In Middle East, Ban urges stepped-up efforts to resolve Israeli-Palestinian conflict (01.02.2012)

(Source:UN News)

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on Israelis and Palestinians to take steps that will build trust and ensure an environment conducive to sustained negotiations, voicing his hope that the nascent talks begun last month between the two sides will continue.

Jordan praises Israeli-Palestinian talks (03.01.2012)

(Source:Al Jazeera)

First meeting between Israelis and Palestinians in 15 months described as "serious" bid to restart peace talks.

UN groupings criticise Israeli settlement activities (20.12.2011)

(Source:BBC)

All the regional and political groupings on the UN Security Council have criticised Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, in a highly unusual move. The envoys said continued settlement building threatened chances of a future Palestinian state.

Senior UN official laments lack of progress in Israeli-Palestinian peace process (20.12.2011)

(Source:UN News)

The realization of a two-State solution for Israelis and Palestinians has not advanced, with violent incidents erupting at a worrying rate over the past month, a senior United Nations official warned today.

Quartet holds talks with Israelis, Palestinians (14.12.2011)

(Source:AFP)

Members of the international peacemaking Quartet appeared to make little progress on Wednesday after separate talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials in a bid to kick-start stalled peace talks.

Israel to release frozen Palestinian funds (01.12.2011)

(Source:Al-Jazeera)

Israel has announced that it will release tens of millions of dollars of tax funds owed to the Palestinians, ending a standoff that the Palestinians say has caused grave damage to their fragile economy.

Abbas calls on Palestinians to mount non-violent resistance against Israel (16.11.2011)

(Source:Haaretz)

Palestinian president says his people ‘will not succumb to the occupation,’ says will meet Hamas leader next week to discuss implementation of unity agreement.

UN calls for immediate resumption of direct Israel-Palestinian talks (14.11.2011)

(Source:UN News)

The United Nations and its diplomatic partners in the search for Middle East peace today called on Israel and the Palestinians to resume direct talks without delay or preconditions, following separate meetings with officials from both sides in Jerusalem. Today’s discussions are a follow-up to similar meetings held last month, at which both sides agreed to come forward with comprehensive proposals on territory and security within three months.

Peres to Palestinians: peace will be achieved through talks, not UN (09.11.2011)

(Source:Haaretz)

Middle East peace will be achieved with direct talks between Palestinians and Israel, not through unilateral action at the United Nations, President Peres said at the annual memorial commemorating the assassination of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in Jerusalem. Speaking at the ceremony in the capital's Mount Herzl, Peres said that a "territorial compromise is essential to ending bloodshed and wars."

Quartet to meet with Israelis, Palestinians in order to jump-start negotiations (08.11.2011)

(Source:Haaretz)

Envoys of the Quartet of Middle East peace mediators will meet separately with Israeli and Palestinian officials on Nov. 14 in Jerusalem, their latest effort to jump-start the stalled peace process, the U.S. State Department said on Tuesday.

In UN-backed talks, Israel and Palestinians agree to offer peace proposals (26.10.2011)

(Source:UN News)

The United Nations and its diplomatic partners in the search for peace in the Middle East met separately today with Israeli and Palestinian officials in Jerusalem, with both sides agreeing to come forward with comprehensive proposals on territory and security within three months.

Palestinian Prime Minister Fayyad says the time 'not ripe' for talks (20.10.2011)

(Source:BBC)

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has said that the time is not ripe for resuming "meaningful" talks with Israel. He said the problem was not a lack of talks but the absence of the right "terms of reference" for a peace deal.

Quartet pledges to restart Middle East talks (09.10.2011)

(Source:Al Jazeera)

Diplomats representing the Middle East Quartet - the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia - have agreed to encourage the Palestinians and Israel to return to direct talks. After discussions in Brussels on Sunday, Catherine Ashton, the EU foreign policy chief, said the Quartet will invite both sides to a meeting in the coming days.

Palestinian National Council granted observer status at European assembly (04.10.2011)

(Source:Haaretz)

Partial membership of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) means PA has two years to renounce terrorism, recognize Israel's right to exist.

Israel supports proposal to restart Mideast talks (02.10.2011)

(Source:New York Times)

Israel on Sunday formally accepted an international proposal to return to peace negotiations with the Palestinians, but any immediate resumption of talks appeared unlikely as the Israelis and Palestinians differed sharply over the letter and spirit of the proposal.

Palestinian UN bid goes to Committee (28.09.2011)

(Source:VOA News)

The United Nations Security Council took its first official step Wednesday toward considering the Palestinian application for full U.N. membership, passing it to a special committee that will review it and make recommendations.

Western powers angered as Israel agrees settler homes (27.09.2011)

(Source:BBC)

Western powers have expressed dismay at Israeli plans to build 1,100 more homes on the edge of Jerusalem. The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the move "counter-productive" to peace talks while the EU said the plan should be "reversed".

Obama: no shortcut to Middle East peace (22.09.2011)

(Source:Al Jazeera)

Barack Obama, the US president, has said "there is no short cut to the end of a conflict that has endured for decades" between the Israelis and the Palestinians. In a speech to the UN General Assembly, Obama expressed frustration at the failure of both parties to bridge their differences and at the Palestinians' decision to seek full membership of the UN through the Security Council later this week. While conceding both sides had "legitimate aspirations," Obama said peace would not come through statements and resolutions at the UN, but rather only through a resumption of direct negotiations.

France's Sarkozy presents plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace (21.09.2011)

(Source:Haaretz)

In a roadmap for peace, Sarkozy said negotiations should begin within one month, a deal on borders and security should happen within six months and a definitive agreement be reached within a year. French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday proposed the United Nations give the Palestinians status as an observer state … .

Mid-East shuttle dipomacy ahead of Palestinian UN bid (14.09.2011)

(Source:BBC)

Senior US and international envoys have begun a fresh round of shuttle diplomacy to try to head off a Palestinian bid for UN membership. US diplomats Dennis Ross and David Hale, as well as EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Middle-East envoy Tony Blair are in the region to try to revive stalled peace talks.

Palestinian statebuilding threatened by political stagnation – UN report (14.09.2011)

(Source:UN News)

The Palestinian Authority (PA) has accomplished the tasks it set out to achieve two years ago to prepare its institutions for the responsibilities of statehood, but there remains a widening gap between that progress and the stagnant political process, according to a United Nations report released today.

Curb your enthusiasm: Israel and Palestine after the UN – new ICG report (12.09.2011)

(Source:International Crisis Group)

A UN resolution endorsing Palestinian statehood should produce a tangible gain for the Palestinians while providing some reassurance to Israelis, and, above all, be followed by maximum, collective restraint to prevent a cycle of mutual retaliation that would work to the detriment of all. "Curb Your Enthusiasm: Israel and Palestine after the UN", the latest report from the International Crisis Group, examines the upcoming Palestinian bid at the UN.

Israel faces growing isolation with key UN vote on Palestinian statehood looming (07.09.2011)

(Source:Washington Post)

Rising tensions with some of its closest and most important allies have left Israel increasingly isolated ahead of a momentous vote on Palestinian independence at the United Nations. Troubles with Turkey, Egypt and even the U.S. are adding to Israel’s headaches ahead of the vote, which is shaping up to be a global expression of discontent against the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

With Mideast in turmoil, Israel debates strategy (26.08.2011)

(Source:New York Times)

Eight days after Israel suffered a terrorist attack from Egyptian Sinai and weeks before it faces a Palestinian statehood resolution at the United Nations, its officials say they are struggling with a painful set of strategic and diplomatic challenges produced by the region’s popular uprisings.

Militant groups in Gaza agree to a second Israel truce (26.08.2011)

(Source:BBC)

The militant Palestinian group, Islamic Jihad, has agreed a new ceasefire halting rocket attacks on Israel.

The Hamas government in Gaza confirmed the deal, reportedly mediated by Egypt. … This is the second truce in quick succession.

Gaza cease-fire tested by Israeli airstrike, Palestinian rocket fire (24.08.2011)

(Source:Washington Post)

A tenuous cease-fire between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip was punctured Wednesday by a deadly Israeli airstrike that triggered rocket and mortar fire at Israel.

Israel 'sees border talks if PA drops UN bid' (02.08.2011)

(Source:Al Jazeera)

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu wants to negotiate borders with the Palestinian Authority (PA), according to local media reports, in an attempt to head off a Palestinian bid for statehood at the United Nations next month. The exact details of Netanyahu's proposal are unclear.… Earlier this year, Netanyahu had said that Israel "cannot return to the indefensible 1967 lines".

Palestinians plan mass demonstrations against Israel on eve of UN vote (01.08.2011)

(Source:Haaretz)

Palestinian officials said Monday they plan to begin mass marches against Israel's occupation of the West Bank on September 20, the eve of a largely symbolic UN vote expected to recognize their independence. Palestinian official Yasser Abed Rabbo said leaders hope to attract millions, and the protest will be the first of a prolonged effort. He said the campaign would be called "Palestine 194," since the Palestinians hope to become the 194th member of the United Nations.

Abbas tells Palestinians: step up Arab spring-style protests against Israel (27.07.2011)

(Source:Haaretz)

President Mahmoud Abbas urged Palestinians on Wednesday to step up peaceful protests against Israel, urging "popular resistance" inspired by the Arab Spring to back a diplomatic offensive at the United Nations.

Security Council debate offers preview of Palestinian bid (26.07.2011)

(Source:New York Times)

A preview of the expected showdown over whether to admit a Palestinian state as a full member of the United Nations when world leaders gather here in September played out in the Security Council on Tuesday.