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W.Bank settlement construction starts at 7-yr high

Agence France-PresseJune 9, 2013 15:42
Building starts on settler homes in the Israeli-occupied West Bank hit a seven-year high in the first quarter of 2013, Israeli watchdog Peace Now said on Sunday. "Between January 2013 and March 2013, construction of 865 new housing units began," the NGO said in a statement quoting recently released government statistics. "This is three times as many construction starts compared to the same quarter last year (January-March 2012)," it added. "If compared to the final quarter of last year (October-December 2012), this is an astonishing 355 percent increase."

Insight: Steeped in tradition, Israel's ultra-Orthodox face reform drive

June 6, 2013 07:39
By Crispian Balmer and Maayan Lubell JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A small rock lies on the desk of Dov Lipman. It was hurled at the member of parliament by a fellow ultra-Orthodox Jew and is a constant reminder of the deep divisions within Israel that Lipman says must be overcome. Lipman, who is a rabbi, was hit by the stone shortly after immigrating to Israel from the United States, eight years ago, when he stumbled into a riot over plans to dig up some ancient bones - something the protesters said was a desecration.

Father of shot Gaza boy disputes Israel report

Agence France-PresseMay 20, 2013 14:15
The father of a Palestinian boy shot dead in Gaza in 2000 said Monday he was willing to have his son exhumed to disprove an Israeli report denying he was killed by Israeli gunfire. The report released on Sunday by Israel is "completely fabricated," Jamal Al-Dura, whose son Mohammed was killed almost 13 years ago, told AFP. "The Israelis are lying and trying to cover the truth," he said, adding that he had asked for an international commission of inquiry into the incident.

Kerry heading back to Middle East, visiting Africa

Agence France-PresseMay 17, 2013 19:30
Amid moves to end the Syrian war and kick-start Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Secretary of State John Kerry is traveling back to the Middle East next week, a top US official said Friday. The new top US diplomat will also make his first trip to Africa since replacing Hillary Clinton in early February. Kerry will first visit Oman for talks with Omani officials on Tuesday, before then heading to Jordan, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

Israel to 'legalise' wildcat settler outposts

Agence France-PresseMay 16, 2013 11:30
Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now said on Thursday the government wants to give retroactive approval to four West Bank settlement outposts it had previously pledged to at least partially demolish. In response to a Peace Now petition to the Supreme Court against the outposts, the state attorney's office said settlers had now purchased the private Palestinian land on which they built, paving the way for the government to give its blessing.

Israel to 'legalise' wildcat settler outposts

Agence France-PresseMay 16, 2013 05:15
Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now said on Thursday that the government wants to give retroactive approval to four West Bank settlement outposts it had previously pledged to at least partially demolish. In a written response to a petition Peace Now submitted to Israel's Supreme Court against the outposts, the state attorney's office said that settlers had now purchased the private Palestinian land on which they built, paving the way for the government to give its blessing.

Israel seeks to end back-of-the-bus gender segregation

May 12, 2013 07:31
By Jeffrey Heller JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Back-of-the-bus seating for women on public transport in Israel will be outlawed soon, its justice minister said on Thursday, pledging sweeping legislation to stop Jewish religious zealots trying to enforce gender segregation in many spheres of life. The issue is at the heart of a long and emotional struggle between Israel's secular majority and an ultra-Orthodox Jewish minority over lifestyle in the Jewish state.

Israel PM: Root of Palestinian conflict 'not territorial'

Agence France-PresseMay 1, 2013 06:45
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said the root of the conflict with the Palestinians was not about territory but about their refusal to recognise Israel as the Jewish state. "The root of the conflict is not territorial. It started a long time before 1967," Netanyahu told top foreign ministry officials. "The Palestinians' lack of will to recognise the state of Israel as the national state of the Jewish people is the root of the conflict," he said. hmw/jad/bpz

Beirut bans award-winning Lebanese film shot in Israel

Agence France-PresseApril 27, 2013 17:01
Lebanese director Ziad Doueiri said Saturday the Lebanese authorities have banned his award-winning film "The Attack" from cinemas in his home country because it was partly shot in Tel Aviv using Israeli actors. "I regret to inform you that the Interior Minister of Lebanon, Minister (Marwan) Charbel, has decided to punish us and the film by banning it... claiming that the reason for the rejection is that I, Ziad Doueiri, had spent time in Israel filming," the director said in a statement on his Facebook page.

Israel shoots down drone from Lebanon - Israeli military

April 25, 2013 09:46
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli fighter plane shot down a drone from Lebanon over the Mediterranean sea on Thursday as it was approaching the Israeli coast, the military said. "I view with great gravity this attempt to violate our border. We will continue to do what is necessary to defend the security of Israel's citizens," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
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