Less than two years into office, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government collapsed Tuesday as he fired two ministers who lead key parties in his ruling coalition. Ending a protracted political crisis and speculation about early elections, Netanyahu dismissed Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Finance Minister Yair Lapid, who have repeatedly challenged his leadership. “I will […]
French parliament to call for recognition of Palestinian state
French lawmakers are set to vote on Tuesday to call on the government to recognize Palestine, a symbolic move that will not immediately affect France’s diplomatic stance but demonstrates growing European impatience with a stalled peace process. While most developing countries recognize Palestine as a state, most Western European countries do not, supporting the Israeli […]
Push for Palestinian statehood grows in Europe
France has become the latest country in Europe to consider recognizing the state of Palestine. With a non-binding vote getting under way Friday, its National Assembly is following the lead of four other European nations that have taken similar steps. By Sara Miller Llana, As France’s National Assembly began debating a non-binding vote on recognizing […]
In a rare move , EU parlianment wants to split up Google
The European parliament is poised to call for a break-up of Google, in one of the most brazen assaults so far on the technology group’s power. The gambit increases the political pressure on the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, to take a tougher line on Google, either in its antitrust investigation into the company […]
Egypt: Opposition warns elections may fuel tensions
An Egyptian opposition leader is warning the president’s call for parliamentary elections in April will only inflame the country’s political tensions. Mohamed ElBaradei, who leads the main opposition National Salvation Front, wrote on his Twitter account Friday that President Mohammed Morsi’s “decision to go for parliamentary elections amidst severe societal polarization and eroding state authority […]
Jumblatt blasts Iran , calls for a Lebanon senate
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt called for the establishment of a Lebanese Senate that would ensure fair representation to all the country’s political parties. “Why don’t we apply the Taif Accord which stipulated the establishment of a Senate where all the country’s different constituents would be represented and liberate the parliament from sectarian […]
PSP to propose an initiative to avert strife in Lebanon,report
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt and his ministers in the cabinet are reportedly planning to launch an initiative to to avert strife in Lebanon. The initiative which will be presented to March 14 and March 8 camps will call for participation in the national dialogue talks,
Brother of Parliament Speaker killed in Damascus
BEIRUT, Lebanon — The brother of Syria’s speaker of Parliament was assassinated on Tuesday in a central Damascus neighborhood, the official Syrian news agency reported, as clashes between the government and the rebels convulsed most major cities.
Jumblatt calls postponement of parliament session ‘excellent’
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt described the postponement of the parliamentary session by Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri,, as “excellent”. “All efforts should be made to protect national unity , and I support the postponement of the parliament session,” Jumblatt told As-Safir
Lebanon Speaker postpones parliament session
Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri decided to postpone the upcoming parliamentary session which was set for November 7 until an indefinite date due to March 14’s boycott of the parliament. “I decided to postpone the November 7 parliament session until a date that we would determine later