Middle East

Jordan blasts allowing ultranationalist Jews to enter Muslim shrine

Amman - The Jordanian government Thursday strongly condemned as a "violation" of international law Israel's allowing 70 ultranationalist Jews to enter the yard of al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, which Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 Six-Day War.

"The Jordanian government strongly condemns the Israeli police's permission of 70 ultranationalist Jews to enter the Islamic shrine under their protection, and consider it a provocation for Muslim feelings," Minister of State for Information Affairs and Communication Nasser Judeh said.

"Jordan considers Israel, as an occupation power, directly responsible for such violations of international law and their dangerous repercussions."

Palestinian Authority: settlers could end peace process

Ramallah  - The Palestinian Authority (PA) warned Thursday that clashes by Israeli settlers in Hebron and other West Bank areas could end the peace process.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, condemned in a statement the settlers' attacks against Palestinian civilians in the southern West Bank city of Hebron.

He held the Israeli government as "directly responsible for this serious escalation," demanding an immediate end to the attacks.

Israel criticized by Arab states over human rights record

Geneva  - Israel came under intense criticism Thursday, mostly by Arab and Muslims states, during a periodic country review at the United Nations' Human Rights Council.

Much of the focus was placed on Israel's activities in the Palestinian territories, including the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, the state of thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, as well as the presence of a security barrier and checkpoints in the West Bank.

The Palestinian representative called on Israel to "end its occupation of the occupied Palestinian territories and respect the rights of the people there."

Livni: Israel will accept "no Wild West" in settlements

Livni: Israel will accept "no Wild West" in settlements Tel Aviv  - Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni late Wednesday slammed the scores of radical Jewish settlers who have been rioting in the southern West Bank city of Hebron over the past few days, clashing with Israeli police and soldiers.

"This phenomenon must stop," she said, adding Israel would not allow settlers to turn areas in Jewish settlements in the West Bank into "Wild West areas."

Jordan trade unionists demonstrate for lifting Gaza siege

Amman - Hundreds of Jordanian trade unionists staged a sit-in before the Egyptian embassy Wednesday to press for the re-opening of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt and for lifting the blockade imposed on the Palestinian people there by Israeli troops.

The demonstrators chanted slogans and raised placards urging the Egyptian government to allow the entry of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory and permit the sick to cross the border for treatment.

They also called on Arab governments and the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas "to give priority to the lifting of the Gaza siege", in implementation of a decision taken in this respect recently by Arab foreign ministers.

Clashes in renew in West Bank city of Hebron

Clashes in renew in West Bank city of Hebron Tel Aviv  - Dozens of radical Jewish settlers clashed again with Israeli police and soldiers in the southern West Bank city of Hebron Wednesday evening.

Police Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said police forces used stun grenades against some 40 rioters who had gathered in an area around a disputed house, despite it having been declared a "closed military zone."

He said another seven settlers were taken in for questioning.

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