President Donald Trump is warning Israel that constructing new settlements “may not be helpful” to Middle East peace efforts, shifting toward a tougher line with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Still, the White House made clear Thursday that the Trump administration “has not taken an official position on settlement activity,” departing from previous administrations that have considered the settlements illegitimate.
Category: Israel
In shift, Trump warns Israel against new settlements
President Donald Trump on Thursday warned Israel that constructing new settlements “may not be helpful” to Middle East peace efforts, shifting toward a tougher line with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ‘s government. Still, the White House made clear that the Trump administration “has not taken an official position on settlement activity,” departing from previous administrations that have considered the settlements illegitimate.
Eviction of Israeli settlers from illegal outpost sparks violence
Israeli policemen remove a pro-settlement activist during an operation by Israeli forces to evict settlers from the illegal outpost of Amona in the occupied West Bank on February 1, 2017. Photo – Reuters Israeli policemen remove a pro-settlement activist during an operation by Israeli forces to evict settlers from the illegal outpost of Amona in the occupied West Bank on February 1, 2017.
For Israeli leader, Trump brings friendship and risks
By Associated Press Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming White House visit aims to cement ties to a surprisingly supportive U.S. president – but it also presents a political minefield. In this handout photo made on Sunday, Sept.
Prime Minister Netanyahu will visit February 15, White House announces
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit the White House on February 15, White House press secretary Sean Spicer announced Monday. A senior administration official said last week that moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem remains a priority for the president but cautioned that it would not be happen quickly.
Trump Will Meet With Benjamin Netanyahu In February
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at his Jerusalem office December 25, 2016. REUTERS/Dan Balilty/Pool White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said President Donald Trump will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Feb. 15, in a Monday briefing with reporters.
The United States of…Arabia? Trump’s America morphs into the Middle East
Newly inaugurated President Trump has done little to hide his contempt towards the Middle East. One of his first acts as POTUS was to ban all visitors from a swathe of Muslim-majority countries in the region , including Syria, Iran and Iraq.
Mexico Rebukes Israel over Netanyahu Wall Tweet
Our eNewspaper network was founded in 2002 to provide stand-alone digital news sites tailored for the most searched-for locations for news. With a traditional newspaper format, more than 100 sites were established each with a newspaper-type name to cover the highest-ranked regions, countries, cities and states.
Anger erupts over Trump’s order banning refugees from US
In this Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 photo, released by the French Foreign ministry, French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, left, greets his newly appointed German counterpart, Sigmar Gabriel, before… . In this Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 photo, released by the French Foreign ministry, French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, left, greets his newly appointed German counterpart, Sigmar Gabriel, before… LONDON – Anger erupted on Saturday – along with some praise from the far-right – about U.S. President Donald Trump’s ban on refugees entering the United States.
Netanyahu wall tweet angers Mexico
Mexico’s government has rebuked Israel for a tweet by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that appeared to applaud US President Donald Trump’s plan to build a border wall with Mexico to keep out illegal immigrants. Earlier on Saturday, Netanyahu tweeted: “President Trump is right.
Anger erupts over Trump’s order banning refugees from US
Anger erupted in Europe on Saturday about U.S. President Donald Trump’s ban on refugees entering the United States.
Diplomatic debut: Trump makes uneven entry onto world stage
The president shifted a jam-packed schedule Friday to make room for an hourlong phone call with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who had abruptly snubbed the new president by canceling a visit. Trump’s team had appeared to respond by threatening a hefty border tax on Mexican imports.
UN holds off action over new Israeli settler homes30 min ago
The UN Security Council met behind closed doors today to discuss Israel’s plan to build new settler homes in the Palestinian West Bank, but took no action. Council members heard a report from UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov after the Israeli government approved a major expansion of 2,500 homes, in defiance of a UN resolution that demanded an end to settlement construction.
US quietly sent $221M to Palestinians in Obama’s last hours
Officials said Monday that the Obama administration– in its waning hours– defied Republican opposition and quietly released $221 million to the Palestinian Authority that GOP members of Congress had been blocking. A State Department official and several congressional aides told The Associated Press that the outgoing administration formally notified Congress it would spend the money Friday morning.
Israeli army has a smoking problem, new study finds
Nearly 40 percent of Israelis are smokers by the time they finish their compulsory army service, according to a new study. That is twice as high as the overall national rate and dramatically higher than among American soldiers, according to the study published Monday in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research.
Israel delays annexation vote
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday delayed a vote on a proposal to annex one of the West Bank’s largest settlements, a move that gives him time to coordinate his policy toward the Palestinians with the new administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Education Minister Naftali Bennett, leader of the pro-settlement Jewish Home Party, has been pushing Netanyahu to abandon the idea of a Palestinian state and to annex the Maaleh Adumim settlement near Jerusalem.
Trump, amid combative start, pledges to rise to moment
After what was seen as a combative start to his presidency, Donald Trump delivered a more unifying message Sunday and sought to reassure Americans he was ready to begin governing a divided nation. Mr. Trump began rolling out his plans for diplomatic outreach, speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and announcing plans for early meetings with Mr. Netanyahu and other world leaders.
Nation-Now 15 mins ago 7:19 p.m.Trump prepares for busy Monday,…
President Trump, having declared post-inaugural Monday the true opening day of his new administration, spent Sunday pondering a string of executive orders on topics ranging from immigration to Israel to the economy, including what he called a re-working of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Supervising the swearing-in of 30 new White House staff members, Trump said he will soon meet with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexico President Enrique Pena Nieto to discuss changes to NAFTA, the trade deal he claims has shipped U.S. jobs to those other countries.
Trump, amid combative start, pledges to rise to moment
After a combative start to his presidency, Donald Trump delivered a more unifying message Sunday and sought to reassure Americans he was ready to begin governing a divided nation. Trump began rolling out his plans for diplomatic outreach, speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and announcing plans for early meetings with Netanyahu and other world leaders.
Trump, Israeli Prime Minister to discuss Iran nuke deal
Trump and Israeli Prime Minister set to speak two days after the inauguration as the state takes advantage of US support by approving settlement plans Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will speak by phone Sunday for the first time since Trump’s inauguration U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will speak Sunday for the first time since Trump’s inauguration, with Israel already taking advantage of his support by pushing through settlement plans. ‘A telephone conversation will be held this evening between President Trump and me.
Israeli leader delays West Bank annexation vote
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delayed a vote Sunday on an explosive proposal to annex one of the West Bank’s largest settlements, apparently to coordinate his policy toward the Palestinians with the new administration of President Donald Trump. The move put on hold legislation that threatens to unleash fresh violence and damage already faded hopes for Palestinian independence.
Netanyahu and Trump to hold first call Sunday evening
PM says he greatly appreciated Trump’s “deep friendship” for Israel, as well as his “declared willingness to fight against radical Islamic terror with full force.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold his first telephone conversation with new US President Donald Trump on Sunday evening, the prime minister told the cabinet.
Mideast Expects Big Changes Under Trump
Donald Trump’s all-but-dismissal of human rights as a foreign policy principle could hit like an earthquake across a Middle East landscape beset by warring factions and beleaguered governments, with some players eyeing the prospect of once unimaginable new alliances. Syria is the foremost test of Trump’s promise of a return to a hard-headed realpolitik and could quickly show whether America is truly abandoning promotion of democracy and the rule of law in a way that could reshape much of the region’s post-Cold War, post-9/11 order.
Obama’s final message: ‘We’re going to be OK,’ U.S. president says in last news conference
In the final minutes of his final presidential news conference, Barack Obama insisted he’s not just tossing out reassuring platitudes about the nation’s future. “This is not just a matter of no-drama Obama,” he said.
Haley slams Obama for not blocking UN measure against Israel
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley assailed the Obama administration on Wednesday for failing to block a U.N. Security Council resolution that condemned Israel’s settlements in east Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Obama Appoints Anti-Israel Adviser to Holocaust Museum Council
President Barack Obama appointed White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes to a post on the US Holocaust Memorial Museum’s council, the White House Reported Tuesday. Rhodes was probed by Congress over revelations that he served in his sensitive position as the president’s most trusted advisor despite the fact that he had not qualified for security clearances based on FBI background checks in 2008.
Nikki Haley Set for Confirmation Hearing
Nikki Haley delivers the State of the State in the House chambers at the South Carolina Statehouse, Jan. 20, 2016, in Columbia, South Carolina. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley will face the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday for her confirmation hearing to be considered as President-elect Donald Trump ‘s choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations .
Top Palestinian Official: Congress Limited in Push Back to U.N. Resolution
Congress has limited options for responding to a United Nations Security Council resolution critical of Israel, according to a top Palestinian official who spoke to THE WEEKLY STANDARD. The remarks from Maen Areikat, the chief representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization in the United States, came as lawmakers rolled out legislation in the aftermath of the December resolution, which describes the West Bank and east Jerusalem as occupied Palestinian territory and condemns Israeli construction in those areas.
Obama says U.N. vote didn’t rupture U.S.-Israel relations
U.S. President Barack Obama played down fallout from a U.S. abstention on a United Nations resolution last month demanding an end to Israeli settlements in occupied territory, saying it did not trigger a significant break in relations with Israel. Relations between the United States and Israel, which have soured during Obama’s eight years in office, reached a low point late last month when Washington, defying pressure from longtime ally Israel and President-elect Donald Trump, declined to veto the U.N. resolution.
Pew: Republicans Love Israel, Democrats Only So-So
Only 33% of Democrats sympathize more with Israel, 31% more with the Arabs in the conflict, and 35% sympathize with neither, with both, or don’t have an opinion. Only 11% of Republicans sympathize more with the Arabs, and 15% say they sympathize with neither side, with both sides or don’t have an opinion.
Secretary of State John Kerry and 70 Nations Meet Paris to Cede Parts of Israel to the Palestinians
With less than one week left in his Presidency, President Barack Hussein Obama’s Secretary of State, John Kerry is in Paris this week meeting with 72 nations at a ‘Peace’ Summit . The purpose of the summit is to further actions led by Obama’s administration at the UN mandating that Israel hand over significant sections of its territory to a group of Palestinians.
Confessions of a Megalomaniac
THE ARAB taxi driver who brought me to Ramallah had no trouble with the Israeli border posts. He just evaded them.
Top Cabinet nominees Tillerson, Mattis contradict Trump’s foreign policy
Toughness with Russia and China, support of the Iran nuclear deal, the quest for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Donald Trump’s diplomacy and military picks have outlined the incoming administration’s foreign policy in Senate confirmation hearings this week. And on many strategic issues, in particular the president-elect’s desire for improved ties with Russia, Rex Tillerson, the former head of ExxonMobil chosen for secretary of state, and James Mattis, the retired U.S. Marine Corps general chosen as defense secretary, contradicted Trump in the hearings Wednesday and Thursday.
Palestinians await Israeli outpost’s evacuation
Once planted with tomatoes, cucumbers and okra, the wind-swept hilltop now hosts the white trailer homes of an Israeli settlement outpost that took root more than 20 years ago. Now, Abdel-Kareem and other Palestinian landowners are set to reclaim the property they watched stripped from them, hoping to finally put to rest a bitter, years-long legal saga on Feb. 8 – the latest court-ordered deadline for the evacuation of the Amona outpost.
Netanyahu Thanks House For Condemning UN Security Council Resolution
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday for disavowing the UN Security Council’s resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity as a “flagrant violation of international law.” “After the outrageous anti-Israel resolution at the UN, the U.S. House of Representatives voted yesterday resoundingly to support Israel and reject this one-sided resolution,” Netanyahu said .
Netanyahu caught trying to negotiate more favorable press coverage
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016.
This is the moment for an Israeli victory Prof. Daniel Pipes
Daniel Pipes is president and founder of the Middle East Forum, author of 12 books, several books, president of the Middle East Forum, is considered one of the world’s foremost analysts on the Middle East and Muslim history. He warned of militant Islam’s war with the USA years before 9.11 and called Arafat’s bluff at Oslo.
State Department Designates Osama Bin Laden’s Son a – Global Terrorist’
Bin Laden, born in 1989, was announced as an official member of al-Qaida, the terrorist group his father founded, in 2015. Since then, al-Qaida audio messages featuring the younger bin Laden have threatened the U.S. and western nations and called for attacks against U.S., French and Israeli interests in Washington, D.C., Paris, France and Tel Aviv, Israel.
Israel Cuts $6 Million to UN Over Settlement Vote
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement in front of a new construction, in the Jewish settlement known to Israelis as Har Homa and to Palestinians as Jabal Abu Ghneim, March 16, 2015 Israel says it is withholding about $6 million from its annual United Nations dues, following a U.N. Security Council resolution last month calling for an end to Israel’s “settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory.” The United States abstained from voting on the measure, opening the way for the other 14 members of the Council to unanimously pass the resolution.
France ‘not planning’ UNSC resolution
France is not secretly planning a UN Security Council resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict after a major conference in Paris this month, the president of the French Senate said Thursday. Gerard Larcher said he was not aware of any country working on a resolution to put before the Council between the January 15 meeting and the inauguration of Donald Trump as US president on January 20. Speaking to the press in Jerusalem at the end of a four-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, Larcher said that many Israeli interlocutors had expressed fear France would try to translate the outcome of the conference into a UN resolution.