A Palestinian militant killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza

A Palestinian militant has been killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza City.

Haytham al-Mishal, 29, was hit while riding a motorcycle. At least one other person was reportedly also injured.

A militant group which fired rockets at the southern Israeli city of Eilat two weeks ago said Mishal had been one of its members. (more…)

Israel bombs Gaza after a rocket landed in the south

Israeli warplanes carried out air strikes in the Gaza Strip early today after a militant rocket earlier struck southern Israel. (more…)

Hamas re-elected Khaled Meshaal as its leader

Hamas re-elected Khaled Meshaal on Tuesday as the Islamist group’s leader, at a marathon overnight closed-door meeting held in Cairo, an official with the organization said. (more…)

Hamas set to announce leader, report

Hamas will most likely select Khalid Mashaal as the head of its politburo for a fourth time late Monday, a senior member of the Islamic movement said.

“Tonight, the presidency of the political bureau will be resolved, and most likely Khalid Mashaal will remain” the Hamas leader for another term, Ahmad Yousef told Ma’an.
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Turkish PM to visit Gaza after getting Israeli apology

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced March 23 that he will visit Gaza, following Israel’s apology to Turkey over the flotilla raid.

“I may eventually visit Gaza and the West Bank in April. This visit would take place in the context of a general effort to contribute to the resolution process [of the Palestinian issue],” (more…)

Obama gets diplomatic coup before heading to Jordan

President Barack Obama arrived in refugee-flooded Jordan on Friday after scoring a diplomatic coup just before leaving Israel when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to Turkey for a 2010 commando raid that killed nine activists on a Turkish vessel in a Gaza-bound flotilla. (more…)

Israel apologized to Turkey over flotilla deaths

Israel apologized to Turkey on Friday for killing nine Turkish citizens in a 2010 naval raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla and both feuding U.S. allies agreed to normalize relations in a surprise breakthrough announced by U.S. President Barack Obama. (more…)

Obama must not fail in Israel and Palestine, letter

The Middle East, racked with dangerous and escalating crises, is desperately in need of international leadership. President Obama’s visit to Israel and Palestine presents an opportunity for the US to give the determined lead that is required. (more…)

Israeli PM Names a hard-line Defense Minister

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed on Sunday a hard-line former military chief as the country’s new defense minister.

Moshe Yaalon, a former army commando, has said Iran’s suspect nuclear program is Israel’s top security concern, (more…)

Third Intifadeh? only violence really gets Israelis’ attention

Israelis began the week trying to absorb some alarming news: “IDF Preparing for Third Intifadeh” was the headline in the country’s second-largest daily. “Riot Alert” roared the largest. A February weekend that in Israel had been notable only for its warm weather turned out to have produced a firestorm in the Occupied Territories (more…)