Egypt Will Host Mideast Summit

Takes mission to Jerusalem, West Bank

(NEWSER) - Condoleezza Rice took her diplomatic tour to Jerusalem and the West Bank today, hoping to rekindle peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian government of Mahmoud Abbas. Rice comes bearing a promise from Saudi Arabia to support the peace conference proposed by the White House for later this year, Reuters reports. More»

PM Olmert makes pledge at summit with Arab leaders

(NEWSER) - Israel plans to free 250 Fatah members as part of an international push to shore up Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the Washington Post reports.The announcement came at the close of a summit at a Red Sea resort, where Mideast leaders gathered to talk about dealing with Hamas in the wake of the Gaza takeover. More»

Israel considers picking up peace process as US resumes aid

(NEWSER) - President Bush and Israeli PM Ehud Olmert will convene today to discuss future relations with a newly divided Palestine. The US has resumed aid to Mahmoud Abbas' moderate Fatah government, now balkanized from its militant Hamas rivals, and Olmert has signaled his a potential willingness to push peace negotiations by doing the same. More»

Palestinian Authority on brink of collapse as Fatah 'collaborators' shot

(NEWSER) - The Palestinian Authority is teetering on collapse after Hamas declared victory in Gaza, executing captured Fatah leaders accused of collaborating with Israel. The Palestinian government was dissolved by President Mahmoud Abbas while Fatah militants in the West Bank ominously rounded up Hamas supporters. More»

(NEWSER) - Violence between the Hamas and Fatah factions has brought the Palestinian territories to the brink of civil war, a situation that now directly involves Israel, which launched air strikes on Gaza today. Earlier, Hamas gunmen killed at least five guards as they attacked the home of a Fatah security chief. At least 40 people have died in Gaza since Friday. More»