Latest news with #OsloAccords
Egypt Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Israel approves biggest expansion of West Bank settlements in decades
Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, as well as in East Jerusalem and the occupied Golan Heights, are considered illegal under international law. For months, Israel's military has carried out a massive operation in the West Bank, deploying tanks to the territory for the first time in decades and displacing tens of thousands of Palestinians. In February, Katz ordered the military 'to prepare for a prolonged presence' as the military evacuated Palestinian refugee camps. Within the last several weeks, Israeli forces have carried out multiple waves of raids and arrests across the West Bank. He added the new settlements are 'illegal under international law, further imperil the two-state solution, and do not protect Israel.' The decision this week to expand settlements sparked international criticism. The United Kingdom's minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Hamish Falconer, called the move a 'deliberate obstacle to Palestinian statehood.' Jordan's foreign ministry also lambasted the move, saying in a statement that it 'represents a deliberate disregard for ongoing international calls to halt settlement activity and violations in the occupied Palestinian territories.' 'All Israeli actions and decisions in the West Bank are illegal and illegitimate,' the statement added. Earlier this month, France joined the UK and Canada to threaten 'concrete actions,' including targeted sanctions against Israel, if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government did not allow far more aid into Gaza and cease settlement expansion in the West Bank. Peace Now blasted the government for making such a decision in the midst of a war. 'The government is making clear – again and without restraint – that it prefers deepening the occupation and advancing de facto annexation over pursuing peace,' the organization said. 'The Israeli government no longer pretends otherwise: the annexation of the Occupied Territories and expansion of settlements is its central goal.' The Oslo Accords, signed in 1993 between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), were designed to pave the way for the establishment of a Palestinian state and the realization of a two-state solution.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
5 things to know for May 30: Wildfires, Israel-Hamas, Tariffs, Trump death threat, Covid-19
C-O-N-G-R-A-T-U-L-A-T-I-O-N-S, Faizan Zaki! The 13-year-old from Allen, Texas, won the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee Thursday night. Zaki, who has competed in the annual contest four times, came in second last year. Here's what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day. The Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan have declared states of emergency due to a series of wildfires. The blazes, which began on Monday in Saskatchewan, have rapidly expanded in size, prompting the evacuation of more than 18,000 people. The intensifying fires are also beginning to send hazardous smoke toward the US. As of Thursday, just over 160 wildfires were burning across Canada, and about half were uncontrolled. Collectively, they have burned more than 1.56 million acres — 40% above the 10-year average for this point in the year. According to National Resources Canada, above-average fire weather severity is forecast for almost all of Western Canada in June and July. Israel has accepted a new ceasefire proposal with Hamas from US envoy Steve Witkoff, which includes the release of 10 living hostages and 18 deceased hostages, as well as a 60-day truce. Although Hamas said the latest framework doesn't 'respond to any of our people's demands, foremost among which is stopping the war and famine,' the militant group offered three counterpoints: 1) Hamas will agree to the release of the hostages and a 60-day ceasefire if the US can assure that negotiations over a permanent ceasefire will continue and the fighting will not resume after the 60 days. 2) Humanitarian assistance will be carried out through the UN channels. 3) The Israel Defense Forces will agree to pull back to the positions that they held on March 2, before Israel re-launched its military operations. Amid these negotiations, Israel approved a massive expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. Peace Now, an Israeli non-governmental organization that tracks settlements, said it was the largest expansion since the signing of the Oslo Accords more than 30 years ago. A federal appeals court on Thursday paused the Court of International Trade's ruling that President Donald Trump didn't have the authority to impose sweeping tariffs using the emergency powers he declared earlier this year. The ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit means Trump can continue to impose tariffs using emergency powers, and adds to the confusion and uncertainty about the future of his economic policy. The case could potentially work its way up to the Supreme Court. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X this week that an undocumented migrant from Mexico had been arrested for allegedly sending a letter threatening to kill President Trump. She also included a picture of the man and a copy of the letter. However, investigators now believe the migrant was set up. According to several sources, law enforcement believes Ramon Morales Reyes, 54, didn't write the letter, which was sent to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office and other agencies. Instead, investigators suspect a person who is currently awaiting trial in a robbery and assault case in which Reyes was the victim wrote the letter in an attempt to have him deported. Federal officials who asked for a handwriting sample from Reyes also determined that his handwriting and the threatening letter didn't match. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, continues to evolve. A new strain called NB.1.8.1 has been detected in several states and designated a variant under monitoring by the World Health Organization. Since NB.1.8.1 is a part of the Omicron family, the WHO said that currently approved Covid-19 vaccines should be effective. However, in recent weeks, the Department of Health and Human Services has made significant changes to how Covid-19 vaccines are approved and which groups they are recommended for. A new framework could limit Covid-19 vaccines to older Americans and people at higher risk of serious infection. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also said the vaccine will no longer be recommended for pregnant women and healthy children. Kennedy Center exec firedA far-right political activist with a history of anti-gay rhetoric and promoting conspiracy theories about former President Barack Obama said he was sacked after only a month on the job following a CNN investigation. Fewer perks, more profitStarbucks plans to eliminate one of its top loyalty perks: the 25-star bonus for customers who bring in a reusable cup for drink orders. The reason for the raspy voiceSinger Miley Cyrus has revealed that she has Reinke's edema, a noncancerous vocal cord disorder. A whole new ball gameMajor League Baseball is purchasing a stake in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, which will feature four teams — the Bandits, Blaze, Talons and Vaults — playing 24 games each against one another between June 7 and July 23. Just imagine how fun the holidays will beActor/comedian Eddie Murphy's son Eric Murphy recently wed Jasmin Lawrence, actor/comedian Martin Lawrence's daughter. 'Yeah, we're in-laws,' Murphy said on 'The Jennifer Hudson Show.' Which airline, that at one time had a policy that 'bags fly free,' now charges travelers for checked luggage?A. SpiritB. FrontierC. SouthwestD. JetBlue Take me to the quiz! $50,000That's how much reward money authorities are offering to anyone with information leading to the arrest of a convicted double murderer or an experienced fugitive who broke out of a New Orleans jail. 'I found myself surrounded by cumulonimbus clouds and trapped inside. It was terrifying — everything around me was white. Without the compass, I wouldn't have known which direction I was heading. I thought I was flying straight, but in reality, I was spinning.' — Chinese paraglider Peng Yujiang, on surviving an accidental high-altitude flight without oxygen. Check your local forecast here>>> Harvard president receives standing ovationDuring the university's commencement ceremony on Thursday, Alan Garber received applause when he made an indirect reference to the university's pushback against the White House's effort to keep international students from attending the school.
Euronews
4 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
2025 Champions League Final: Can PSG finally break through against Inter?
PSG's new strategy of signing young players to replace established superstars has proven successful this season. Inter Milan will be looking to atone for their loss to Manchester City in the 2023 decider.ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ Israel says it plans to build 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that includes formally recognising a number of unauthorised outposts already constructed without Israeli government approval. The Israeli anti-settlement organisation Peace Now reports that the plan involves legalising 12 existing outposts, constructing nine new settlements, and designating a neighbourhood within an existing settlement as an independent settlement. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the new settlement initiative "reinforces our sovereignty over Judea and Samaria," using Israel's biblical reference for the West Bank. He described the decision as a strategic measure to "solidify our historical rights" and as a "firm response to Palestinian terrorism." Gallant further claimed that settlement expansion helps block the formation of a Palestinian state, which he said would pose a security threat to Israel. Peace Now criticised the move as the most sweeping since the 1993 Oslo Accords, which had laid the groundwork for a now-stalled peace process. The group warned that the decision would reshape the landscape of the West Bank and deepen the Israeli occupation. The West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem - territories seized by Israel in the 1967 Six Day War - are central to Palestinian aspirations for statehood. Approximately three million Palestinians live in the West Bank, under a system of Israeli military control and limited Palestinian Authority governance. Peace Now accused the Israeli government of abandoning any pretence of pursuing a two-state solution. "The government is making clear - again and without restraint - that it prefers deepening the occupation and advancing de facto annexation over pursuing peace," the group stated. The West Bank currently hosts over 500,000 Israeli settlers living in more than 100 settlements, ranging from modest outposts to large towns with modern infrastructure. Most of the international community view Israeli settlements there as illegal and an obstacle to resolving the decades-old conflict. Despite this, Israel has accelerated settlement construction in recent years and has, since the outbreak of war in Gaza, escalated house demolitions and land seizures in the territory, forcing many Palestinians families to evacuate. Expansion has steadily limited Palestinian mobility and access to land, making the viability of a future Palestinian state increasingly unlikely. Under President Donald Trump, US policy shifted sharply in support of Israeli claims over occupied territories, including steps to legitimise settlements. Although President Joe Biden had voiced opposition to settlement growth, his administration refrained from applying significant pressure on Israel to stop the practice. The top United Nations court ruled last year that Israel's presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful and called on it to end, and for settlement construction to stop immediately. Israel denounced the non-binding opinion by a 15-judge panel of the International Court of Justice, saying the territories are part of the historic homeland of the Jewish people.
Euronews
4 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Israel approves construction of 22 new West Bank settlements
Israel says it plans to build 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that includes formally recognising a number of unauthorised outposts already constructed without Israeli government approval. The Israeli anti-settlement organisation Peace Now reports that the plan involves legalising 12 existing outposts, constructing nine new settlements, and designating a neighbourhood within an existing settlement as an independent settlement. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said the new settlement initiative "reinforces our sovereignty over Judea and Samaria," using Israel's biblical reference for the West Bank. He described the decision as a strategic measure to "solidify our historical rights" and as a "firm response to Palestinian terrorism." Gallant further claimed that settlement expansion helps block the formation of a Palestinian state, which he said would pose a security threat to Israel. Peace Now criticised the move as the most sweeping since the 1993 Oslo Accords, which had laid the groundwork for a now-stalled peace process. The group warned that the decision would reshape the landscape of the West Bank and deepen the Israeli occupation. The West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem - territories seized by Israel in the 1967 Six Day War - are central to Palestinian aspirations for statehood. Approximately three million Palestinians live in the West Bank, under a system of Israeli military control and limited Palestinian Authority governance. Peace Now accused the Israeli government of abandoning any pretence of pursuing a two-state solution. "The government is making clear - again and without restraint - that it prefers deepening the occupation and advancing de facto annexation over pursuing peace," the group stated. The West Bank currently hosts over 500,000 Israeli settlers living in more than 100 settlements, ranging from modest outposts to large towns with modern infrastructure. Most of the international community view Israeli settlements there as illegal and an obstacle to resolving the decades-old conflict. Despite this, Israel has accelerated settlement construction in recent years and has, since the outbreak of war in Gaza, escalated house demolitions and land seizures in the territory, forcing many Palestinians families to evacuate. Expansion has steadily limited Palestinian mobility and access to land, making the viability of a future Palestinian state increasingly unlikely. Under President Donald Trump, US policy shifted sharply in support of Israeli claims over occupied territories, including steps to legitimise settlements. Although President Joe Biden had voiced opposition to settlement growth, his administration refrained from applying significant pressure on Israel to stop the practice. The top United Nations court ruled last year that Israel's presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful and called on it to end, and for settlement construction to stop immediately. Israel denounced the non-binding opinion by a 15-judge panel of the International Court of Justice, saying the territories are part of the historic homeland of the Jewish people.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Israel approves biggest expansion of West Bank settlements in decades
Israel approved a massive expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank this week in a move described as a continuation of de facto annexation of the territory. Peace Now, an Israeli non-governmental organization that tracks settlements, said it was the largest expansion of settlements since the signing of the Oslo Accords more than 30 years ago. Israel will establish 22 new settlements, including deep within the West Bank and in area from which the country had previously withdrawn, as part of the new security cabinet decision, according to a joint statement from Defense Minister Israel Katz and far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. 'All the new communities are being established with a long-term strategic vision, aimed at reinforcing Israeli control of the territory, preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state, and securing development reserves for settlement in the coming decades,' the statement said. Peace Now blasted the government for making such a decision in the midst of a war. 'The government is making clear - again and without restraint - that it prefers deepening the occupation and advancing de facto annexation over pursuing peace,' the organization said. 'The Israeli government no longer pretends otherwise: the annexation of the Occupied Territories and expansion of settlements is its central goal.' Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, as well as in East Jerusalem and the occupied Golan Heights, are considered illegal under international law. The Oslo Accords, signed in 1993 between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), were designed to pave the way to the establishment of a Palestinian state and the realization of a two-state solution. For months, Israel's military has carried out a massive operation in the West Bank, deploying tanks to the territory for the first time in decades and displacing tens of thousands of Palestinians. In February, Katz ordered the military 'to prepare for a prolonged presence' as the military evacuated Palestinian refugee camps. Within the last several weeks, Israeli forces have carried out multiple waves of raids and arrests across the West Bank. Peace Now said 12 of the new settlements will be the legalization of illegal outposts. Outposts are illegally established by Jewish settlers without approval from the government with the intention to push for formal recognition and legalization. Another nine of the settlements will be entirely new, while the final one will be the conversion of an existing neighborhood to an independent settlement, according to Peace Now. Two of the settlements in the new plan were evacuated during the disengagement from parts of the West Bank in 2005, which forbade Israelis from establishing a civilian presence in those areas. That law was overturned by the current right-wing Israeli government. Smotrich gloated about the new settlements, making clear his goal was annexation. 'The next step – sovereignty! We did not take a foreign land, but the inheritance of our ancestors,' he said in a statement. Earlier this month, the security cabinet approved a land registration process for Area C of the West Bank, which is under Israeli civil and security control. Peace Now called the move 'a mega theft of Palestinian lands.'
