Naher und mittlerer Osten
After playing down election violence in Iraq, U.S. military reassesses (11.03.2010)
(Quelle: Washington Post)
After initially playing down the scope of the violence during Sunday's parliamentary elections in Iraq, the U.S. military has concluded in an internal assessment that at least 37 people were killed in 136 attacks.
Palestinians hold to plan for new talks (10.03.2010)
(Quelle: New York Times)
Palestinian leaders meeting with Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. here on Wednesday harshly condemned Israel’s decision, announced a day earlier, to add 1,600 housing units for Jews in East Jerusalem, but they gave no indication that they would stay away from the approaching indirect peace negotiations with the Israelis.
Mideast peace talks could begin as early as Sunday (04.03.2010)
(Quelle: Haaretz)
Indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority may begin as early as Sunday, Haaretz had learned. U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell will land in Israel on Saturday night, and the American administration is hoping the sides will declare the beginning of indirect talks the following morning, ahead of the arrival of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Monday.
U.S. fears election strife in Iraq could affect pullout (03.03.2010)
(Quelle: New York Times)
The deadly suicide bombings in Iraq on Wednesday highlight the central quandary facing President Obama as he tries to fulfill his campaign pledge to end the war there: Will parliamentary elections, scheduled for Sunday, throw the country back into the sectarian strife that flared in 2004 and delay the planned American withdrawal?
Iraq’s uncertain future: elections and beyond – new ICG report (25.02.2010)
(Quelle: International Crisis Group)
The run-up to the Iraqi elections on 7 March has brought to light deep-seated problems that threaten the country’s fragile recovery. “Iraq’s Uncertain Future: Elections and Beyond”, the latest report from the International Crisis Group, examines the path to the country’s third parliamentary election in five years.
Abbas considers options on peace talks restart (19.02.2010)
(Quelle: Reliefweb)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is considering his options on resuming indirect peace talks with Israel after meeting U.S. and European diplomats this week, a senior aide said on Friday.
Campaigning begins for parliamentary elections (12.02.2010)
(Quelle: RFE/RL)
The campaign for Iraq's parliamentary elections officially started today amid a continuing controversy over a ban on scores of candidates. … Nearly 6,200 candidates are competing for the 325 seats in parliament in the March 7 election.
Palestinians to hold local elections in July (08.02.2010)
(Quelle: Reliefweb)
The Western-backed Palestinian Authority said on Monday it would hold local elections in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on July 17. … The Islamist Hamas movement ruling Gaza rejected the move, calling it an "illegal decision" made in "bad faith."
UN chief appoints Filipino general to lead peacekeeping in Golan Heights (01.02.2010)
(Quelle: UN News)
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today named a Filipino general as the new Force Commander for the United Nations peacekeeping operation in the Golan Heights, tasked with observing the ceasefire between Israel and Syria in the region.
Israel snubs UN call for public Gaza war probe (27.01.2010)
(Quelle: The Daily Star Lebanon)
Israel will not set up a special panel to investigate last winter’s Gaza offensive, a Cabinet minister said Tuesday, rejecting a key demand of the UN that accused the military of war crimes.