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Palestinian prisoner in deal with Israel to end fast

April 22, 2013 17:46
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - A Palestinian prisoner held by Israel has agreed to end an on-off hunger strike on Monday which lasted for more than eight months in exchange for an early release, Palestinian officials told Reuters. The fast by Samer al-Issawi, 32, from a suburb of Jerusalem, had stoked weeks of street protests and concerns by Israel that his death might lead to mass unrest.

Turkey unhappy with Kerry call for PM to delay Gaza trip

Agence France-PresseApril 22, 2013 15:01
Turkey expressed its dismay on Monday with the way US Secretary of State John Kerry asked Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to delay a visit to the Gaza Strip planned for next month, saying that an experienced diplomat would not do so. Kerry's statement "is not correct diplomatically", Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc told reporters. "It is up to our government to decide where our prime minister or a Turkish official will go and when."

Kerry urges Erdogan to delay Gaza visit on Mideast peace push

Agence France-PresseApril 21, 2013 15:30
US Secretary of State John Kerry called on Turkey's prime minister on Sunday to delay a visit to Gaza after talks aimed at thawing frosty Israeli-Turkish relations as part of efforts to revive the Middle East peace process. "We have expressed to the prime minister (Recep Tayyip Erdogan) that it would be better delayed," Kerry told reporters in Istanbul, urging him to wait for the "right circumstances".

Hamas denounces Kerry's call on Erdogan to delay Gaza visit

Agence France-PresseApril 21, 2013 14:30
The Hamas rulers of Gaza on Sunday slammed US Secretary of State John Kerry for urging the Turkish prime minister to delay a visit to the Palestinian territory. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri accused Kerry and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas -- who met in Istanbul earlier in the day -- of "collusion in a bid to maintain the (Israeli) blockade on Gaza."

Kerry urges Erdogan to delay Gaza visit on Mideast peace push

Agence France-PresseApril 21, 2013 12:00
US Secretary of State John Kerry called on Turkey's prime minister on Sunday to delay a visit to Gaza in talks aimed at putting Israeli-Turkish relations back on track as part of efforts to revive the Middle East peace process. "We have expressed to the prime minister (Recep Tayyip Erdogan) that it would be better to delay," Kerry told reporters in Istanbul, urging him to wait for the "right conditions". Erdogan announced last week that he was planning to visit the impoverished Palestinian territory at the end of next month after a key trip to Washington on May 16.

Jericho man braves rain to win Bethlehem marathon

Agence France-PresseApril 21, 2013 10:45
Hundreds of athletes braved freezing rain on Sunday to take part in Bethlehem's first-ever marathon which was won by a Palestinian runner from the West Bank oasis town of Jericho. Some 500 runners -- half Palestinians and half foreigners -- took part in the various formats of the race, which began at 8:00 am (0500 GMT) as the West Bank town was buffeted by cold winds and an unseasonal downpour. There were 100 runners competing in the full marathon (42.2 kilometres/26.1 miles) with Palestinians taking the top three spots.

United States asked Turkey PM to delay Gaza trip-Kerry

April 21, 2013 10:30
By David Brunnstrom ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The United States asked Turkey's leader to delay a Gaza Strip visit so as not to upset U.S. efforts to revive Ankara's ties with Israel and Middle East peace talks, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, who has for years spoken of his desire to visit the Palestinian enclave, said last week he planned to go in late May after an official visit to the United States.

Jericho man braves rain to win Bethlehem marathon

Agence France-PresseApril 21, 2013 07:30
Hundreds of athletes on Sunday braved freezing rain to take part in Bethlehem's first-ever marathon which was won by a Palestinian runner from the West Bank oasis town of Jericho. Some 500 runners, half Palestinians and half foreigners, took part in the different legs of the race, organisers said, which began at 8:00 am (0500 GMT) as the West Bank town was buffeted by cold winds and an unseasonal downpour.

Kerry pushes Mideast peace, Turkey-Israel ties in Istanbul

Agence France-PresseApril 21, 2013 07:00
US Secretary of State John Kerry discussed US efforts to revive the Middle East peace process with the Palestinian leader on Sunday and was to meet Turkey's prime minister for talks on getting its relations with Israel back on track. Kerry and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, who have met several times recently, talked for an hour-and-a-half to "continue the conversation that they've been having for several weeks now about how to get both sides (the Palestinians and the Israelis) back to the table," a State Department official said.

Israel police parade cuffed Palestinian to protesters

Agence France-PresseApril 20, 2013 14:15
Israeli police paraded a cuffed Palestinian teenager to protesters in what a human rights group charged Saturday was abuse of a "human shield" but an Israeli spokesman said was a move to calm violence. Defence for Children International-Palestine (DCI) posted a 76-second video clip on YouTube showing helmeted border policemen removing a young Palestinian it identified as "Muhammad R,17," from their armoured jeep and forcing him to stand beside them, cuffed hands raised above his head.
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