Hamas, Fatah tensions rise; accuse each other of collaborating with Israel
Tensions between Hamas and Fatah have intensified in the past few days as the two Palestinian rival parties continue to exchange allegations and insults.
War
No deal to end shutdown; Trump says ‘could be a long time’
No one budged at President Donald Trump’s closed-door meeting with congressional leaders Wednesday, so the partial government shutdown persisted through Day 12 over his demand for billions of dollars to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. They’ll all try again Friday.
Egypt confronts water ‘poverty’ in shadow of Ethiopia’s dam
Anxiety over water is growing in Egypt as Ethiopian leaders press forward with plans to build a massive dam that officials here fear will block the flow of the Blue Nile.
US, Israel quit UN agency UNESCO, claiming anti-Israeli bias
The United States and Israel officially quit the U.N.’s educational, scientific and cultural agency at the stroke of midnight, the culmination of a process triggered more than a year ago amid concerns that the organization fosters anti-Israel bias.
Trump concedes: No ‘rush’ out of Syria, we’ve ‘almost’ eradicated ISIS
President Trump claimed Monday that he never said the U.S. would ‘rush out’ of Syria despite reporting that indicated he had ordered a rapid withdrawal.
China’s Xi says Taiwan independence would be disaster, calls for peaceful ‘reunification’
Taiwan independence would lead to ‘disaster’, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday, pledging efforts for peaceful ‘reunification’ with the self-ruled island but warning China would not renounce the use of force.
Kim Jong Un says he’s willing to meet Trump at any time, in New Year’s message
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Tuesday that he is prepared to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at any time, but warned that he would pursue an alternative course if Washington kept up sanctions on Pyongyang.
Iranian cargo plane suspected of bringing arms to Hezbollah departs Tehran
A Fars Air Qeshm cargo 747 airliner left Tehran at 8 a.m. on Sunday and landed in Damascus at 10:30 a.m., returning to Tehran at 5 p.m. The 747 allegedly transported weapons to Hezbollah in September, according to a report from Fox News that was based on Western intelligence assessments. The aircraft also made suspicious flights in July and August to Damascus and Beirut.
Lindsey Graham: I ‘feel a lot better’ about Syria pullout after lunch with Trump
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Sunday he felt less concerned about President Trump pulling U.S. troops from Syria following a two-hour lunch with him at the White House.
Trump Hails ‘Big Progress’ Towards China Trade Deal
President Donald Trump reported ‘big progress’ in trade talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, providing an optimistic start to what could be a make-or-break year for ties between the world’s two largest economies.
Israel: Iran operating on Syrian border, despite Russian assurances
An Israeli security official on Wednesday confirmed responsibility for overnight airstrikes in Syria, saying the air force had hit a series of targets involved in Iranian arms transfers to the Hezbollah militant group.
Satellite images reveal Iranian facility destroyed in Syria strike
An intelligence report issued by the satellite imaging company ImageSat International (ISI) on Thursday revealed the aftermath of the recent airstrikes in Syria, largely attributed to Israel.
Bomb at Greek church injures 2 after no warning given
A crudely-made bomb exploded outside one of Athens‘ most important churches early Thursday, injuring its caretaker and a police officer – troubling authorities as the attack took place without warning in one of the capital’s busiest areas.
Hezbollah Tunnel Under Lebanon Border; Netanyahu Says Operation Northern Shield ‘Mostly Behind Us’
The IDF announced on Wednesday it had detected and destroyed a fifth tunnel dug by Hezbollah under the Israel-Lebanon border.
Russia: Syrian government must take over eastern Syria
Russia’s Foreign Ministry says Moscow expects the Syrian government to take over the areas where the U.S. troops are currently deployed following their withdrawal.
Israel fires at Syrian missile after bombing of arms depots near Damascus
Israel’s air defense system – likely the Arrow – was activated late Tuesday night against a Syrian anti-aircraft missile, following an alleged Israeli air strike over the capital of Damascus. Media reports claimed that Israel struck weapon warehouses near the Syrian capital.
Snap elections may put Trump’s peace plan on back-burner until summer
Israel’s early election will significantly delay the publication of the US administration’s much-awaited proposal for Israeli-Palestinian peace, experts said Monday, as the White House keeps the plan on the back-burner for fear of influencing the vote.
Ugandan Christians live in fear of minority Muslims on quest for conversions
Christians in eastern Uganda are among those in their faith who face the most serious dangers in the world, according to World Watch Monitor, a group that tracks persecutions of Christians. The charity counted at least two incidents of Muslims killing Christians as well as vandalism of at least two churches.
Israeli army chief: US exit from Syria significant, but mustn’t overreact
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot said Sunday that US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw US troops from Syria shouldn’t be ‘exaggerated’ as it has little bearing on Israel’s activity in the region since the Israeli military has been operating independently in the war-torn country for years.
PA arrests 44 Palestinians for selling properties to Jews
The Palestinian Authority announced on Sunday that its security forces have thwarted attempts by Palestinians to sell lands and houses in the West Bank and east Jerusalem to Jewish buyers, and the PA’s Preventive Security Service said in a rare statement that it has arrested 44 Palestinians suspected of involvement in the alleged real estate transactions.