Palestinian officials have denounced as hostile the US move to merge its consulate in Jerusalem, which mostly served Palestinians, with the embassy controversially inaugurated last year. The overhaul has been scheduled for Monday. The US State Department on Sunday formally set a date for the previously announced merger of its embassy in Jerusalem with the consulate, which was operating as the de facto... 

Fifty-five Palestinian protesters, including six children under 18, have been killed by Israeli fire during demonstrations on the day of the US embassy’s inauguration in Jerusalem, the Palestinian health ministry said Monday. More than 2,700 protesters have been injured in Gaza on what has been the most violent day of the six week long Great March of Return. Those wounded on Monday include 203... 

Israeli settlers have overnight set on fire a mosque near the West Bank town of Ramallah, according to Palestinian security officials. “The settlers set fire to the whole of the first floor of the mosque” in the village of Al-Mughayir, near the Shilo Jewish settlement, the officials said, as cited by AFP. A group of Palestinian worshippers who came to the mosque for their morning prayer... 

A long-term truce in Gaza has been agreed with Israel, Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas said. The ceasefire announced by Egypt came into effect at 16:00 GMT with almost immediate reports of warning sirens going off in southern Israel. “We have responded to the Egyptian proposal for a complete and comprehensive cease-fire, which starts at 19:00 Cairo time,” Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas,... 

Jordanian lawyers protest outside the Justice Ministry on March 12, 2014. Jordan says Israel was fully responsible for the fatal shooting of a Palestinian-Jordanian judge at the country’s border crossing with the occupied West Bank. In a Tuesday address to the parliament, Jordan’s Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour called the shooting a hideous crime, for which Israel was “completely responsible”. “Jordan... 

US President Barack Obama (L) speaks alongside acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas (R) at the Muqata, the Palestinian Authority headquarters, in the West Bank city of Ramallah on March 21, 2013. US President Barack Obama has said that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank must end, adding that Palestinians deserve an independent and sovereign state. Obama also said he is “deeply... 

An internal report by the European Union has come down hard on Israel’s decision to continue settlement construction in occupied East Jerusalem, threatening to end economic projects that involve the Jewish settlements. The harshly worded 15-page report provides recommendations to the 27 member-states for responding to Israel’s activities in the occupied territories – which the document described... 

A 2008 survey says 0.8% of Christian Palestinians cited 'fleeing religious extremism' as a reason for emigration Despite claims by Israeli government officials, Christian Palestinians regularly face discrimination. A recent report by CBS show 60 Minutes on “Christians of the Holy Land” has received a lot of attention, not least for the embarrassing contribution by Israeli Ambassador... 

The Mövenpick Hotel Ramallah has state-of-the-art security and pricey international cuisine. With plush suites and an Italian chef, Ramallah’s first luxury hotel opened yesterday, bolstered by a Palestinian economy prospering despite a seemingly intractable conflict with Israel that threatens to undermine it. The five-star, US$42.6 million (Dh155.89m) Mövenpick Hotel Ramallah towers over this... 

Tensions are growing between the European Union and Israel over a draft document that slams Israeli policies in East Jerusalem and calls on EU countries to strengthen Palestinian claims to the city. A second document, to be discussed in Brussels next week, seeks EU recognition of East Jerusalem as capital of a Palestinian state. In addition, an Israeli human rights group says Israel is stripping Palestinians...