Hamas: Leader Khaled Mashaal won't seek new term
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Islamic militant group Hamas says in a statement that their chief, Khaled Mashaal, won't seek re-election. The Palestinian group urges him to reconsider his decision, saying the issue of who leads the decades-old militant movement should be left to Hamas institutions. Hamas says the decision shouldn't be made by one person — even its leader.
Hamas: Palestinian parliament speaker arrested
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Hamas officials say the speaker of the Palestinian parliament has been arrested by Israeli soldiers. A Hamas official said Abdel Aziz Duaik was arrested Thursday near Ramallah. He was speaking on condition of anonymity citing security reasons.
Hamas lawmakers arrested at Red Cross in Jerusalem
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli police say they have arrested two Hamas lawmakers who had been hiding inside a Red Cross compound in Jerusalem. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says the men were wanted for "Hamas activities." He would not elaborate.
Palestinian rivals hold unity talks in Qatar
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — An aide to the Palestinian President says talks are under way between him and the head of rival Hamas over efforts to move along a reconciliation pact. Abbas aide Azzam al-Ahmed told reporters in Qatar's capital Doha that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah and Khaled Mashaal, leader of the Islamist Hamas, had "positive" discussions but gave no further details.
Palestinians take step toward elections, unity
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian political rivals Hamas and Fatah have taken the first practical step toward holding general elections by opening an office for voter registration in the Gaza Strip. Presidential and parliament elections are envisioned for late spring, though a date has not been set.
Israel used “false flag” operation to recruit anti-Iran militants, report alleges (Updated)
Israeli intelligence officers posed as American spies to recruit members of a Sunni Baluch militant group which has carried out numerous attacks against Iranian security forces and civilians, journalist Mark Perry reported Friday at Foreign Policy magazine. The allegation of the Mossad "false flag" operation is based on descriptions of memos in U.S. intelligence archives [...]
US closes Syrian embassy as diplomacy collapses
The U.S. closed its embassy in Syria and Britain recalled its ambassador to Damascus on Monday in a new Western push to get President Bashar Assad to leave power and halt the murderous grind in Syria - now among the...
If you oppose war, oppose the terrorism that would prompt it
The Left is silent on the provocation, but no doubt will furiously damn Israel’s inevitable retaliation against the terrorists who ruled Gaza: ...in 2010…
Palestinians focused on UN, not talks: Lieberman
The Palestinians have no interest in restarting peace talks with Israel and are just biding their time before returning to the UN, Israel's ultra-nationalist foreign minister said Monday.