What Cease-Fire?

Staff / Truthdig Feb 2, 2009 Both Israel and Hamas vowed to stop fighting two weeks ago, but since then attacks have continued Before his country launched airstrikes on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had warned Hamas of a "disproportionate Israeli response" to Hamas rocket and mortar attacks Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, meanwhile, is headed to Cairo, though his influence is surely weakened by the recent fighting. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Israel Sends Tanks Back to Gaza

Staff / Truthdig Jan 28, 2009 Israel launched an airstrike and ground assault into Gaza after a bomb on the Israeli side of the border killed a soldier. The troops pulled back into Israel soon afterward, according to the BBC. The raid was of a smaller scale than the fighting that ended just 10 days ago, but shows the difficult work ahead for George Mitchell, the new U.S. envoy, who is headed to the region. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

With Gaza, Journalists Fail Again

Chris Hedges / Truthdig Jan 26, 2009 The assault on Gaza exposed not only Israel’s callous disregard for international law but the gutlessness of the American press. Nearly all reporters were, as during the buildup to the Iraq war, pliant stenographers and echo chambers. Dig deeper ( 8 Min. Read )

Pursuing Peace in the Middle East, Obama Style

Staff / Truthdig Jan 23, 2009 President Obama didn't wait long to tackle one of the most intractable items in his in box: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict On a whirlwind Thursday, Obama spoke to leaders in the region (minus Hamas), called for an end to the Gaza blockade and appointed George Mitchell (above), the man who brokered a truce in Northern Ireland, as Mideast envoy. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Israeli Troops Finally Out?

Staff / Truthdig Jan 21, 2009 About 1,300 Palestinians dead, $2 billion in damage and thousands of devastated families later, Israel claims it has officially pulled its troops from the Gaza Strip after its three-week assault -- with no formal deal between Israel and Hamas and thus no real change in relations between the two sides. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Time for a War Crimes Tribunal?

Robert Fisk / Truthdig Jan 20, 2009 It's a wrap, a doddle, an Israeli cease-fire just in time for Barack Obama to have a squeaky-clean inauguration with all the world looking at the streets of Washington rather than the rubble of Gaza. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Sizing Up the Damage in Gaza

Staff / Truthdig Jan 19, 2009 Now that the war in Gaza has ground to a halt, local and international groups are assessing the needs of tens of thousands of embattled and displaced Palestinians, some of whom have gone for many days without water or power, and are preparing to send aid as soon as possible. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Peace Is in the Eye of the Beholder

Chris Hedges / Truthdig Jan 19, 2009 I do not like Hamas. I detest religious fundamentalism and the use of suicide bombers. I find the group’s anti-Semitism and ruthless silencing of internal Palestinian opponents repugnant. The rocket attacks on Israeli civilians are a war crime. But this does not negate the legitimacy of Palestinian resistance to the long Israeli siege and occupation of Gaza. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

To Each His Own Cease-Fire

Staff / Truthdig Jan 19, 2009 Shortly after Israel declared a unilateral cease-fire in Gaza, Hamas followed suit with its own separate announcement. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel would withdraw troops "as soon as possible," and Hamas said it would give Israel a week to do just that. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Israel Under Fire for Gaza Killings

Staff / Truthdig Jan 18, 2009 As Israel's Security Cabinet prepared to vote Saturday on a possible cease-fire in Gaza, the Israeli army drew criticism for the killing of two boys who were taking cover at a United Nations school in northern Gaza, according to The New York Times. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Israel Considering Gaza Cease-Fire

Staff / Truthdig Jan 17, 2009 Israel's Security Cabinet will hold a vote Saturday that could halt Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, at least temporarily stopping the assault after three weeks of punishing violence. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Who’s in Charge — Obama, the Pentagon or Israel?

William Pfaff / Truthdig Jan 16, 2009 The military is far too accustomed to getting its way, so it was refreshing to see Barack Obama reject the Pentagon's sluggish withdrawal plan. But will he stand up to Israel, whose Prime Minister Olmert recently bragged about pulling the American president's puppet strings? Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )