israel – Page 8 – 4VF News – Daily News Channel

Netanyahu reaches out to Palestinians

Incoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday his government will be a "partner for peace" with the Palestinians. Speaking to an economic forum, Netanyahu said, “Palestinians should understand that they have in our government a partner for peace, for security and for rapid economic development of (the) Palestinian economy; I believe that this could be done.” This comes a day after the central committee of the left of center Labor Party voted to join a coalition government headed by Netanyahu, the leader of the right of center Likud party. Under the agreement, Labor leader Ehud Barak would remain Israeli defense minister, and Netanyahu would achieve his goal of broadening a coalition made up mainly of right-wing parties.

Israeli Soldiers Allege Indiscriminate Killing in Gaza

Whenever concerns are expressed over civilian casualties inflicted in Israeli military operations, the country’s generals and political leaders are quick to insist that theirs is the “world’s most moral army.” That claim was challenged by human rights observers over Israel’s recent offensive in Gaza, although such criticism is reflexively dismissed by Israel as driven by pro-Palestinian bias.

Israeli military to probe Gaza campaign allegations

The Israeli military plans to investigate claims by Israeli soldiers that Palestinian civilians were killed and Palestinian property intentionally destroyed during Israel’s recent 22-day offensive in the Gaza Strip. The claims were made by Israeli soldiers who were graduates of a pre-military course at an Israeli college.

Israel arrests suspected Hamas terrorists

Israeli security forces are questioning 10 Hamas terrorism suspects, including four Hamas legislative council members, who were arrested in overnight raids across the West Bank, the military said Thursday.

Eurovision: The Answer for Peace in the Middle East?

Compassion and creativity are often the first casualties of conflict. But in Israel — where conflict has become a way of life — artistic expression sometimes still manages to transcend even the most brutal realities.

Purported bin Laden tape calls Gaza offensive a ‘holocaust’

An audio recording ostensibly by al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden calls Israel’s recent offensive in Gaza a "holocaust." Arabic-language news network Al-Jazeera aired the message Saturday but could not verify whether it was from bin Laden.

Turkey bombs suspected Kurdish rebel targets in Iraq

Turkish warplanes bombed suspected Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq on Thursday, a military spokesman said Friday. They gathered at a protest tent erected by Noam and Aviva Shalit in front of outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s house in Jerusalem and demanded that he develop a deal to release the soldier. The Shalits have moved from their home in Israel’s Galilee region to the tent across from Olmert’s home, a step designed to increase pressure on the government to get their son freed.

Israel asked by Mauritania to close its embassy

Mauritania has requested that Israel close its embassy in the West African country, according to an official in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign affairs.

Clinton Schmoozes in Israel at the Right Length

The game among Israeli aides yesterday was checking their wristwatches to see how much time U.S.

Clinton Courts Syria, but Will Israel Play Ball?

For a disputed border crossing between two warring nations, the snowy hillside town of Majdal Shams is pretty quiet. There have been no major battles in the Golan Heights since the 1973 October War, when the Syrian army nearly recaptured the town from Israel, which had occupied the territory in the 1967 war. Instead of hostile fire, all that passes across the border these days are apple harvests and the occasional bride.