News

Jerusalem – Amid rising tensions over new metal detectors at one of Islam’s holiest sites, Israeli authorities on Wednesday closed the gates of Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa compound, preventing Palestinians from entering the site, according to a Palestinian official. “This evening, Israeli police officers closed the Al-Aqsa Mosque gates and prevented worshipers …

WA Labor is poised to become the next branch of the party to formally recognise a Palestinian state, with the powerful Left faction signalling it will bring on a vote at the coming State conference. The move threatens to inflame factional divisions inside WA Labor and cause headaches for Federal …

HAIFA – Israel imposes collective punishment on Palestinian residents of occupied East Jerusalem, preventing them from accessing homes and businesses, in violation of both Israeli and international law, rights groups said on Thursday. Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel and the Jerusalem Legal Aid and …

WASHINGTON – The United States Wednesday expressed concern regarding recent developments and tension at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem caused by Israel’s installation of metal detectors at the gates leading to the Muslim holy compound. A statement by the White House press secretary said the US “is very concerned about tensions …

RAMALLAH – Rising tensions in East Jerusalem following the installation of metal detectors at the gates leading to Al-Aqsa Mosque compound dominated front page headlines in Thursday’s Palestinian Arabic dailies. Al-Quds reported Israeli forces attacked Jerusalemite Palestinians who continued to perform prayers five times a day in plazas and streets …

GROZNY  – The Grand Mufti of the Republic of Chechnya, Sheikh Mohammad Salah Majidov, said Thursday that President Ramzan Kadyrov expressed strong opposition to the closing of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem to Muslim worshippers and called on the Israeli government to immediately open it while warning against insulting Muslims. “Given …

RAMALLAH – President Mahmoud Abbas contacted several world governments to urge their intervention to put a stop to new Israeli measures in occupied East Jerusalem and particularly at the Muslim holy place, Al-Aqsa Mosque, where Israel had set up metal detectors that provoked tension across the occupied territory. Abbas, who …

BEIJING – President Mahmoud Abbas decided Wednesday to cut short his trip abroad and return home due to the urgency of the situation in Jerusalem following Israeli measures at Al-Aqsa Mosque, Abbas’ spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said from Beijing where Abbas has been on an official state visit. He said …

JENIN – Five Palestinians said to be workers were killed Wednesday in a road accident in the north of the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent and Israeli police. They said the accident occurred southwest of Jenin between a transport vehicle with Palestinian license plates and a truck …

CAIRO – Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit condemned on Wednesday the Israeli authorities’ use of violence and other arbitrary measures against Palestinian residents of occupied Jerusalem, especially in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque. In a press statement, Aboul Gheit called on Israel to immediately cease such practices and procedures …