US warns it won’t fund UN refugee agency if Palestinians reject talks
The US on Tuesday threatened it would cut aid to the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency if Ramallah refused to come to the negotiating table for relaunched peace talks.
Negotiations
Trump threatens to cut off US aid to Palestinians over Jerusalem dispute
Acknowledging his push to broker peace in the Middle East has stalled, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority, asking why Washington should make ‘any of these massive future payments’ when the Palestinians were ‘no longer willing to talk peace.’
Assad Hopeful About Upcoming Russian-Sponsored Talks on Syria
yrian President Bashar al-Assad expressed regret for the stalemate of U.N.-brokered intra-Syrian talks in Geneva last week but says he expects better results during the Russian-sponsored Sochi peace process to be held in February.
Turkey hopes to open embassy in East Jerusalem, says Erdogan
Turkey intends to open an embassy in East Jerusalem, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said, days after leading calls at a summit of Muslim leaders for the world to recognize it as the capital of a Palestinian state.
US peace plan not finalized, but efforts ‘serious,’ says Saudi’s Jubeir
The US administration is serious about getting a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians, but its proposed plan is still being put together, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said.
Poll: 90% of Palestinians oppose Trump’s Jerusalem declaration
The Palestinians overwhelmingly oppose U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and have little faith in the U.S. or its Arab allies, according to a poll released Tuesday.
Netanyahu faces pressure in Europe amid Jerusalem protests
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces renewed pressure from Europe on Monday to reboot the Middle East’s moribund peace process following widespread criticism of the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Jewish state’s capital.
May hails new optimism in Brexit talks after deal
Prime Minister Theresa May will hail ‘a new sense of optimism’ in Brexit talks on Monday, telling parliament Britain and the European Union should sign off on a deal at a summit this week ‘to move forwards together’ to discuss future trade ties.
UK has 10 days to make Brexit progress
The UK has ten days to make progress in Brexit negotiations for the EU leaders to unlock the next phase of talks on trade and future relations.
German coalition talks break down, raising prospect of new election
High-stakes talks to form a new German government collapsed Sunday as the pro-business FDP party walked out, plunging Europe’s biggest economy into a political crisis and potentially precipitating the end of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s career.
US, Russia headed for showdown over Syria chemical weapons probe
Russia and the United States were on a collision course ahead of a UN Security Council vote Thursday on the fate of a UN-led probe to determine who is behind chemical attacks in Syria’s six-year war.
Why Abbas Was Secretly Summoned To Saudi Arabia
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was unexpectedly summoned this week to Saudi Arabia for impromptu meetings with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed. The Palestinian leader received the call while in Egypt, where he discussed with his counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi efforts to jump-start peace negotiations with Israel as well as the unity deal recently forged between Abbas’ Fatah faction and Hamas, which was brokered by Cairo.
Sisi reiterates commitment to Israeli-Palestinian peace during Abbas visit
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pledged that Egypt will continue its efforts to resume peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, according to a statement from Sisi’s office Monday.
Army Corps of Engineers: Not all Puerto Rico officials are accepting FEMA’s help
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Maj. Gen. Donald E. Jackson told Senate lawmakers on Tuesday that some Puerto Rico officials have refused to cooperate with the military and the Federal Emergency Management Agency during ongoing recovery efforts.
US ‘discouraging’ Greater Jerusalem bill, senior official says
The Trump administration is ‘discouraging’ any further action on a controversial Israeli bill regarding the status of greater Jerusalem, fearing it would harm its peace effort toward a comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian settlement, a senior administration official told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday.
Hamas ‘begging Iran’ for help, US envoy says
Hamas is ‘begging Iran’ for help in its armed resistance against Israel, a senior Trump administration official said on Monday, addressing the visit of several Hamas leaders to Tehran over the weekend.
US demands Hamas renounce violence, disarm before unity deal
The United States called Thursday for the Hamas terror group to disarm and renounce violence before being allowed to implement a highly touted unity deal with Palestinian rival Fatah, in a first detailed response to the agreement.
Trump says ‘total termination’ of Iran deal possible
President Donald Trump on Monday renewed his threat to fully withdraw the United States from the landmark Iran nuclear deal, while holding out the possibility that fixes to the accord may prevent an American pullout.
Hamas vows never to disarm as first rift in Fatah talks emerges
A new round of Palestinian reconciliation talks experienced its first sign of trouble on Tuesday as the Hamas terror group said it would not give up its vast weapons arsenal, putting it at odds with both the rival Fatah movement and Israel.
Interpol approves Palestinian membership, angering Israel
International police agency Interpol voted Wednesday to include Palestine as a member state, in a new boost to Palestinian efforts for international recognition and influence amid long-stalled negotiations with Israel for full statehood.