Free Republic

If ever there was a leader caught between a rock and a hard place, it is Israel's Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu, who recently regained the premiership after a long and frustrating battle to reverse his ignominious defeat ten years ago. Only a burning lust for power, combined with a sincere belief in his ability to lead Israel through tumultuous times, sustained him. As in his previous tenure, however, he once again has the "misfortune" of assuming office at a time when a popular, left-leaning Democrat is president -- in this case, one viewed by many with almost messianic adoration. In his...

TEL AVIV – A pair of Israeli soldiers has been charged with exposing their backsides to a group of Palestinians in an alleged attempt to disburse the Palestinians who had gathered in a field close to a Jewish community. The Israeli army acted quickly today to hold a disciplinary trial and sentence the soldiers in question to 21 days in jail after YnetNews, a popular Israeli website, posted footage it obtained of the soldiers pulling down their pants and underwear, shaking their bare backsides, and then flashing a victory sign (Caution: nudity in footage). The footage does not show any...

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - A fierce gunbattle broke out between Hamas and Fatah militants in Gaza City early Friday, underscoring the fragility of a two-day old truce that had largely ended factional violence there. The street battle erupted when Hamas militiamen tried to free two kidnapped militants, including a senior member of the Islamic group. It died down after 20 minutes as Muslim clerics and other mediators worked to restore the cease-fire. Nobody was hurt despite the battle's intensity, health officials said.

<p>The Augusta Victoria Hospital, situated on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, is one of the best medical facilities available for Palestinians. Tragically, it may very soon be closed. It is not threatened by Hamas, or Al-Qaida, but by our “friend and ally” Israel.</p>

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The Saudi Embassy USA touts the country's support of Palestinean suicide bombers and their families.ARAB INTERIOR MINISTERS CONCLUDE MEETING IN TUNIS January 30, 2001 At the end of its session, the council issued a statement on the Al-Aqsa intifada, strongly condemning the brutal massacres, killings, torture, siege and starvation suffered by the Palestinian people at the hands of the occupying Zionist enemy. The statement reiterated support for the intifada, describing it as the legitimate right of resisting the occupier, deterring aggression, protecting sanctuaries, and realizing the hopes of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on their national soil...