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Content about Levant

June 16, 2014

Hebron and the West Bank are heavily militarized as Israeli troops hunt for three youths whose abductions have now been claimed (somewhat dubiously) in the name of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Israel's Haaretz reported June 14 that a "Pamphlet Number 1" issued in the name of the Islamist State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and circulated around Hebron is claiming responsibility for the abduction of three Israelis in the West Bank—but the statement's authenticity is in doubt.

February 3, 2014

President Abbas has proposed that US-led NATO forces be stationed indefinitely in a future Palestinian state, according to an interview with the New York Times.

President Abbas has proposed that US-led NATO forces be stationed indefinitely in a future Palestinian state, according to an interview with the New York Times on Feb.

January 1, 2014

An Israeli bill to formally annex the Jordan Valley, decried as "a red line" by Mahmoud Abbas, seems intentionally designed to sabotage the renewed peace process.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas reacted Dec. 31 to Israel's announced initiative to formally annex the Jordan Valley. "If they do that, which we will not allow, we will see what future holds," Abbas said.

July 27, 2013

Israeli forces evicted a protest village near the Kfar Etzion settlement compound south of Bethlehem, organized by the Popular Struggle Committee Against Settlements and the Wall.

Israeli forces evicted a protest village near the Kfar Etzion settlement compound south of Bethlehem on July 27, a local committee said. The Popular Struggle Committee Against Settlements and the Wall said its activists pitched tents on land belonging to the Abu Ayyash family. Four hours later, the Israeli army arrived with an order to evict the protesters, the committee said. Th

April 24, 2013

Israel's claim that Syria has used chemical weapons comes as rebel militias have assumed positions near the line of control in the Golan Heights.

The Assad regime's use of chemical weapons is announced as a "

November 30, 2012

The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution to upgrade Palestine to a "non-member state" at the United Nations, implicitly recognizing a Palestinian state.

The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution on Nov. 29 to upgrade Palestine to a "non-member state" at the United Nations, implicitly recognizing a Palestinian state. There were 138 votes in favor, nine against and 41 abstentions.

March 1, 2012

Under criticism from UNESCO, Israel reportedly removed Rachel's Tomb and the Cave of the Patriarchs from its "National Heritage Sites" list—but provocation by far-right settlers seeking to secure the sites as exclusively Jewish sparked violence.

Under pressure from UNESCO, Israel has agreed to remove the Cave of the Patriarchs and Rachel's Tomb—two Jewish holy sites on the West Bank—from its list of "National Heritage Sites." This of course immediately sparked a backlash from Israel's religiou

October 7, 2011

Members of U.S. Congress move to impose severe economic penalties on Palestine if it continues to seek statehood. This is an offense against the "democratic" values that both the U.S. and Israel purport to uphold.

Enshrined in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as fundamental human prerogatives are "the right of the people peaceablyto assemble, and to petition...for a redress of grievances." The amendment expressly banned Congress from abridging that right.

October 1, 2011

The US has already cut funds to the Palestinian Authority as a punitive measure in response to its statehood bid. From Kosova to Western Sahara, numerous other countries around the world similarly wait and sacrifice for UN recognition.

The UN Security Council’s Standing Committee on Admission of New Members is currently considering Palestine's application for full United Nations membership.

August 8, 2011

The Arabs who defend the Jewish protesters in Tel Aviv against anti-Semitic canards are to be supported. As are those Jewish protesters who vocally repudiate the expropriation of the Palestinians.

Seraj Assi writes for the pan-Arab al-Bawaba under the ugly if witty headline "Israel 'walks like an Egyptian' but protests like a bourgeois Zionist":

August 8, 2011

More than 200,000 marched in Tel Aviv, under a banner with the word "Go!" in Arabic—a key symbol of the protest movement that brought down Hosni Mubarak, and a clear reference to Bibi Netanyahu. Below, in Hebrew, were the words: "Egypt is here!"

An estimated 300,000 marched in cities and towns across Israel Aug. 6—the biggest mobilization yet in a growing movement for economic justice. More than 200,000 marched in Tel Aviv alone—one of the largest demonstrations in the history of the Jewish state.

July 27, 2011

The Israeli troll-o-sphere is abuzz with ghastly cheerleading for the Oslo attacks, while the Jerusalem Post warns of the "the abject failure of multiculturalism." But will the Judeophobes also call out similar verbiage from Pat Buchanan?

The Israeli troll-o-sphere appears to be abuzz with ghastly cheerleading for the Oslo attacks. J.J.

July 21, 2011

One year after the announced "easing" of the Gaza siege, the IDF releases a report boasting of improved conditions in the Strip. But the Israeli rights group Gisha crunches the numbers to reveal that the "easing" is more illusory than real.

A year has now passed since the Israeli government announced its decision to "expand the civilian policy toward the [Gaza] Strip" and "ease" the closure.

July 16, 2011

Jews and Palestinians march hand-in-hand from West Jerusalem to East Jerusalem to show support for the upcoming declaration of independnce in September.

The movement Sheikh Jarah Solidarity organized a high-profile march in Jerusalem to demand an independent Palestine in the 1967 borders.

July 8, 2011

Israel's Civil Administration on the West Bank declared 189 dunams of land belonging to the Palestinian village of Karyut to be state land, to retroactively "legalize" a settlement outpost.

For the first time in three years, the Israeli state confiscated uncultivated land in the West Bank last week, to "legalize" a nearby settlement outpost.

June 5, 2011

Thousands of Israelis marched in Tel Aviv in support of a return to the 1967 borders—as the IDF fired on protesters attempting to cross the Golan Heights ceasefire line from Syria, leaving several dead.

May 29, 2011

Iran cheers protesters in Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia while apparently backing the repression in Syria—just as the US cheers protesters in Syria while backing the repression in Egypt, Yemen...

The Washington Post reports May 27:

May 25, 2011

The myopic Israeli leadership seem not to get that Obama's statement on the 1967 borders is part of his effort to domesticate the Arab Spring—which is in their own interests.