16, 2012

The Palestinian prime minister plans to use a rare meeting set for Tuesday with Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu to deliver a letter detailing Palestinian grievances on stalled peace talks.

West pushes U.N. Syria vote despite Russian criticism

Published on April 13, 2012

Western powers brushed aside Russian criticism of a U.S.-drafted Security Council resolution authorizing an advance team of U.N. observers to monitor Syria's fragile ceasefire and said on Friday they hoped to put it to a vote this weekend.

Palestinians protest Israeli settlement building to Security Council

Published on April 10, 2012

The Palestinians have sent a letter of protest against Israeli settlements to the United Nations Security Council.

Iran denies part in recent attacks in letter to Security Council

Published on February 23, 2012

Iran denied involvement in recent attacks on Israeli diplomats and accused Israel of assassinating its nuclear scientists, in a letter to the United Nations Security Council.

As Syria crackdown intensifies, debate rages over U.S. options

Published on February 21, 2012

As the Syrian government intensifies its assault on opposition strongholds, the debate is heating up in Washington over how to end the bloody crackdown and bring about regime change.

Israeli, Palestinian peace negotiators to meet on Monday, U.S. says

Published on January 5, 2012

Israeli and Palestinian peace negotiators will hold their second round of face-to-face talks within a week on Monday in Amman, a U.S. State Department spokeswoman said on Thursday.

U.N. Security Council states condemn Israel over housing

Published on December 21, 2011

Members of the U.N. Security Council criticized Israel's decision to construct additional housing in the settlements and the United States for blocking a vote to condemn the action.

Palestinians staying the course on Security Council bid

Published on November 16, 2011

The Palestinians will continue to press their bid for full membership in the U.N. Security Council.

UN report: No consensus on Palestinian statehood bid

Published on November 9, 2011

The United Nations Security Council could not arrive at a consensus on the Palestinians' statehood bid, a draft report from the panel reportedly says.

PA minister: No further U.N. agency bids

Published on November 3, 2011

The Palestinian Authority foreign minister denied plans to seek statehood status in 16 United Nations-affiliated groups.

Protestant leaders call for U.N. endorsement of Palestinian membership

Published on November 1, 2011

Leaders of four American Protestant denominations issued a statement endorsing the Palestinian U.N. bid for statehood.

Opinion: The UNESCO Mess

Published on November 1, 2011

It was bound to happen sooner or later. At some point, both the president and Congress would be faced with a clear choice between U.S. national interests and the demands made by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his powerful Washington lobby.

Palestinians seek UNESCO vote despite U.S. opposition

Published on October 26, 2011

The Palestinians will seek a vote on their bid for full membership of UNESCO next week, Foreign Minister Riyal al-Malki said Wednesday, despite what he called U.S. threats to pull funding from the U.N. cultural agency.

Opinion: You and the UN

By Rob Eshman
Published on October 12, 2011

If you care about Israel, you have one very clear assignment over the next two months. In about eight weeks, the U.N. Security Council could vote on whether to recognize Palestinian statehood.

Israel accepts EU invitation to meet Palestinians

Published on October 10, 2011

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday accepted a European Union invitation to meet Palestinian leaders in an effort to restart peace talks, his office said in a statement.

Palestinians take step towards full UNESCO membership

Published on October 5, 2011

Palestinians moved a step closer to full membership in the U.N. cultural agency on Wednesday after its board decided to let 193 member states vote on the issue later this month, the latest stage in a Palestinian campaign for statehood recognition.

Congress looks to punish Palestinians, but cuts to security aid pose dilemma

Published on October 4, 2011

If the Palestinians don’t pull back from their statehood push, congressional cuts in aid are inevitable, U.S. lawmakers say. Just how comprehensive such cuts will be, however, could end up depending on Israel’s stance on the issue.

Council takes first step on Palestinian U.N. bid

Published on September 28, 2011

The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday took its first step on the Palestinian application to join the United Nations by handing it to a committee that will review and assess it in the coming weeks.

Netanyahu rejects widespread criticism of homes plan

Published on September 28, 2011

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday rejected Western and Arab complaints that the planned construction of 1,100 new homes in Gilo on annexed land close to Jerusalem would complicate Middle East peace efforts.

Opinion: Moral dimension of Palestinian statehood

By Judea Pearl
Published on September 27, 2011

I felt terribly guilty when Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told the U.N. General Assembly: “Enough! It is time for the Palestinian people to gain their freedom and independence.” How can we deny to others what we claim for ourselves?

U.S., EU condemn Israeli plan to expand settlement

Published on September 27, 2011

Israel approved on Tuesday the construction of 1,100 settlement homes on annexed land in the West Bank, complicating global efforts to renew peace talks and defuse a crisis over a Palestinian statehood bid at the United Nations.

U.N. speech boosts Bibi’s ratings in Israel

Published on September 26, 2011

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's popularity has climbed in Israel after a hard-hitting speech at the United Nations opposing a Palestinian bid for statehood, an opinion poll showed on Monday.

Israel police arrest Hamas lawmaker in East Jerusalem

Published on September 26, 2011

Israeli police arrested a Hamas lawmaker on Monday who had been sheltering for more than a year in the International Red Cross (ICRC) offices in East Jerusalem, a police spokesman said.

Security Council to discuss statehood bid

Published on September 26, 2011

The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to discuss the Palestinian bid for statehood.

Abbas says no talks without Israeli settlement freeze

Published on September 25, 2011

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas repeated on Sunday his refusal to talk with Israel without a settlement freeze after international mediators, responding to his United Nations bid for statehood, urged negotiations within a month.

Opinion: The dangerous alternate Middle East reality

Published on September 23, 2011

In the lead-up to the Palestinian application for full membership in the United Nations later this week, we can expect nation after nation to vilify the Jewish state and to walk out when Prime Minister Netanyahu takes the microphone.

In U.N. speeches, Abbas, Netanyahu trade charges of ‘ethnic cleansing’

Published on September 23, 2011

Mahmoud Abbas outlined a vision for an independent Palestine that hewed to the two-state formula but also revived rhetoric that hearkened back to an era of Palestinian belligerence.

Abbas U.N. speech seen as inflammatory in Israel

Published on September 23, 2011

Israelis reacted coolly on Friday to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's quest for statehood recognition, and some said his impassioned speech at the United Nations had only succeeded in harming the chances of peace.

Netanyahu to U.N.: Palestinians want state without peace [VIDEO]

Published on September 23, 2011

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the Palestinians of wanting statehood without peace.

In U.S. speech, Abbas commits to two states, but amps up fiery rhetoric

Published on September 23, 2011

Mahmoud Abbas outlined a vision for an independent Palestine that hewed to the two-state formula but also revived rhetoric that hearkened back to an era of Palestinian belligerence.

In Ramallah, West Bank Palestinians divided between celebratory and cynical

Published on September 23, 2011

A larger-than-life sky-blue chair with the word “Palestine” dominates the center of Manara Square in downtown Ramallah.

Opinion: We know Abbas will fail, but it'll be a Palestinian moral victory

Published on September 23, 2011

A throng of young Palestinians charge the stage with what could easily be seen as malicious intent - if their vigorous stampede hadn't been in sync with a performance of Dabke, the traditional Arabic folk dance that literally translates as "the stamping of the feet."

Bill Clinton: Netanyahu isn’t interested in Mideast peace deal

Published on September 23, 2011

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is responsible for the inability to reach a peace deal that would end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, former U.S. President Bill Clinton said on Thursday.

Abbas asks for Palestinian state [VIDEO]

Published on September 23, 2011

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas applied for statehood recognition.

Iran’s Ahmadinejad attacks West, prompts walkout

Published on September 22, 2011

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attacked Western powers on Thursday for a catalogue of misdeeds, but his address to the United Nations failed to mention Tehran's disputed nuclear program.

Clock ticks on Palestinian U.N. plan

Published on September 22, 2011

Diplomats struggled to find a formula on Thursday to avoid a clash over the Middle East as time ticked down on Palestinian plans to ask the United Nations to recognize their statehood.

Netanyahu, Lieberman praise Obama’s U.N. speech, but Palestinians pan it

Published on September 22, 2011

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked President Obama for his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, but the Palestinians criticized the address.

Opinion: Obama's mistaken approach to peace

Published on September 21, 2011

President Barack Obama is unable to succeed. He tries and misses. He wants to bless the peace process and ends up cursing it. Another chapter in this sad story was written last week when the president once again channeled the sides into the dead end of a final-status agreement, while standing in the way of the establishment of a Palestinian state - the only chance for diplomatic progress between Israel and the Palestinians.

Obama to UN: Consider Israel’s security

Published on September 21, 2011

President Obama appealed to the United Nations to recognize Israel’s security concerns in considering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.