Mideast Peace Talks Yield Only a Handshake

Staff / Truthdig Sep 22, 2009 So much for President Obama's hopes to make progress in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this week. After meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Obama had little to show for his time with the two leaders beyond the symbolic level of a tentative handshake to open their discussion at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process Stopped in Its Tracks?

Staff / Truthdig Sep 19, 2009 Although the Obama administration, in particular Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is maintaining a cautiously positive stance about the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, there doesn't seem to be much progress on that front -- which, as Al Jazeera English points out in this report, might have to do with all involved parties driving a hard-line approach. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

U.N. Finds Israel War Crimes in Gaza

Staff / Truthdig Sep 16, 2009 A U.N. fact-finding mission has concluded "there is evidence indicating serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law were committed by Israel during the Gaza conflict, and that Israel committed actions amounting to war crimes, and possibly crimes against humanity." (Full release after the jump.) Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

Israel’s Holy Warriors

Staff / Truthdig Sep 7, 2009 Changes in Israeli policy have military rabbis joining combat troops at the tip of the spear. Ostensibly there to boost morale, critics worry that the rabbis are turning soldiers into Jewish jihadis. One rabbi says he was ordered to blow a ram's horn like Joshua, because "It makes the war holier." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Gideon Levy: Bad Journalism Is a Gift to Occupation

Staff / Truthdig Aug 28, 2009 Haaretz's Gideon Levy writes that the "cheap and harmful journalism" of the Swedish organ harvesting story has made life more difficult for opponents of the occupation: "The Israeli occupation is ugly enough without the contribution of Nordic fairy tales [A]ny exaggeration in describing the occupation's cruelty will ultimately damage the struggle against it". Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Israeli Blockade = Hamas Cash

Staff / Truthdig Aug 18, 2009 Israel's blockade of Gaza is making archenemy Hamas rich According to The Christian Science Monitor, Gaza businessmen (who are going bankrupt thanks to the blockade) say Hamas and friends "have been using their control of smuggling tunnels, money changing, and tax revenue to buy prime tracts of land and buildings ". Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

At Least 13 Dead in Gaza Mosque Gunfight

Staff / Truthdig Aug 15, 2009 A deadly showdown that pitted an al-Qaida-associated organization against Hamas and police troops left at least 13 killed and 85 wounded in the Gaza Strip on Friday, marking the worst day of violence in the region since January's Israeli offensive, according to the BBC. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Israeli Soldiers Blame Loose Rules for Gaza Deaths

Staff / Truthdig Jul 15, 2009 A number of anonymous Israeli soldiers speaking through a human rights organization have made serious allegations about Israel's winter assault on Gaza. The soldiers say unclear rules and reckless conduct led to unnecessary civilian casualties and wanton destruction. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Cynthia McKinney Detained in Israel

Staff / Truthdig Jul 2, 2009 Former US Rep Cynthia McKinney is being held in a detention center in Ramle, Israel, after venturing out to sea with about 20 other activists to provide aid to Gazans as part of the "Free Gaza Movement" The ship Spirit of Humanity was intercepted by the Israeli navy before the group could reach its destination McKinney will be sent back to the U soon, the American Embassy said. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Israel Seizes Aid Ship to Gaza

Staff / Truthdig Jun 30, 2009 The Israeli navy has seized a boat carrying 20 peace activists trying to deliver food, medicine and school supplies to the Gaza Strip. The trip was carried out by the Free Gaza Movement in defiance of Israel's blockade of Gaza, in place since Hamas took control of the area in 2007. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Palestine In Two Years’ Time?

Staff / Truthdig Jun 23, 2009 Palestinian Authority PM Salam Fayyad set the date for creation of a Palestinian state at two years "at most," with East Jerusalem as its capital. Meantime, Israeli protesters blocked aid and food from entering Gaza to demand the release of an Israeli soldier captured three years ago. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Carter Assails Treatment of Gaza Residents

Staff / Truthdig Jun 16, 2009 Former President Jimmy Carter visited the Gaza Strip on Tuesday and denounced the inhumane living conditions of the Palestinians there. People in the enclave are "treated more like animals than human beings," Carter declared. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )