Breaking News

Endangered species summit to open

Al Jazeera English - 47 min 21 sec ago

International conference in Qatari capital to tackle issues like ivory trade.

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Clinton warns Israel on US ties

Al Jazeera English - 56 min 12 sec ago

US secretary of state says Israel is putting ties at risk over new settlements in West Bank.

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EU Parliament Backs Goldstone Report

Palestine Monitor - 1 hour 17 min ago

A resolution voted by the European Parliament last Wednesday demands a strong EU common position on the follow-up of the Goldstone Report and close monitoring of its implementing measures.

The resolution, tabled by Political Groups S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL groups, was approved with 335 votes in favour, 287 against and 43 abstentions.

All parties should respect human rights

"Respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law by all parties under all circumstances and trust-building between Israelis and Palestinians are essential components of a peace process leading to two states living side by side in peace and security" says the resolution, which stresses "once again the importance of achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and between Israelis and Palestinians in particular".

Independent and impartial investigations within the next five months

The European Parliament "urges both sides to conduct investigations within five months that meet international standards of independence, impartiality, transparency, promptness and effectiveness." This is in line with the UN General Assembly resolution adopted on 26 February, which requests a further report, as the recent report of the UN Secretary General was "inconclusive on investigations into possible violations of international law during the deadly 2008/2009 conflict in Gaza."

Implementing and monitoring the Goldstone recommendations

The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and EU Member States should work towards a strong EU common position on the follow-up to the Fact-Finding Mission report on the conflict in Gaza and southern Israel, says the resolution.

They should also publicly "demand the implementation of its recommendations and accountability for all violations of international law, including alleged war crimes, and urge both sides to conduct investigations that meet international standards of independence, impartiality, transparency, promptness and effectiveness", it adds.

Furthermore, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Member States should "monitor actively the implementation of recommendations included in the Goldstone Report by consulting the EU's external missions and NGOs working in the field", it says.

No restriction of NGO activities

MEPs stress the importance of co-operation between official authorities and NGOs, and are concerned about "the pressure placed on NGOs involved in the preparation of the Goldstone report and in follow-up investigations". They call on authorities on all sides "to refrain from any measures restricting the activities of these organisations".

Finally, Parliament welcomes the Council's 8 December 2009 call for "an immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of crossings" along the Gaza-Israel frontier as the blockade has further worsened the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

Read more about the Goldstone Report:

http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spi... http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spi... http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spi...

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Clinton rebukes Israel over settler homes (AFP)

Yahoo/Mideast - 2 hours 36 min ago

AFP - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has rebuked Israel for plans to build new settler homes, saying it sent a "deeply negative signal" about Israel's ties to its top ally.

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Netanyahu's position is "perilous": U.S. official (Reuters)

Yahoo/Mideast - 3 hours 57 min ago

Reuters - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political standing is "perilous" because of divisions within his coalition over efforts to pursue peace with the Palestinians, a senior U.S. official said on Friday.

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Israel Seals Off West Bank to Prevent Unrest

New York Times - 4 hours 37 min ago

Israel wants to prevent Palestinians from entering the country for 48 hours, in reaction to clashes following Friday prayers that have taken place in the past few weeks.

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Arrest Stokes Concerns About Radicalized Muslims

New York Times - 4 hours 46 min ago

The arrest of a New Jersey man in Yemen is the latest in a string of cases involving radicalized American Muslims.

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Israeli Settlements in East Jerusalem Imperil Peace Process (Time.com)

Yahoo/Mideast - 4 hours 57 min ago

Time.com - Timing aside, the Netanyahu government's actions demonstrate that Israel sees its grip on East Jerusalem as nonnegotiable. But the Palestinians won't accept a state without a capital in the Holy City

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Muslim Mob Attacks Christians At Church In Egypt, 25 Injured

Assyrian International News Agency - 5 hours 47 min ago

Egypt (AINA) -- At 17:00 hours on Friday a Muslim mob attacked a Christian congregation during prayers in the church attached to the services building of the Coptic Church in the Rifeyah area of the Mediterranean seaport of Mersa Matrouh.

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Clinton slams Israel on housing announcement (AP)

Yahoo/Mideast - March 12, 2010 - 9:39pm

AP - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday delivered a stinging rebuke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his government's announcement this week of new Jewish housing in east Jerusalem, calling it "a deeply negative signal" for the Mideast peace process and ties with the U.S.

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Middle East Quartet condemns Israeli settlement plan (AFP)

Yahoo/Mideast - March 12, 2010 - 7:18pm

AFP - The Middle East diplomatic Quartet condemned Israel's plans to build new settler homes and said unilateral actions would not be recognized by the international community.

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Clinton berates Netanyahu over settlements (Reuters)

Yahoo/Mideast - March 12, 2010 - 7:17pm

Reuters - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday he must work to repair relations with Washington after a debacle over Jewish settlements that has undermined U.S. efforts to mediate new peace talks with the Palestinians.

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The Jerusalem Imbroglio: Is This Peace Process Futile? (Time.com)

Yahoo/Mideast - March 12, 2010 - 4:50pm

Time.com - Timing aside, the Netanyahu government's actions demonstrate that Israel sees its grip on East Jerusalem as non-negotiable. But the Palestinians won't accept a state without a capital in the Holy City

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Clinton berates Netanyahu over settlements (Reuters)

Yahoo/Mideast - March 12, 2010 - 4:42pm

Reuters - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday he must work to repair relations with Washington after a debacle over Jewish settlements that has undermined U.S. efforts to mediate new peace talks with the Palestinians.

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Clinton call to Netanyahu: Israel settlement move a 'deeply negative signal' (The Christian Science Monitor)

Yahoo/Mideast - March 12, 2010 - 4:07pm

The Christian Science Monitor - A day after Vice President Joe Biden ended a fence-mending trip marred by the Israel settlement issue, tension hung over the embattled city of Jerusalem both in the streets and in government offices.

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Clinton warns Israel over settlements (Reuters)

Yahoo/Mideast - March 12, 2010 - 3:33pm

Reuters - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday his government sent a "deeply negative signal" by taking steps that undermined renewed Middle East peace talks.

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Clinton slams Israel on housing announcement (AP)

Yahoo/Mideast - March 12, 2010 - 3:30pm

AP - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday delivered a stinging rebuke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his government's announcement this week of new Jewish housing in east Jerusalem, calling it "a deeply negative signal" for the Mideast peace process and ties with the U.S.

Categories: Breaking News

Middle East Quartet condemns Israeli settlement plan (AFP)

Yahoo/Mideast - March 12, 2010 - 3:10pm

AFP - The Middle East diplomatic Quartet on Friday condemned Israel's plans to build new settler homes and said unilateral actions would not be recognized by the international community.

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Israel seals off West Bank

Al Jazeera English - March 12, 2010 - 2:49pm

Closure imposed on occupied territory in anticipation of protests after Friday prayers.

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Abbas blames Iran for blocking Palestinian reconciliation (AFP)

Yahoo/Mideast - March 12, 2010 - 2:37pm

AFP - Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas lashed out at Iran on Friday, blaming Tehran for being behind the latest failure to reconcile his secular Fatah movement with its Isalamist rival Hamas.

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