Abbas gets heat from Congress after top aide praised Israeli’s killer

Abbas gets heat from Congress after top aide praised Israeli’s killer

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — Congress has urged the Palestinian Authority to fire a leading official for praising a killer in the West Bank. Five senior House members have called on PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to dismiss his aide, Sultan Abu Al Einan, a leader in the ruling Fatah movement. The members said Al Einan […]

Iran forges alliances with key Palestinian leaders in West Bank

Iran forges alliances with key Palestinian leaders in West Bank

Special to WorldTribune.com RAMALLAH — Iran is said to have forged relationships with leading members of the Fatah movement in the West Bank. Officials said Iran and Hizbullah were seeking to co-opt members of the Fatah leadership, particularly the Central Committee. They said the campaign was meant to prod the ruling Palestinian movement into a […]

Abbas calls for unity government with ‘independent technocrats’, Hamas

Abbas calls for unity government with ‘independent technocrats’, Hamas

Special to WorldTribune.com RAMALLAH — The Palestinian Authority plans to delay another government to enable Hamas to join. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said he would renew consultations to form a government with the opposition Hamas movement. Abbas said such a government would comprise what he termed “independent technocrats” until the holding of elections. “President Mahmoud […]

Paralysis grips Palestinian Authority, Obama administration in daily contact

Paralysis grips Palestinian Authority, Obama administration in daily contact

Special to WorldTribune.com RAMALLAH — The Palestinian Authority has been struggling to find a replacement for Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. Palestinian sources said PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has been unable to find a consensus candidate to become the next prime minister. The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, a leading donor to the PA, has […]

Palestinians organize protests against Obama’s visit

Palestinians organize protests against Obama’s visit

Special to WorldTribune.com RAMALLAH — Palestinians aligned with the ruling Fatah movement have begun organizing massive protests against U.S. President Barack Obama. Palestinian sources said groups aligned with Fatah were mobilizing for Obama’s visit to Israel and to the West Bank, expected to take place on March 22. The sources said the groups wanted to […]

Report: Palestinians oppose U.S.-led force in West Bank as ‘occupying power’

Report: Palestinians oppose U.S.-led force in West Bank as ‘occupying power’

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The Palestinian Authority has rejected a U.S.-led international force in the West Bank, a report said. The Gatestone Institute asserted that the PA signaled its opposition to any U.S. plan for an international force in the West Bank. In a report, the institute said the plan was expected to be […]

After being repeatedly lectured by Netanyahu in Washington, Obama finally visits the Holy Land

After being repeatedly lectured by Netanyahu in Washington, Obama finally visits the Holy Land

Sol W. Sanders   JERUSALEM — One of the most quoted of Maynard Milord many clever aphorisms is: “You can’t push on a string”. Keynes was referring to extending credit to an unreceptive investment market. [Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke are you listening?] The quip comes to mind this morning on the eve of President Barack […]

Israel arrests Palestinian security officers for ties to Hamas cells

Israel arrests Palestinian security officers for ties to Hamas cells

Special to WorldTribune.com RAMALLAH — The Israel Army has been arresting Palestinian Authority security officers suspected of cooperating with insurgents. Israeli and Palestinian sources said the Army along with the Israel Security Agency arrested more than a dozen PA security officers over the last three months. They said the officers included senior commanders of Western-financed […]

Report: Islamists laying groundwork for West Bank coup

Report: Islamists laying groundwork for West Bank coup

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The Islamist opposition has been quietly preparing to seize power in the West Bank, a report said. The Gatestone Institute asserted that Hamas and other Islamic movements were rapidly expanding their presence in the Palestinian Authority as well as other areas of the West Bank. The institute, in a report […]

Palestinian Authority cracks down on public eating during Ramadan

Palestinian Authority cracks down on public eating during Ramadan

Special to WorldTribune.com RAMALLAH — For the first time in years, the Palestinian Authority has launched a campaign to enforce fasting during the Muslim month of Ramadan. The PA has been arresting people on charges of failing to observe the fast month of Ramadan. In Nablus, six people were detained and one sentenced to a […]