Stevie Wonder to pull out of IDF fundraiser

Representatives for Wonder, who performed at a 1998 gala honoring Israel's 50th anniversary, say the performance would be incongruent with his status as a UN 'Messenger of Peace.'

Sixty-year-old warnings still relevant for today's Palestine

Very few people today still read Michel Chiha to understand the continuing confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians. And yet quite a bit of what we are witnessing was predicted by this Lebanese thinker, writing in his newspaper, Le Jour, between 1945 and 1954.

U.S. and Israel Look to Limit Impact of U.N. Vote on Palestinian Authority

WASHINGTON — After failing to head off a vote in the United Nations on Thursday that would upgrade the Palestinian Authority’s status, the United States and Israel are looking ahead to how they can contain the damage from the approval of a resolution that even some European allies have signaled they will support.

Hamas Chief Revives Talk of Reuniting With P.L.O.

 BEIRUT, Lebanon — On the eve of the United Nations vote on whether to declare the Palestinian Authority a nonmember state, the leader of Hamas revived a long-percolating proposal for his militant party to join the Palestine Liberation Organization, the group that, with Israel, signed the Oslo Accord, which Hamas has long derided.

Israel Plays Down Importance of U.N. Bid by Palestinians

JERUSALEM — With Western support swelling in favor of a Palestinian bid for enhanced status at the United Nations, Israel engaged in damage control on Wednesday, a day before the vote.

Palestinians say UN bid is last-ditch peace effort

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — A bid for U.N. recognition of a state of Palestine is a last-ditch attempt to rescue troubled Mideast peace efforts, a Palestinian spokeswoman said Wednesday, rejecting Israel's charge that it is an attempt to bypass negotiations.

US makes last-ditch bid to head off Palestinian UN vote

Deputy Secretary of State Burns, Middle East envoy Hale fail to convince Abbas to withdraw request for non-member observer state. Nuland: Resolution will not lead to independent Palestinian state. Lieberman: Move only enhances dispute

Israel warns against Palestinian U.N. bid

7:02PM EST November 28. 2012 - BETHLEHEM, West Bank — Israelis say a Palestinian appeal to the United Nations on Thursday for non-voting membership will make peace less likely, and some Palestinians have reservations, too.

Uproar over leader's call for list of Jews

THE Hungarian government and Jewish leaders have roundly condemned a politician who called for a survey of Jews thought to pose an alleged ''national security risk'', accusing him of fearmongering in a country still struggling with the legacy of the Holocaust.

Israel backs away as support for bid firms

JERUSALEM: With Western support swelling in favour of a Palestinian bid for enhanced status at the United Nations, Israel engaged in damage control on Wednesday, a day before the vote.

Upgraded status will do nothing to turn Hamas from genocidal path

It was Oscar Wilde who said ''Illusion is the first of all pleasures'', and it seems so many are basking in the pleasure of the illusion that has been created around the Palestinian Authority's bid for observer state status at the UN.

Effective pressure is essential to broker a solution

The Palestinian Authority is seeking recognition from the United Nations General Assembly for Palestine to be admitted as a non-member state in the UN. There is strong support in the General Assembly for the resolution, with at least 115 member states, representing more than 75 per cent of the world population, expected to vote yes. Sadly, Australia will not be among them.

Gillard reassures Israel of backing despite UN vote

THE Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has sought to placate an angry Jewish lobby with strong words of support in Parliament for Israel after Australia backed Palestine at the United Nations.

Abbas Arrives In New York, US Slams France For Supporting P.A Bid

Palestinian factions express support to UN bid.

Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, arrived in New York accompanied by several senior Palestinian officials, in order to officially submit the Palestinian application for a non-member state status at the United Nations General Assembly.

Palestinians warn: back UN statehood bid or risk boosting Hamas

Failure to support limited recognition would undermine Abbas and validate armed resistance to Israel for many, officials warn

The Palestinian leadership is warning Europe and the US that failure to support its bid for statehood at the United Nations on Thursday will further strengthen Hamas after the Gaza fighting by suggesting that violence, rather than diplomacy, is the way to win concessions from Israel.