Headlines for 02-21-08

Israeli missile kills two Gaza militants


2 rockets hit building near Nahal Oz


Israel says EU pressure grows to end Gaza blockade The European Parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution calling on Israel to lift the siege, with MEPs saying "the policy of isolation of the Gaza Strip has failed at both the political and humanitarian level."




Israel denies building permits to West Bank Palestinians: report Israel has issued only 91 construction permits to Palestinians in the West Bank over the past seven years but granted 18,472 to Jewish settlers, Israeli activists said on Thursday. The West Bank, along with Gaza and E. Jerusalem, are Israeli-OCCUPIED (not owned) territory. Israel's continued construction therein is a violation of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.


Iran urges UN to condemn Israel Iran urged the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday to condemn Israel's recent warning that it had not ruled out using military force against the country's nuclear program.


Israeli military kidnaps two brothers near Tulkarem


Several children recently injured by military fire in villages north west of Jerusalem


Palestinian farmers to benefit from UN projects in Gaza, West Bank


Israeli army rolls into SE Gaza Strip


Pro-Abbas forces arrest six Hamas members in West Bank


Hamas warns of "unexpected explosions" if Gaza siege remains


Group of Palestinian inmates escape from Nablus prison


Situation in the Gaza Strip: policy of isolation has failed, say MEPs MEPs believe that the civilian population should be exempt from any military action and any collective punishment. They also call on Israel to fulfil its international obligations, as an occupying power, in the Gaza Strip.


Islamic Jihad rejects NATO deployment in West Bank


The Israeli army attacks several villages near Hebron and kidnaps two civilians


Israel extends closure of Palestinian offices in Jerusalem PA officials say Israel renewed order to close Orient House, Arab Chamber of Commerce and other symbolic buildings in east Jerusalem despite pledge to reopen them . 'This is not a good sign,' adviser to PM Fayyad says


Republican Senator Tells Olmert Not to Give Up Jerusalem "Don't give up Jerusalem," Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) said he told Olmert when he met with him on Monday. Perhaps Sen. Brownback is unaware of the legal status of Israeli-OCCUPIED East Jerusalem?


Boycott group to UNESCO: Protect heritage of all cultures We call on you, Mr. Matsuura, to implement the UNESCO mission without double standards. The least peace and justice loving people would expect from you is to work towards protecting Palestinian lives and heritage from Israel's colonial and racist policies.


Image Is Everything In New Terror Game Could it be that they were trying to push Hezbollah into the kind of response that Hassan Nasrallah actually gave? My thought exactly.


What would it take to launch a war with Iran? Johns says a struggle is under way in Washington, D.C. Those opposed to an attack include Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and the entire Joint Chiefs of Staff. Those wanting an attack, he says, are the deputy national-security adviser for global democracy strategy, Elliott Abrams; Vice President Dick Cheney, "and the hard-line Israel lobby."


IDF launches wartime television studio


Ashkenazi warns Israel may face conflict in near future


Israel's New Plan to Attack Lebanon "There are a lot of [Israeli] military and cabinet people just dying for a second round with Lebanon. If given the opportunity they'll take it," i.e. attack Lebanon again, not in spite of "but because of" the perception that their '06 attack failed.


Split by geography and by politics


Hasbro pulls countries from Monopoly site after Israel flap The company has also pulled all country names from other cities on the site when even more people complained because Jerusalem was listed as the only city without a country.


US steps up sanctions on Syria over Lebanese crisis


Removal of Israel reference highlights 'double standards', says Labour MP


Journalists invited to apply for 'Expressions of Al-Nakba'


Palestinian trio takes to the Mountain Stage playing the granddaddy of strummed stringed instruments


European support for Hamas weakens peace chances, Israel warns


Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu: Level Beit Hanoun


Egyptian writers protest at Israel's Paris book fair invite Around 15 Egyptian trade unions -- from doctors to writers -- issued a protest on Thursday over a decision to make Israel a guest of honour at a major Paris book fair next month.