Tag: Israel

Trump Jerusalem move triggers Palestinian unrest

by Joe Dyke with Majeda El-Batsh in Jerusalem Agence France Presse RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories (AFP) — US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital sparked Palestinian protests, sporadic clashes and a call for a new intifada on Thursday as fears grew of fresh bloodshed in the region. Trump’s announcement also prompted an almost universal diplomatic backlash, including warnings from Turkey, the European Union and Russia. And a senior Palestinian official said US Vice […]

Trump recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital; sparks firestorm

by Andrew Beatty with Mike Smith in Jerusalem Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump recognized the disputed city of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital Wednesday, prompting an almost universal diplomatic backlash and fears of new bloodshed in the Middle East. Trump’s defiant move, making good on a core campaign pledge, ended seven decades of US ambiguity on the status of the Holy City, which is vociferously claimed by both Israelis and […]

Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital

by Mike Smith with Andrew Beatty in Washington Agence France-Presse JERUSALEM, Israel (AFP) — President Donald Trump will recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital Wednesday, upending decades of careful US policy and ignoring dire warnings of a historic misstep that could trigger a surge of violence in the Middle East. A senior administration official said Trump would make the announcement — ignoring frantic warnings from US allies in the region and around the world — at […]

Morocco’s king warns Trump against Jerusalem embassy move

RABAT, Morocco (AFP) — Morocco’s King Mohammed VI on Tuesday warned US President Donald Trump against moving the American embassy to the contested city of Jerusalem. Trump informed Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas by phone of his intention to move the embassy from Tel Aviv, Abbas’s office said Tuesday. In an open letter to the American president, the Moroccan king expressed his “deep personal concern” and “the great concern felt by Arab and Muslim states and peoples” over […]

Macron ‘concerned’ at US support for Jerusalem as capital

PARIS, France (AFP) — French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday spoke to US counterpart Donald Trump and expressed concern about designating Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the Elysee palace said. “The French president has expressed his concern at the possibility of the United States unilaterally designating Jerusalem as capital of the state of Israel,” a statement said, referring to a phone call between the two leaders. Any such decisions must be “within the framework of negotiations […]

Arab League chief warns Trump Jerusalem move could fuel violence

CAIRO, Egypt (AFP) — The Arab League chief said on Sunday a decision by US President Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital would boost fanaticism and violence, and not serve the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Trump’s son-in-law and Middle East peace envoy Jared Kushner told the Saban Forum on Sunday the president is close to a decision on whether to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. “It is unfortunate that some are insisting on carrying out this […]

Record number of Filipinos travelling to Israel in 2017

Israel, has broken its tourism record in Philippines along with reaching a whopping 3 million tourists arrival mark this year. More than 17,000 Filipinos have already visited Israel until October, 2017 marking a growth of 62% from January to October vis-à-vis the same period last year as per statistics released by Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT). Speaking about the growth, Hassan Madah – Director, Israel Ministry of Tourism Philippines said, “This has been the best […]

Arriving on donkeys, Syrian war wounded seek Israeli help

by Delphine Matthieussent Agence France-Presse   MOUNT HERMON,Syria  (AFP) – The wounded Syrians, carried on donkeys through the pitch-black night, could be seen in the beam of a searchlight held by their unlikely saviours — Israeli soldiers. They were high in the mountains, nearing the Israeli-occupied zone of the Golan Heights, where they were to receive medical treatment for their wounds even though Israel and Syria are officially at war. Casualties from Syria‘s six-year civil war are taken […]

Britain defends Balfour Declaration, 100 years on

 LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Britain’s foreign secretary on Sunday defended his predecessor’s role a century ago in paving the way for the creation of Israel, saying two sovereign states for Israelis and Palestinians remains the “only viable solution” for peace. This Thursday marks the centenary of the Balfour Declaration — a 67-word letter from Britain’s then foreign secretary Arthur Balfour that threw London’s backing behind a homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine. Israeli Prime Minister […]

Electric jet startup could become ‘Uber in the sky’

by Glenn Chapman Agence France-Presse LAGUNA BEACH, United States (AFP) — Eviation Aircraft chief executive Omer Bar-Yohay pictures a day not too far away when summoning a bargain plane ride with a smartphone will be as easy as hailing Uber. The Israel-based startup working on a self-piloting, electric aircraft was at the WSJD Live conference here Tuesday with a vision of “Uber meeting Tesla in the sky.” Bar-Yohay spoke of a future in which people […]

US, Israel pull out of UN cultural body over ‘anti-Israel’ bias

by Adam Plowright with Dave Clark in Washington and Mike Smith in Jerusalem Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — The United States and its ally Israel said Thursday they were pulling out of the UN’s culture and education body, in a move that underlined Washington’s drift away from international institutions. The US decision, announced in Washington, follows years of tension at the organization which it accused of having an “anti-Israel bias.” “This decision was not taken lightly, […]

Israeli president denounces Palestinian Interpol membership

Jerusalem, Undefined (AFP) — Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Wednesday criticized Interpol’s decision to admit the Palestinian Authority as a member, saying it would weaken the global police body’s anti-terror capabilities. “This decision will harm Interpol’s ability to fight international terror,” his office quoted him as saying a conference call with American Jewish leaders. “This is not a decision based on professional need. It is absolutely a political decision,” he told members of the Conference of Presidents of […]