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Peace debate exposes deep rifts in Israeli government

May 21, 2013 12:16
By Jeffrey Heller JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's coalition government presented a divided front on Palestinian statehood on Tuesday as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry prepared a new mission to revive long-defunct peace talks. Appearing before a parliamentary committee, Israeli chief peace negotiator Tzipi Livni outlined a vision she said she shared with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of an end to the decades-old conflict with the Palestinians.

Man refused overdraft kills four in Israeli bank

May 20, 2013 11:16
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A gunman shot dead four people execution-style in a bank in Israel on Monday after being refused an overdraft and cash from its automatic teller machine. The assailant, identified by media reports as a former paramilitary border policeman, killed himself after police raided the Bank Hapoalim branch in the southern city of Beersheba to free his hostages.

Israeli opposition chief urges Abbas back to talks

Agence France-PresseMay 12, 2013 10:15
Israeli opposition leader Shelly Yachimovich on Sunday urged Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas to seize the chance of resuming peace negotiations as the two met for talks at his West Bank headquarters. According to a statement from her office, the two discussed "the situation in the Middle East and the chances of making progress between Israel and the Palestinians".

Israeli defence, finance chiefs wage battle over budget

Agence France-PresseMay 12, 2013 07:45
Israel's security cabinet was to discuss on Sunday proposed cuts in defence spending of over a billion dollars, as public opposition mounts to Finance Minister Yair Lapid's austerity plans which include tax hikes and cuts to public services. Lapid wants a cut of four billion shekels ($1.12 billion, 860 million euros) to help plug a budget deficit expected to be capped at 4.65 percent of gross domestic product this year and three percent in 2014.

Israel approves 296 West Bank settler homes

Agence France-PresseMay 10, 2013 17:00
Israel has given the go-ahead to build nearly 300 homes in the settlement of Beit El near Ramallah, a spokesman said, in a move likely to spark tensions as Washington seeks to rekindle peace talks. "The Civil Administration has given the green light for 296 housing units at Beit El, but this is only the first stage of a process before actual construction can begin," he said, speaking on behalf of a unit within the defence ministry which administers the West Bank.

Israel approves 296 West Bank settler homes

Agence France-PresseMay 10, 2013 11:49
Israel has given the go-ahead to build nearly 300 homes in the Beit El settlement near Ramallah, an official said Thursday, in a move likely to spark tensions as Washington seeks to rekindle peace talks. "The Civil Administration has given the green light for 296 housing units at Beit El, but this is only the first stage of a process before actual construction can begin," said the spokesman for a unit within the defence ministry which administers the West Bank.

Stephen Hawking to boycott Israel conference

Agence France-PresseMay 8, 2013 14:17
Renowned British physicist Stephen Hawking has pulled out of a June conference hosted by Israel's President Shimon Peres, joining an academic boycott of the Jewish state, event organisers said on Wednesday. "Hawking joined the academic boycott of Israel and pulled out of the Israeli Presidential Conference: Facing Tomorrow 2013, under the auspices of President Peres," they said in a statement.

Israel's Netanyahu says would put peace deal to referendum

May 7, 2013 10:45
By Crispian Balmer JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday he would put any peace deal with the Palestinians to a referendum, raising expectations that direct negotiations might soon resume following a two-year stalemate. It was the second time in just three days that Netanyahu has publicly mentioned the possibility of holding a nationwide vote on an eventual accord and came as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met Israeli politicians in Washington to discuss talks.

Netanyahu quietly curbs settlement expansion: reports

May 7, 2013 10:40
By Jeffrey Heller JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has quietly curbed new building projects in Jewish settlements, an Israeli watchdog group and media reports said on Tuesday, in an apparent bid to help U.S. efforts to revive peace talks with the Palestinians.

Israel PM freezes W.Bank settlement tenders

Agence France-PresseMay 7, 2013 05:45
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a freeze on publishing tenders for new West Bank settler homes to avoid hampering US efforts to renew peace talks, army radio reported on Tuesday. Israel's Peace Now settlement watchdog also said there had not been any tenders for new West Bank construction published since the start of the year. Neither Netanyahu's office, nor the housing ministry would comment on the army radio report, which said the premier had gone back on a pre-election pledge to push ahead with thousands of new settler homes if reelected.
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