Headlines for 12-26-07

Islamic Jihad shells S Israel with 10 missiles


Hamas won't budge in demands for Israeli soldier Hamas will not release a captured Israeli soldier unless Israel meets its demand to free nearly 1,400 Palestinian prisoners, including 350 with life sentences, a leader of the Islamist group in Gaza said on Wednesday.


Israelis target rocket launching site in Gaza: military Israeli forces fired a missile at a suspected rocket launch site in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, Palestinian witnesses and the Israeli military said


Rice calls Abbas on eve of talks with Israel: Palestinians


Olmert, Abbas try to revive stalled peace talks Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met on Thursday to try to end an impasse over Jewish settlement building that has paralyzed month-old peace talks.


Israeli airport profiling reviewed Israel is reviewing the security practice of profiling Arab passengers at its international airport.


13 Palestinians kidnapped across the West Bank by Israeli army


U.S. lawmakers: Egypt aid may hinge on Gaza border


Hamas hardliner slams revived Israeli-Palestinian peace talks


Hamas says ready to hand over Gaza crossings to neutral side


Tense talks as Israel, Egypt spar over smuggling into Gaza Barak denied there was an Israeli government initiative to target Cairo's coffers, but the exchange with Gheit coincided with a visit to Israel this week by U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), who voiced support for withholding U.S. aid to Cairo as leverage to get the Egyptians to take concrete actions against the smuggling.
"We do not push anything in the Congress, but of course our relationship is very close and we answer when we are asked questions," Barak told Egyptian reporters Wednesday.
LOL.


Poll: More Saudis like U.S. Forty percent expressed a favorable opinion of the United States, up from 11 percent in May 2006. At the same time, 50 percent have an unfavorable opinion, down from 89 percent.


OSU's Abdallah faces bittersweet homecoming Abdallah cannot wait to get to New Orleans, the city where he was raised after his parents emigrated from the Palestinian territories and built a life around their small store


Alasra centre for research warns of the continuous medical negligence in the Israeli detentions The centre appealed for the Red Cross and Human Rights organizations to intervene to bring and end to this misconduct.


Immigration center's closure leaves detainees in limbo Aburajab, 40, who is Palestinian but was raised in Kuwait, is fighting to stay in the United States based on the hardship to his wife and two children, all U.S. citizens. Since he has been in Texas, the San Pedro judge has issued a decision in his favor, but the government has not released him from custody.



Russia offers Iran missile defense The S-300 is similar to the United States' Patriot missile defense system which can stop incoming missiles and warplanes. We arm Israel and Russia arms Iran. So is it basically a US-Russian proxy war?


Palestinian kids avoiding school Arab residents of east Jerusalem say the situation in the schools reflects wider discrimination they face in every aspect of life. They point to piles of uncollected garbage and an absence of state medical clinics in their neighborhoods


U.S. senators talk Israeli-Syria peace


Israel, Saudis, Egypt buy most U.S. arms Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are consistently among the top five purchasers of U.S. arms.


Egypt accuses Israel over aid cut Egypt has accused Israel of interfering in its relations with the US by causing Congress to suspend $100m (£50m) of its annual military aid.


Harvests of hope in the Middle East


Report: NIEs have value, with limits Pro-Israelis still trying to debunk the NIE.


Iranian Jewish leader calls immigration of 40 Jews to Israel a 'misinformation campaign'


Shooting Back: The Israeli Human Rights Group B?Tselem Gives Palestinians Video Cameras to Document Life Under Occupation.


About 2000 Palestinian Refugees to Settle in S. Early Next Year UNHCR is exerting efforts to arrange necessary funds for resettlement of 2000 Palestinian refugees in Sudan by the beginning of the next year. These refugees are currently staying on common borders between Iraq and Syria


Anti-Semitism Vs. Criticizing Israel


GOP Leader Calls For Revisions to Fatah Movement?s Outdated Charter Klein raised the issue in July with Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who, according to the ZOA president, promised to act upon it but has yet speak out publicly on the issue. In Washington, however, Klein?s efforts paid off last month with a resolution in the House, co-sponsored by Republican whip Roy Blunt,


Bethlehem is full with foreign tourists, but without local families Hani Mussa, a Muslim from Ramallah, said he and his family made the trip to Bethlehem to share in the Christian holiday as they have been doing every year. "There is no difference between us and the Christians. We want to share in their celebration," he said.


PM: Israel "very careful" about settlement expansion


Court criticizes state for misinformation on Gaza The High Court of Justice has sharply criticized the state for providing incorrect information regarding its plans to reduce the amount of electricity it supplies to the Gaza Strip.


The Benefits of Palestinian Economic Collapse By Daniel Pipes


Palestinians blamed


Police: Hebron purchase papers forged


Away from Palestine, at home in Delhi When Basil Yousef, a Palestinian came to Delhi in 1996, he was just out of school. But even at that young age he had made his plans. He had come to Delhi to complete his higher studies, after which he wanted to go back home to Hebron, a city located south of Jerusalem.


Olmert said awaiting Syrian signal about talks


After six years trapped in Gaza, child returns to parents in the West Bank


She combines spiritual and spirited sides She acknowledges that both sides of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict have been imperfect. And she has pushed for more interfaith dialogue with Muslims and Christians.