US, EU to Renew Palestinian Aid

(NEWSER) - Palestinians are actually receiving more foreign aid, not less, than they were before the US and the European Union slapped an aid embargo against the Hamas led Palestinian Authority last year, reports Steven Erlanger. The United Nations and the International Monetary Fund say $1.2 billion was given to the Palestinians in 2006 compared with $1 billion in 2005. More»

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»

Abbas and Olmert to meet in effort to isolate Hamas

(NEWSER) - Alarmed by the Hamas takeover in Gaza, Egypt will host a summit Monday, bringing together the Western-backed Palestinian president and the Israeli PM, along with Jordanian and Egyptian leaders, Reuters reports. The move is a show of support for the moderate Mamoud Abbas-led emergency government, and an effort to isolate Hamas, reports the AP. More»

Abbas declares state of emergency following Hamas takeover of Gaza

(NEWSER) - Hamas is in control of the Gaza strip this evening and Palestine's unity government dissolved, in what the moderate Fatah party is calling a coup d'etat. President Mahmoud Abbas declared a state of emergency in both the West Bank and Gaza, where the hard-line Islamic group seized control of the presidential compound at midnight (5 pm EST). More»

Fatah still controls West Bank

(NEWSER) - Hamas is in control of most of Gaza after a day of fighting in which its forces overran the headquarters of a major paramilitary force loyal to Fatah. The Times reports that Hamas militia surrounded the presidential compound in Gaza City, but president Mahmoud Abbas remains in the West Bank. Israel is likely to intervene if Hamas takes Gaza. More»