Lebanon Picks No Prez Today

Sharon talks resulted in "understandings": Abrams

(NEWSER) - Hillary Clinton said last week that the Bush administration hadn’t made any “informal or oral agreements” on Israel settlements, but that’s simply not true, writes Bush adviser Elliott Abrams in the Wall Street Journal. In fact, talks between the administration and Israel’s then-PM resulted in Ariel Sharon’s agreement to “remove some West Bank settlements”—at his own political expense. More»

(NEWSER) - Anti-Israel protesters gathered in the Arab world and beyond today to protest Israel’s bombing campaign against Gaza, the AP reports. At the largest protest, in Lebanon, tens of thousands of Hezbollah supporters listened as the group’s leader warned Israel of the futility of a ground invasion. "Israel's air force will fail to destroy the will of the fighters firing rockets," Hassan Nasrallah said by video link from an undisclosed location. More»

Skepticism surrounds his efforts as weakened Olmert faces possible ouster

(NEWSER) - President Bush arrived in Israel today to celebrate the Jewish state’s 60th birthday and try again to spur peace talks with Palestine. Ehud Olmert says he and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have reached an understanding on several key points, but Olmert is embroiled in a corruption scandal, and could soon be out as prime minister. Bush and Olmert are also expected to discuss Iran. More»

Says negotiations won't resume until offensive on Palestinians ends

(NEWSER) - Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas halted peace talks with Israel today “until [Israeli] aggression is stopped,” Reuters reports. Abbas ordered the suspension of the US-brokered talks as Israel’s Gaza offensive continued and the Palestinian death toll topped 100. But Israeli PM Ehud Olmert showed no sign of relenting, calling Israel's actions self-defense. More»

Two parties threaten to leave Olmert's governing coalition

(NEWSER) - Talks opened today between high-level Israeli and Palestinian negotiators as leaders on both sides faced intensifying criticism from within their own camps. Israeli PM Ehud Olmert was threatened with the withdrawal of two political parties from his governing coalition if sensitive subjects such as a divided Jerusalem are broached, and Hamas called on Mahmoud Abbas to "stop giving away Palestinian blood and rights for free." More»