Rights group hits Palestinian Authority abuses

Rights group hits Palestinian Authority abuses

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The Palestinian Authority, despite signing international human rights conventions, has failed to hold its security forces accountable for alleged abuses, a leading human rights group said. New York-based Human Rights Watch said the PA was refusing to investigate complaints of abuse by security forces in the West Bank. The report […]

Abbas threatens to bail on the Palestinian Authority

Abbas threatens to bail on the Palestinian Authority

Special to WorldTribune.com RAMALLAH — The Palestinian Authority could decide to disband the regime in the West Bank. Officials said the PA leadership has been under pressure to end governing the Palestinian areas of the West Bank. The officials said elements within the Palestine Liberation Organization argued that such a move would force international intervention […]

Palestinian Authority recruits women for U.S.-financed elite force

Palestinian Authority recruits women for U.S.-financed elite force

Special to WorldTribune.com RAMALLAH — The Palestinian Authority has recruited women for its paramilitary force. The PA has recruited and graduated 22 women for the Presidential Guards, under the command of chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Officials said the women would join the U.S.-financed elite force of 2,600. “There are plans to recruit additional women,” National Security […]

Qatar offers to hire 20,000 university-educated Palestinians

Qatar offers to hire 20,000 university-educated Palestinians

Special to WorldTribune.com RAMALLAH — Qatar has agreed to recruit tens of thousands of Palestinians. The Palestinian Authority said Qatar would recruit 20,000 Palestinians to work in the Gulf Cooperation Council emirate. The PA Labor Ministry said Doha would employ skilled Palestinians for long-term contracts. “The responsibilities of the Labor Ministry, in efforts aimed at […]

Palestinian gas station owners call for privatization to end shortages, prices higher than Israel’s

Palestinian gas station owners call for privatization to end shortages, prices higher than Israel’s

Special to WorldTribune.com RAMALLAH — The Palestinian Authority has been urged to privatize the fuel sector in the West Bank. Fuel station owners have urged the regime of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to privatize the Petroleum Authority. The stations owners said the move would end fuel shortages in the West Bank at the end of […]

Potential Palestinian terrorists crossing Israel’s security barrier ‘without any trouble’

Potential Palestinian terrorists crossing Israel’s security barrier ‘without any trouble’

Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — Israel has failed to halt the illegal influx of tens of thousands of Palestinians, including operatives of leading insurgency groups. Officials said the Israeli military has acknowledged the failure to stop or significantly reduce the infiltration of Palestinians from the West Bank. The officials said the multi-billion-dollar security barrier […]

Obama plan gives Palestinians joint control of Jordan Valley ‘crossing points’

Obama plan gives Palestinians joint control of Jordan Valley ‘crossing points’

Special to WorldTribune.com JERUSALEM — The United States wants Israel to grant the Palestinians joint control over the border with Jordan. Officials said the administration of President Barack Obama has submitted a multi-stage security plan that would give the Palestinians control over the entire West Bank. They said some areas, particularly the border with Jordan […]

Israel facilitating patrols by Palestinian police in lawless areas

Israel facilitating patrols by Palestinian police in lawless areas

Special to WorldTribune.com RAMALLAH — Israel has allowed a significant expansion of police operations by the Palestinian Authority. Palestinian sources said the Israel Army has been ordered to facilitate PA police operations around Jerusalem and areas in the West Bank controlled by the Jewish state. The sources said Israel agreed to PA anti-crime operations in […]

Palestinian seminars advance uprisings as alternative to Hamas ‘armed resistance’

Palestinian seminars advance uprisings as alternative to Hamas ‘armed resistance’

Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — The Palestinian Authority has been sponsoring seminars and workshops to organize another uprising against Israel, an intelligence report said. The Israeli intelligence community asserted that the PA was helping plan strategy to launch what was termed an effective uprising in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The intelligence community’s open-source […]

Netanyahu freezes settlement construction during Iran nuke talks

Netanyahu freezes settlement construction during Iran nuke talks

Special to WorldTribune.com JERUSALEM — For the first time, Israel has agreed to link a Palestinian state in the West Bank to a halt in Iran’s nuclear program. On Nov. 12, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu halted plans to examine new housing projects around Jerusalem and the West Bank. In wake of U.S. criticism, Netanyahu said […]