Palestinian Authority

Fatah Official: Reconciliation with Hamas 'Soon'

Fatah leader Azzam al-Ahmad says he expects reconciliation with rival Hamas soon and claimed the Hamas supports Abbas' UN bid.

Erekat: PA Won't Attend Quartet Confab

Reiterating demands for an Israeli construction freeze and recognition of the pre-1967 lines, PA officials reject Quartet talks in Jordan.

Colombia Rebuffs Abbas, Won't Support UN Bid

PA chairman left Colombia empty handed after a visit aimed at gaining the country's support at the UNSC.

Group: Don't Buy "Kassam Lulavim"

Notices posted in Hareidi neighborhoods in Jerusalem and Bnei Brak call for a boycott of lulavim (palm fronds) grown in Gaza and Jericho.

Quartet Says Talks to Resume on October 23

Int'l mediators have set a date for the resumption of peace talks between Israel and the PA, but it's not clear either side will attend.

PLO: 'Blair Unwelcome'

The PLO has said Quartet spokesman Tony Blair has become persona non grata in PA enclaves and is "Netanyahu's mouthpiece."

Gaza Becomes A Separate Nation: Visa Required to Enter

Hamas may have pre-empted the PA statehood bid with one of its own, creating facts on the ground in Gaza. A visa is now required to enter.

Quartet to Invite Israel, PA to Brussels

The Quartet for Middle East Peace is expected to invite officials from Jerusalem and Ramallah to Brussels to talk about talks.

PA Plan: Use UN to Cement Claims to Jewish Holy Sites

The PA plans to use anticipated membership in UN committee to make claims on Jewish holy sites in Judea, Samaria.

Abbas: US Aid Cut Hurts Peace Process

PA chairman says a decision by US lawmakers to freeze aid the PA will "hurt the peace process," complains US is an Israeli ally.

Sarkozy: Jewish State a 'Silly' Idea

French president Nicolas Sarkozy squarely blames Israel for stalled talks and says the Jewish state's national identity is "silly."

Barak: Talks to Resume Using Quartet Proposal

Defense Minister Ehud Barak says direct talks with PA officials will resume using Quartet guidelines in the near future.

Jewish Building in Yesha Languishes, While Arab Building Booms

Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria may be at a near-standstill, but the Arab building sector is white-hot, the PA said this week.

US Could Cut Off UNESCO Funding if PA Accepted as Member

A key member of a Congressional appropriations committee said she would move to cut off US funding to UNESCO if the PA becomes a member.

Mideast Quartet to Meet Sunday

Envoys from the Mideast Quartet will meet Sunday in hopes of restarting stalled talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

PA Seeking to Amend Paris Agreement

Accusing Israel of using economic pressure as "political blackmail," PA officials are seeking to amend the Paris Agreement on funds.

PA Unshod By US Aid Freeze

PA officials slammed the freeze of $200 million in aid by US lawmakers while protesters hurl shoes at US diplomats in Ramallah.

U.S. Administration Working to Unblock Congress Aid to the PA

The Obama administration is in "intensive" discussion with lawmakers to release $200 million in blocked aid to the PA.

Ashton Vows Aid for PA Amid US Cuts

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton vowed to keep Ramallah on the dole as the US Congress blocks $200 million in aid payments.

PA Maps Show ‘State’ that Swallows Up Israel

While the PA speaks of the indefensible 1967 "borders” at the UN, its maps tell a different story – one in which Israel no longer exists.

US, EU Slam Gilo Construction Project

Western officials criticized Israel's decision to build 1,100 new housing units in the Gilo neighborhood of Jerusalem.

PA Rails Against Gilo Development Project

The PA slammed Israel's move to develop the Gilo neighborhood in Jerusalem saying Israel is "creating preconditions on the ground."

Hamas Calls for Strategic Dialogue With Fatah

Hamas has called for a 'strategic dialogue' with Fatah aimed as returning the cause to 'liberation without recognition.

Rivlin: Abbas Speech Leaves Little Hope

Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin told Japan's ambassador to Israel Abbas' UN speech leaves 'little hope' of peace.

What Does Abbas' United Nations Bid Mean?

PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas is set to submit his application for full UN membership to Secretary Ban Ki-moon, but does it mean anything?

Yesha Protests PA Statehood Bid - Near Arab Villages

Jewish activists staged peaceful protests in Judea and Samaria in opposition to the PA statehood bid at the UN this week.

Israeli MK Off to NYC – with Abbas

Israeli-Arab MK Ahmed Tibi claims he is not part of Abbas’ delegation, but photos show the two side by side on a plane to New York.

Opinion: The Famous State of Palestine

What would Arab state number 23/ Muslim state number 58 be like? Giulio Meotti takes a good look.

PLO: US Threatening to Cut Ties

PLO executive committee member Hanna Amira says the US has threatened to cut ties with the PA if it pursues statehood bid at the UN.

Abbas: Resisting "Huge Pressure" From West

PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas proudly declared "all hell had broken out" over his statehood bid at the UN; laments lack of Western sympathy.

Frantic Quartet Efforts to Fend Off PA Statehood Bid

The US and the EU moved up their final efforts to fend off a bid by the PA to gain statehood through the UN rather than talks with Israel.

Emergency Quartet Meeting in New York Sunday

The Mideast Quartet is meeting in NYC in a last minute try to restart talks before the PA statehood bid.

PA Threatens US Over Security Council Veto

Officials in Ramallah warned the US its promised Security Council veto of the PA statehood bid will 'destroy' the two-state solution.

US Dismisses PA Draft Text Rumors

US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice dismissed rumors a draft text for the PA statehood bid exists - or that the US is negotiating one.

PA, PLO Disagree on Welcoming All Faiths

The Palestinian Authority and the PLO are not on the same page regarding whether their hoped-for state will welcome "people of all faiths."

Gilad: PA Opposes Terror, and is Fighting It

Top security expert says that the PA is doing far more to fight terror than most Israelis realize.

IDF Prepares to Call Up Reserves

The IDF prepares for the possibility of PA Arab riots, and will call up reserves probably Sunday, September 18.

Growing Concern in Israel Over Jordan

The situation in the Hashemite Kingdom is “delicate,” say Israeli officials, who are monitoring the situation.

US Envoys Returning For 'More Talks'

Two US envoys are returning to Israel in hopes of jump-starting talks between Israel and the PA, and averting the PA statehood bid.

PLO to Remain 'Even After Statehood'

The PLO will continue to represent the 'Palestinian diaspora' even after the creation of a PA state 'just like the Jewish agency.'

Abdullah II: Jordan Is Not Palestine

Jordan's King Abdullah II reaffirmed his government's rejection of his family's historic policy that "Jordan is Palestine."

German Foreign Minister to Meet with Abbas in Ramallah

Germany's foreign minister goes to Ramallah in a last-ditch effort to convince PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to abandon the UN statehood bid.

It's Official: US Will Veto PA's UN Statehood Bid

The United States has announced it will exercise its veto in the U.N. Security Council to block a bid by the PA to gain UN membership.

PLO, PA Compete on UN Statehood Bid

The Palestinian Authority officially began its bid for statehood at the United Nations Thursday. The PLO raced to deny the campaign launch.

Jerusalem Arabs 'Expel' Israeli Textbooks

Arab schools in Jerusalem refuse to use Israeli-revised textbooks that omit Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, PA officials announce.

Qassam Rocket Attacks Continue in Southern Israel

The western Negev was hit again Wednesday night with Qassam rocket attacks launched by Palestinian Authority Arab terrorists in Gaza.

US Formally Asks PA to Drop Statehood Bid

After months of implicit opposition to the PA statehood bid at the UN on September 20, the US has formally asked the PA to drop the move.

PA Continues Propaganda Offensive on Washington

PLO official Yasser Abed-Rabbo said the United States was showing "disdain for Arabs" by opposing the PA statehood bid at the UN.

US Position Upsets PA

Officials in Ramallah complain the United States is threatening them over their statehood bid at the UN on September 20.

Arab MKs Back PA Over Israel

Arab MKs have advised PA officials in Ramallah to go forward with their statehood bid at the UN over Israeli objections.

EU to Debate Unified Vote on PA Statehood

EU ministers are meeting to discuss the PA's unilateral statehood bid. Will the EU vote as a bloc, and if so, how?

EU Still 'Undecided' on PA Statehood Bid at UN

It appears the EU is still split over voting on the Palestinian Authority's bid for statehood recognition at the United Nations.

Oren: PA Statehood Jeopardizes Oslo

Israeli Ambassador to the United States says Israel has no agreements with a 'Government of Palestine.'

Steinitz: PA Statehood Bid More Dangerous Than Hamas

Finance Minister Yuval Steintiz said the PA Statehood Bid in September is 'more dangerous' than Hamas; Israel will 'respond.'

US State Dept Slams Congress Funding Block of PA at UN

The US State Dept. has slammed efforts by a Florida lawmaker to block the PA from seeking United Nations membership as a new country.

Jordan Continues Attempt to Persuade PA to Abandon UN Bid

Jordan continues its efforts to persuade the Palestinian Authority to reconsider its bid for statehood and United Nations membership.

Ros-Lehtinen Moves to Block PA UN Statehood Bid, Status Upgrade

The chairwoman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee proposes a clause blocking funds to UN members who back the PA's statehood bid.

Jordan: PA's September Plan Will Hurt 'Refugees'

Jordan again voiced its opposition to the PA's plan to seek recognition for an Arab state in Judea, Samaria, and Jerusalem

PA 'Condemns Attacks on Civilians' After Tel Aviv Stabbings

The Palestinian Authority announced Monday it "condemns all attacks on civilians" after a PA Arab stabbed 8 people at a Tel Aviv club.

Hamas, Fatah in Different Time Zones

Hamas' refusal to synchronize its clocks with Fatah may be indicative of the wide gulf between Israel's most virulent enemies.