The start, originally scheduled for 20 September, was postponed to 11 October, followed by a statement from the ministry confirming the start date as 1 October. Rumours link the decision to the coalition’s withdrawal and the handover of weapons by the militias. The Chaldean Patriarchate has provided school supplies and rucksacks for 475 children.
More and more Palestinians do not trust Israel, seen as opponent to peace. Many believe Obama is backing away from the two-state solution. Support for Hamas rises 18 per cent in three months in West Bank, but in its Gaza stronghold, support for Islamist movement remains low.
The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon talks about "positive role" played by the Party of God, but blue helmet officers show that the attacks were prepared and could happen again in an area controlled by the Shiite group. Analyst: Hezbollah wants to reduce UNIFIL to "hostages under its control" to manipulate future confrontations with Israel.
The first half of 2010 sets a new record. More than a million pilgrims or 39 per cent more than a year before come to the Holy Land. For the Custodian of the Holy land, the increase strengthens local Christian communities.
The continent’s main newspapers give wide coverage to Spain’s one nil victory over the Netherlands. “Unprecedented celebrations” are recorded in Saudi Arabia, but Saudi paper criticises referees who could use 21st century technology. From Bangalore, fan criticises the Times of India for being too favourable to the Netherlands.
PM Erdogan’s party is trying to break the stranglehold of the Kemalist establishment, but the country’s highest court and opposition parties are the putting the brakes. Scheduled for next September, the referendum will be a time of confrontation. Regarded as the “great reformer of the Muslim world”, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is growing stronger. Meanwhile, Europe can wait.
According to the United Nations more than 7 thousand Palestinians have restricted access to their lands and hospitals. The International Court of Justice declared the wall illegal in 2004. For Saeb Erekat, who leads Palestinian Authority negotiations with Israel, the barrier is "21st century colonization".
Tension remains high. The Lebanese government merely "regrets" the incident. Open letter from the Commander of UNIFIL to the inhabitants of the area that aims to calm everyone down, but stresses "freedom of movement of UN peacekeepers”. Hezbollah launches accusations of pro-Israel partisanship.
This morning seven victims in a double attack in the east and south of the capital. Yesterday, 30 people died and over 100 wounded. Sunnis who distributed food and water to Shi'ite pilgrims among the victims. The festival celebrates the eighth century religious leader Imam Moussa al-Khadim.
On June 26, at Ivel, a village in Mazandaran province, 50 houses of the Bahai faithful were demolished, amid the indifference of local authorities. The incident is not the first that strikes the largest religious minority in Iran. The community, considered heretical by the Iranian Shiites, has been persecuted since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Turkey’s prime minister is having to manage a major crisis with Israel, something of great concern to the United States and Syria. At the same time, his government is unable to find a political solution to Turkey’s Kurdish question.
On the agenda Iranian nuclear issue and peace talks with the Palestinians. Israel is criticized for its blockade of Gaza and for failing to stop the settlements. New rules on blockade of Strip: Threats from Turkey. Analysts: Iran attack only after a detente in relations with the Palestinians.
Behnam Sabti, a Syrian Orthodox, was killed yesterday by a bomb placed under his car. The man worked as a nurse at the state Jumhuriya hospital in Mosul. According to anonymous sources the motive of the murder is his religious identity.
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