Middle Orient

UNITED NATIONS – China on Thursday called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and the comprehensive and effective implementation of the new Security Council resolution by all parties concerned. Zhang Yesui, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, said the newly adopted resolution reflects the shared expectations and desires …

Israel pushed ahead with its offensive in the Gaza Strip on Friday, ignoring a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire to the 14-day-old conflict. Israeli warplanes dropped bombs on the outskirts of the city of Gaza, residents said. Elsewhere, Palestinian medics said tanks shelled a house in …

GAZA (Reuters) – Israel pushed ahead with its offensive in the Gaza Strip on Friday, ignoring a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire to the 14-day-old conflict. Israeli warplanes dropped bombs on the outskirts of the city of Gaza, residents said. Elsewhere, Palestinian medics said tanks shelled …

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Many voices around the world speak up for the Palestinians, but few in the U.S. Congress. Lawmakers in Washington routinely pass nonbinding resolutions supporting Israel during Middle East crises. The Senate has backed Israel’s ongoing battle against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip and the House of …

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – In an apparent reversal of earlier promises to Arab states, the United States on Thursday abstained from voting on a Gaza ceasefire resolution at the United Nations Security Council. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the decision to abstain was because the United States first …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani conferred with head of Hamas political bureau Khaled Meshaal in Damascus on Wednesday over the latest conditions in the Gaza Strip. The meeting was also attended by several high level officials from Hamas at the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital. The meeting …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad held a meeting on Wednesday with visiting Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on the situation in the Gaza Strip. At the meeting, the two officials discussed “efforts and actions that must be taken by Arab and Islamic countries to stop the Israeli aggression on …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Israeli forces have arrested Iran’s Al-Alam News Network’s correspondent reporting from the occupied Palestinian territory. The man’s lawyer said the Palestinian was also suspected of passing confidential information to unauthorized persons – “a very harsh security offense” – but gave no further details. Khadr Shahine, who reported for …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s special envoy and Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary, Saeed Jalili, arrived in Ankara yesterday to hold official talks. Jalili attended a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and was later received by President Abdullah Gul. According to media reports, Jalili …

GAZA (Reuters) – Israeli troops backed by air strikes fought to seize ground from Hamas militants deep inside the Gaza Strip on Monday despite international calls for a ceasefire in a conflict that has killed more than 540 Palestinians in 10 days. More than 30 civilians, including children, were killed …