19 june 2020

Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, denied that President Vladimir Putin had blocked a 2016 UN Security Council’s resolution that recognizes Palestinian statehood on the 1967 border lines.
Zakharov’s remarks came during a press briefing on Wednesday, in which she responded to claims by an Israeli online newspaper, Israel Today, that President Vladimir Putin promised Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu in 2016 that he would block a United Nations Security Council bid demanding Israel to recognize a Palestinian state on the borders of 1967.
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson described the claim as ‘ridiculous’ and that such media leaks are simply false and have nothing to do with the truth.
“Unfortunately, such media reports have increasingly become a part of a media display in today’s world. This is absolutely misleading information that creates a great deal of resentment”, she maintained.
In June 15, Israel Today online newspaper reported that in 2016, former US president Barack Obama presented a bill to United Nations’ Security Council, demanding Israel to recognize a Palestinian state on the 1967 border.
The newspaper noted that by then, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, asked President Vladimir Putin to veto such a bid and that the latter agreed, prompting Obama to withdraw his proposal.
Zakharova further commented by saying, “The Israeli newspaper which reported this seems to be unaware of the reality in the Middle East.”
She also pointed out that back in 1988, Russia recognized the Palestinian declaration of a Palestinian state, including East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Russian announcement comes as Israel is expected to annex large swaths of the West Bank, by early next month. The Israeli announcement for annexation has been met with rejection by Palestinians, European Union, United Nations, Arab countries and the Russian Federation.
By annexing those parts of the West Bank, a long-envisioned two-state solution will be grossly undermined, as Palestinians could be in control of only some disconnected Palestinian areas that could never make up a state.
The United States announced in January of this year its so-called ‘deal of the century’, in which the US claims that East Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Israel, despite international recognition to the contrary.
Notably, the 1967 borders include the entire West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which Israel occupied, along with the Syrian Golan Heights and the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula, in June of 1967.
At that time, the United Nations Security Council passed its binding resolution 242 that demanded Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian land it occupied in 1967. Israel has never withdrawn, but has instead kept the Palestinian population of the West Bank and Gaza under martial law since then.
At the same time, Israel has steadily encroached on and annexed Palestinian land for the use of its own private citizens by establishing colonial settlements on the stolen land, in violation of international law.
Report: Putin nixed Obama initiative to create Palestinian state within 1948 borders
Phone call transcripts confirm Netanyahu lobbied both Kremlin and incoming Trump administration to curb initiative perceived as incompatible with Israel's long-term security needs
In late 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin prevented former U.S. President Barack Obama's attempt to pass a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution demanding Israel relinquish the West Bank territories and accept a two-state resolution based on 1948 borders, freshly declassified documents appear to show.
The Jerusalem Post reported Thursday that phone conversations between U.S. President Donald Trump's former adviser Michael Flynn and former Russian UN Ambassador Sergey Kislyak confirm that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lobbied both the Kremlin and the incoming Trump administration to curb the initiative he perceived as incompatible with Israel's long-term security needs.
Israel, it appears, learned of the planned move while working against the Obama administration-coordinated UNSC Resolution 2334, the first resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy. Memorably, the U.S. abstained from voting, enabling the resolution's passage, in one of Obama's last acts as president.
The U.S. has traditionally served as Israel's diplomatic protector, shielding it from resolutions it opposes; the abstention thus came as a shock, drawing harsh reactions from Israeli officials, who described it as an endorsement of "an extreme anti-Israeli resolution behind Israel’s back which would be a tailwind for terror and boycotts.”
Israel Hayom reported earlier this week that Netanyahu contacted Putin after learning about Obama's plan, saying such a development could destabilize the ever-fragile power equilibrium in the Middle East. The two leaders had been in close contact to coordinate military and security issues relating to Russia's presence in Syria.
Transcripts of the Kislyak-Flynn conversations cited by the Jerusalem Post quoted the Russian official as saying "we wanted to convey to you and through you to the president-elect that we have significant reservations about the idea of adopting now the principles for the Middle East that our American colleagues are pushing for."
Obama's Secretary of State John Kerry subsequently realized that a Russia veto spelled the end to their hopes of passing the resolution.
Zakharov’s remarks came during a press briefing on Wednesday, in which she responded to claims by an Israeli online newspaper, Israel Today, that President Vladimir Putin promised Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu in 2016 that he would block a United Nations Security Council bid demanding Israel to recognize a Palestinian state on the borders of 1967.
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson described the claim as ‘ridiculous’ and that such media leaks are simply false and have nothing to do with the truth.
“Unfortunately, such media reports have increasingly become a part of a media display in today’s world. This is absolutely misleading information that creates a great deal of resentment”, she maintained.
In June 15, Israel Today online newspaper reported that in 2016, former US president Barack Obama presented a bill to United Nations’ Security Council, demanding Israel to recognize a Palestinian state on the 1967 border.
The newspaper noted that by then, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, asked President Vladimir Putin to veto such a bid and that the latter agreed, prompting Obama to withdraw his proposal.
Zakharova further commented by saying, “The Israeli newspaper which reported this seems to be unaware of the reality in the Middle East.”
She also pointed out that back in 1988, Russia recognized the Palestinian declaration of a Palestinian state, including East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Russian announcement comes as Israel is expected to annex large swaths of the West Bank, by early next month. The Israeli announcement for annexation has been met with rejection by Palestinians, European Union, United Nations, Arab countries and the Russian Federation.
By annexing those parts of the West Bank, a long-envisioned two-state solution will be grossly undermined, as Palestinians could be in control of only some disconnected Palestinian areas that could never make up a state.
The United States announced in January of this year its so-called ‘deal of the century’, in which the US claims that East Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Israel, despite international recognition to the contrary.
Notably, the 1967 borders include the entire West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which Israel occupied, along with the Syrian Golan Heights and the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula, in June of 1967.
At that time, the United Nations Security Council passed its binding resolution 242 that demanded Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian land it occupied in 1967. Israel has never withdrawn, but has instead kept the Palestinian population of the West Bank and Gaza under martial law since then.
At the same time, Israel has steadily encroached on and annexed Palestinian land for the use of its own private citizens by establishing colonial settlements on the stolen land, in violation of international law.
Report: Putin nixed Obama initiative to create Palestinian state within 1948 borders
Phone call transcripts confirm Netanyahu lobbied both Kremlin and incoming Trump administration to curb initiative perceived as incompatible with Israel's long-term security needs
In late 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin prevented former U.S. President Barack Obama's attempt to pass a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution demanding Israel relinquish the West Bank territories and accept a two-state resolution based on 1948 borders, freshly declassified documents appear to show.
The Jerusalem Post reported Thursday that phone conversations between U.S. President Donald Trump's former adviser Michael Flynn and former Russian UN Ambassador Sergey Kislyak confirm that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lobbied both the Kremlin and the incoming Trump administration to curb the initiative he perceived as incompatible with Israel's long-term security needs.
Israel, it appears, learned of the planned move while working against the Obama administration-coordinated UNSC Resolution 2334, the first resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy. Memorably, the U.S. abstained from voting, enabling the resolution's passage, in one of Obama's last acts as president.
The U.S. has traditionally served as Israel's diplomatic protector, shielding it from resolutions it opposes; the abstention thus came as a shock, drawing harsh reactions from Israeli officials, who described it as an endorsement of "an extreme anti-Israeli resolution behind Israel’s back which would be a tailwind for terror and boycotts.”
Israel Hayom reported earlier this week that Netanyahu contacted Putin after learning about Obama's plan, saying such a development could destabilize the ever-fragile power equilibrium in the Middle East. The two leaders had been in close contact to coordinate military and security issues relating to Russia's presence in Syria.
Transcripts of the Kislyak-Flynn conversations cited by the Jerusalem Post quoted the Russian official as saying "we wanted to convey to you and through you to the president-elect that we have significant reservations about the idea of adopting now the principles for the Middle East that our American colleagues are pushing for."
Obama's Secretary of State John Kerry subsequently realized that a Russia veto spelled the end to their hopes of passing the resolution.
17 june 2020

Hamas movement has slammed US former envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt over his statements that the “West Bank is not a Palestinian land” and that “applying Israeli law in the West Bank is not illegal”.
Hamas’s spokesman Abed al-Latif al-Qanou’ described Greenblatt’s statements as “nonsense”.
Al-Qanou’ said that these statements are based on a blatant falsification of facts and history, and stem from Greenblatt’s hatred of the Palestinian people.
He stressed that the Palestinian people are the true right and history owners, and that all attempts to alter the history and facts will fail, adding that nothing will stop the Palestinian people from continuing their struggle for freedom.
Hamas’s spokesman Abed al-Latif al-Qanou’ described Greenblatt’s statements as “nonsense”.
Al-Qanou’ said that these statements are based on a blatant falsification of facts and history, and stem from Greenblatt’s hatred of the Palestinian people.
He stressed that the Palestinian people are the true right and history owners, and that all attempts to alter the history and facts will fail, adding that nothing will stop the Palestinian people from continuing their struggle for freedom.
7 june 2020

A toddler was killed today evening in a hit and run accident in Yatta town to the south of Hebron, the southern occupied West Bank, according to police spokesman Loai Irzeiqat.
The two-and-a-half-year-old was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The vehicle that struck the child did not stop and fled the scene, said Irzeiqat.
The identity of the driver remains unknown until the moment and an investigation was opened into the accident.
The two-and-a-half-year-old was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The vehicle that struck the child did not stop and fled the scene, said Irzeiqat.
The identity of the driver remains unknown until the moment and an investigation was opened into the accident.

The Hamas Movement has offered its deepest condolences to the Palestinian people at home and abroad and the Arab and Muslim nations on the passing of Ramadan Abdullah Shallah, former secretary-general of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine.
Shallah passed away on Saturday evening in the Lebanese capital Beirut after battling illness.
“The passing of leader Shallah came after a long journey full of sacrifices for his homeland, his people, his cause and his nation,” Hamas said in a press release.
The Movement hailed Shallah as “one of Palestine’s great leaders, “an example of patience, resilience and honesty” and “a role model as a fighter and preacher,” asking Allah Almighty to bestow His mercy upon him and make Paradise his eternal dwelling.
Shallah passed away on Saturday evening in the Lebanese capital Beirut after battling illness.
“The passing of leader Shallah came after a long journey full of sacrifices for his homeland, his people, his cause and his nation,” Hamas said in a press release.
The Movement hailed Shallah as “one of Palestine’s great leaders, “an example of patience, resilience and honesty” and “a role model as a fighter and preacher,” asking Allah Almighty to bestow His mercy upon him and make Paradise his eternal dwelling.

Senior sources say despite Abbas's promise to end security ties with Israel, PA forces recently uncovered a terror cell that planted dozens of pipe bombs near Jenin, along a route taken by IDF troops when they arrive in the city to make arrests
Palestinian security forces last week thwarted an attack against IDF troops in the West Bank, senior officials involved in the incident said Sunday.
The move comes several weeks after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared that he is ending all security cooperation with Israel and the U.S. over plans to annex parts of the West Bank.
According to the officials, a Palestinian terror cell planted dozens of pipe bombs in an open area on the outskirts of Jenin, along the route usually taken by IDF troops when they arrive in the city to arrest terror suspects.
Sources said valuable intelligence information on Thursday led PA’s security forces to uncover the hidden explosives, which included 30 ready-to-use pipe bombs and a shotgun.
The assailants apparently intended to ambush IDF troops by throwing the bombs at them during a nighttime arrest in the area, as well as firing at them from the shotgun.
The sources, however, refused to say whether there was any communication between the heads of PA security apparatus and officials in Israeli defense establishment.
Two weeks ago, Ynet learned that PA's coordination and liaison officers told their Israeli counterparts that security coordination with Israel has been terminated.
They, however, emphasized the move is not a "green light" for terrorists to carry out activity against Israeli targets in the West Bank.
Palestinian security forces last week thwarted an attack against IDF troops in the West Bank, senior officials involved in the incident said Sunday.
The move comes several weeks after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared that he is ending all security cooperation with Israel and the U.S. over plans to annex parts of the West Bank.
According to the officials, a Palestinian terror cell planted dozens of pipe bombs in an open area on the outskirts of Jenin, along the route usually taken by IDF troops when they arrive in the city to arrest terror suspects.
Sources said valuable intelligence information on Thursday led PA’s security forces to uncover the hidden explosives, which included 30 ready-to-use pipe bombs and a shotgun.
The assailants apparently intended to ambush IDF troops by throwing the bombs at them during a nighttime arrest in the area, as well as firing at them from the shotgun.
The sources, however, refused to say whether there was any communication between the heads of PA security apparatus and officials in Israeli defense establishment.
Two weeks ago, Ynet learned that PA's coordination and liaison officers told their Israeli counterparts that security coordination with Israel has been terminated.
They, however, emphasized the move is not a "green light" for terrorists to carry out activity against Israeli targets in the West Bank.
20 may 2020

Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister Riyad Al-Maliki announced today that President Mahmoud Abbas will inform the UN Secretary-General António Guterres about the reasons behind the leadership's decision to abolish all agreements with Israel.
Speaking to the Voice of Palestine radio, al-Maliki added that Abbas was in contact with Arab and worldwide leaders to inform them about the thrust of this step, and mobilize strong international positions against Israel’s annexation decision.
He added that Abbas called on the countries not to just release statements of condemnations, but rather to threaten to impose sanctions on Israel following its illegal annexation move.
He reiterated that the international community already knew that the Palestinian leadership would take the decision to abolish all agreements and understandings with Israel, following the Israeli coalition agreement to advance the annexation plan.
He pointed out that Palestine would press ahead with signing and acceding to more international conventions and organizations, a step that has become a necessity especially after the US reneged on all commitments.
Speaking to the Voice of Palestine radio, al-Maliki added that Abbas was in contact with Arab and worldwide leaders to inform them about the thrust of this step, and mobilize strong international positions against Israel’s annexation decision.
He added that Abbas called on the countries not to just release statements of condemnations, but rather to threaten to impose sanctions on Israel following its illegal annexation move.
He reiterated that the international community already knew that the Palestinian leadership would take the decision to abolish all agreements and understandings with Israel, following the Israeli coalition agreement to advance the annexation plan.
He pointed out that Palestine would press ahead with signing and acceding to more international conventions and organizations, a step that has become a necessity especially after the US reneged on all commitments.