Egypt rejects demand by US for Arafat's removalEGYPT: Egypt yesterday distanced itself from the US call for removal of the Palestinian leadership and urged the international…Mon Jul 01 2002 - 01:00
US plan to build new Palestinian leadership deemed unrealisticTHE MIDDLE EAST: The US plan to build a new Palestinian leadership through democratic means is seen as unrealistic by many Palestinians…Fri Jun 28 2002 - 01:00
Al-Qaeda spokesman says more attacks are plannedAFGHANISTAN: Al-qaeda's chief spokesman claimed yesterday that the organisation's senior figures were alive and well and were…Mon Jun 24 2002 - 01:00
Reunification talks on Cyprus break down on issue of securityCYPRUS: Negotiations on the reunification of divided Cyprus appear to have broken down on the issue of security, one of the …Fri Jun 21 2002 - 01:00
Militant Palestinian deportee remaining in Cyprus awaits invitation to a more permanent asylumMIDDLE EAST: While a dozen Palestinians exiled by Israel settle into new lives in six European countries, the 13th man remains…Sat May 25 2002 - 01:00
Arafat still refuses to give dates for pollsTHE MIDDLE EAST: The Palestinian President, Mr Yasser Arafat, said yesterday that presidential and legislative elections could…Fri May 24 2002 - 01:00
Deal on Arab exiles nearly readyCYPRUS: Arrangements are expected to be finalised today for the temporary settlement in six European countries, including Ireland…Tue May 21 2002 - 01:00
Irishwoman is one of eight peace activists held by IsraelisTHE MIDDLE EAST: Eight foreign peace activists, including an Irish nurse, four US citizens, two Swedes and a Canadian, are being…Mon May 13 2002 - 01:00
13 militants arrive in Cyprus as first stage in their exile goes smoothlyMIDDLE EAST: The four-engine British airforce Hercules banked and turned onto the flight path over the Cypriot coast and touched…Sat May 11 2002 - 01:00
Andrews concerned at destruction and health hazards during Red Cross visit to BethlehemTHE MIDDLE EAST: The Irish Red Cross today winds up a mission to the West Bank and Israel aimed at assessing the needs of civilians…Mon May 06 2002 - 01:00
Bethlehem siege continues as food supplies run lowMIDDLE EAST: An Israeli armoured personnel carrier and lorry blocked the line of vision of two dozen frustrated television and…Sat May 04 2002 - 01:00
US plans Middle East peace conference in summerUS - MIDDLE EAST: An Israeli battalion commander and two Palestinians were killed early yesterday as Washington announced that…Sat May 04 2002 - 01:00
Irish nurse is among 10 peace activists in churchMIDDLE EAST: Ms Mary Kelly, a nurse from west Cork, and nine other international peace activists entered the besieged Church…Fri May 03 2002 - 01:00
Skirmishes in Bethlehem as life slowly returns to normalTHE MIDDLE EAST: The bi-weekly three hour shopping festival is in full swing when my taxi drops me at the entrance to Bethlehem…Thu May 02 2002 - 01:00
'War crimes were committed in Jenin'Irish peace activist Ms Caoimhe Butterly is in the devastated Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank.Wed Apr 24 2002 - 01:00
International officials enter RamallahMIDDLE EAST: A 30-Car convoy of international officials gained entry to the besieged West Bank city of Ramallah yesterday for…Tue Apr 23 2002 - 01:00
Irish nurse in clash with Israeli soldiersA nurse from west Cork has told how she and a group of volunteers had warning shots and a grenade fired at them by Israeli soldiers…Thu Apr 18 2002 - 01:00
Arrest a blow to Palestinian secular campTHE MIDDLE EAST: The arrest yesterday by Israeli forces of the secretary general of the Fateh movement, Mr Marwan Barghouti, …Tue Apr 16 2002 - 01:00
UN agency denied entry to Jenin refugee campTHE MIDDLE EAST: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) did not gain entry to the Jenin Palestinian…Fri Apr 12 2002 - 01:00
Settlers free to circulate as Palestinians confined to their homesHebron and the neighbouring town of Halhoul, in the south of the West Bank, await Israeli reoccupationThu Apr 11 2002 - 01:00
Two Irish try to aid those in church siegeWhile Pope John Paul II yesterday called on Palestinians and Israelis to end their "vendetta", the Vatican denied it was involved…Mon Apr 08 2002 - 01:00
Anti-Nazi veteran not allowed to enter RamallahHeavily armed Israeli troops prevented Italian and Greek parliamentarians from walking to Ramallah in the rain yesterday.Fri Apr 05 2002 - 01:00
Saudi prince condemns Israeli offensive as 'savage act'On the eve of today's meeting of foreign ministers of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference in Malaysia, Saudi Crown Prince…Mon Apr 01 2002 - 01:00
Lebanese call for US and UN action to stop IsraelArab political figures and citizens condemned Israel's assault on the West Bank town of Ramallah on the day after Beirut's Arab…Sat Mar 30 2002 - 00:00
Arab leaders close ranks with BaghdadArab leaders attending the Beirut summit have closed ranks with Baghdad in the face of US threats to attack IraqSat Mar 30 2002 - 00:00
Arabs divided on Saudi initiativeTHE MIDDLE EAST: Arab foreign ministers met yesterday in the refurbished Phoenicia Hotel at the heart of the Lebanese capital…Tue Mar 26 2002 - 00:00
Arab summit to run with Saudi proposalLEBANON: Arab foreign ministers begin consultations today on the resolutions and final declaration of the Arab League summit…Mon Mar 25 2002 - 00:00
Arafat must attend summit - SaudisMIDDLE EAST: The Saudi peace proposal will not be presented to the Arab summit at the end of this month if Israel refuses to…Tue Mar 05 2002 - 00:00
New peace proposal gives Saudis a leadership role in Arab worldThe Saudi peace initiative has, for the first time since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, projected the normally ultra-cautious kingdom…Fri Mar 01 2002 - 00:00
Palestinian attacks show new level of accuracyMIDDLE EAST: Over the past 10 days there has been a steady escalation in the conflict between Palestinians and IsraelisThu Feb 21 2002 - 00:00
2.5 million Muslims visit Mecca for hajToday 2.5 million Muslim pilgrims are expected to gather in the Saudi city of Mecca to perform the initial rites of the annual…Wed Feb 20 2002 - 00:00
Britain backs US plans against Iraq, says HoonTHE MIDDLE EAST: Concern in the Middle East over a new military campaign against Iraq was heightened yesterday when Britain …Fri Feb 15 2002 - 00:00
Fundamentalists fail to cool ardour of Asia's enthusiastic ValentinesINDIA: Hindu and Muslim purists in the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East agree on one thing: that Valentine's Day is an…Fri Feb 15 2002 - 00:00
Mother in appeal for sons' returnA woman from Cork has appealed for the return of her two sons, abducted last week for a second time by their Greek Cypriot father…Tue Feb 05 2002 - 00:00
Saudi prince reiterates warning to the USSAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah said yesterday that, while Riyadh remains a loyal friend of the US, the kingdom cannot…Wed Jan 30 2002 - 00:00
Legacy of brutal civil warTHE MIDDLE EAST: The assassination yesterday of the former Christian warlord, Mr Elie Hobeika (45), brutally reminded the shocked…Fri Jan 25 2002 - 00:00
Saudi Arabia to ask US to withdraw troopsSAUDI ARABIA: Facing rising anti-US feeling among its citizens, Saudi Arabia is expected to ask the US to withdraw its troops…Sat Jan 19 2002 - 00:00
Cypriots to continue talking until they can agreeCYPRUS: The Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders agreed yesterday to negotiate three times a week under UN auspices until…Thu Jan 17 2002 - 00:00
Cypriots brave winds in search for peaceCYPRUS: About 350 Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot party leaders and peace activists met at the old Ledra Palace Hotel to usher…Mon Jan 07 2002 - 00:00
Cypriot party leaders meetCYPRUS: A New Year reception for Greek and Turkish Cypriot party leaders is to take place this afternoon at the Ledra Palace…Sat Jan 05 2002 - 00:00
Arabs find Sharon worstA Pan-Arab on-line survey conducted by the official Saudi daily Okaz chose the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, as 2001…Wed Jan 02 2002 - 00:00
Gulf council lowers import tariffsThe rulers of the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council agreed yesterday to speed economic integration among their countries, …Wed Jan 02 2002 - 00:00
Israeli checkpoints reinforced as Palestinians face new controlsOn Christmas Eve the south-bound road from Jerusalem to Bethlehem was open.Fri Dec 28 2001 - 00:00
Jordan will close borders to Arab refugeesJordan has stated repeatedly that it will close its borders to prevent a mass exodus of Palestinians from the West Bank into …Fri Dec 28 2001 - 00:00
Israeli ban on Arafat visit to Bethlehem widens riftISRAEL'S refusal to allow the Palestinian President, Mr Yasser Arafat, attend Midnight Mass in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve has…Thu Dec 27 2001 - 00:00
Tanks bring sleepless nights to RamallahOne of the Israeli tanks deployed in the prosperous Tira neighbourhood of this West Bank town had been parked for a month beside…Sat Dec 22 2001 - 00:00
Territories facing economic ruinThe socio-economic crisis in the Palestinian Territories has "reached critical levels", a United Nations official has observed…Fri Dec 21 2001 - 00:00
Israelis reluctantly resume peace talksThe Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, yesterday instructed his security chief to resume talks with their counterparts …Thu Dec 20 2001 - 00:00
Sharon says Arafat must back up words with deedsThe Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, in his first public reaction to Mr Yasser Arafat's call for an end to armed attacks…Tue Dec 18 2001 - 00:00
Video tape fails to convince many ArabsThe video tape released to the media by the US on Thursday did not convince many in the Arab world of Osama bin Laden's complicity…Sat Dec 15 2001 - 00:00
