Israel said on Wednesday it would no longer assist Al Jazeera because of what it said was a televised party hosted by the influential Arabic television station for a Lebanese prisoner freed last month.
The head of Israel's Government Press Office (GPO) said Al Jazeera would get only minimal services until it provided a "reasonable answer" about a programme which featured a birthday party for Samir Qantar, who spent 29 years in an Israeli jail for a 1979 attack in which five Israelis were killed.
During the programme, produced and hosted by Al Jazeera, Qantar uses a scimitar to slice a cake with his picture on it, while fireworks are set off around him and a band plays Arabic music.
An Al Jazeera official at the channel's headquarters in Qatar had no immediate comment. Al Jazeera has bureaux in Jerusalem and in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank.
Qantar was among five Lebanese guerrillas freed last month as part of a prisoner swap between Israel and Hezbollah.
"I don't think it is appropriate for the state of Israel and the Government Press Office to keep extending the services they give them (Al Jazeera)," GPO director Daniel Seaman said.
Seaman said the programme "did not only cross a professional line, but a moral line".
He said Al Jazeera's existing press cards would not be revoked, but that without his office's assistance, it could take months instead of days for its personnel to get Israeli entry visas and work permits needed for press accreditation.
Israeli officials have often accused Al Jazeera of biased reporting of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a charge it has denied. (Writing by Avida Landau, Editing by Alistair Lyon)
Israel said on Wednesday it would no longer assist Al Jazeera because of what it said... more
A senior Hezbollah commander says that while the resistance group does not seek war with Israel, it is ready for one and is stronger than before. Meanwhile, Lebanon's national unity government agreed on a statement that political sources said grants Hezbollah the right to use all possible means to liberate "occupied land."A senior Hezbollah commander says that while the resistance group does not seek war... more
'The girl screamed. I don't remember anything else'
Samir Qantar, feted as a hero of the resistance in his native Lebanon this week, was reviled as a child-murdering monster in Israel, which freed him in exchange for the bodies of two soldiers killed by Hizbullah in the raid that triggered the 2006 war. Over four years Chen Kotes-Bar, an Israeli journalist and daughter of an Auschwitz survivor, spoke to prisoner 562885 ... the man behind a brutal terrorist act that is seared into her country's consciousness. This is an account of their extraordinary conversations.
Of interest to me was that he carried this out at the age of 16, anyone else remember what they were like at the age of 16?'The girl screamed. I don't remember anything else'
Samir Qantar, feted as a hero... more
Five Lebanese militants linked to Hezbollah were set free in exchange for the bodies of two Israeli soldiers that were killed in a Hezbollah raid. Among the five militants was, Samir Kantar, who vowed to continue the fight against Israel shortly after being released. Many, especially Hezbollah supporters, are seeing this lopsided trade as a symbol of Hezbollah's power over Israel.Five Lebanese militants linked to Hezbollah were set free in exchange for the bodies... more
This is a really sad day for Israel as what Kuntar did was awful and to release him and to see him welcomed as a hero is truly disturbing.
Israel has posted a clip on the video-sharing Web site YouTube detailing the crimes committed by Lebanese terrorist Samir Kuntar, who was freed on Wednesday as part of a prisoner exchange deal with Hezbollah.
The Prime Minister's Office produced the video and released it on Tuesday as part of a campaign to tarnish the image of the Lebanese guerilla group in light of the victory celebrations held in Lebanon for return of Kuntar, jailed in Israel in 1979 for a terrorist attack that left four Israelis dead. This is a really sad day for Israel as what Kuntar did was awful and to release him... more
"The Israeli army has confirmed that human remains handed over by Lebanon's Hezbollah as part of a prisoner swap are those of two of its soldiers.
The two men, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, were captured in 2006, but it was not certain they had died.
In return, Israel is handing over five Lebanese prisoners and the bodies of 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters. ""The Israeli army has confirmed that human remains handed over by Lebanon's Hezbollah... more
Israeli defense officials say forensics experts have positively identified the remains of two soldiers released by Hezbollah guerrillas.Israeli defense officials say forensics experts have positively identified the remains... more
Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas turned over to Israel two coffins believed to contain the bodies of Israeli soldiers, setting in motion a dramatic prisoner swap between the bitter enemies Wednesday.Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas turned over to Israel two coffins believed to contain... more
Hezbollah and Israel prepared to swap prisoners on Wednesday two years after their 34-day war -- a sequel hailed as a triumph by the Lebanese guerrilla group and as a painful necessity by many Israelis.
Under a deal mediated by a U.N.-appointed German intelligence officer, Israel was to free five prisoners in exchange for two soldiers captured by Hezbollah guerrillas in a 2006 cross-border raid, who are widely presumed dead.
Hezbollah security official Wafik Safa told the group's al-Manar television that the two Israelis were at the border, but he declined to say if they were dead or alive.
Israel will also hand over the bodies of 200 Arabs killed trying to infiltrate northern Israel. Hezbollah will return the remains of Israeli soldiers killed in south Lebanon.Hezbollah and Israel prepared to swap prisoners on Wednesday two years after their... more
A planned prisoner exchange between Israel and Hezbollah will take place on Wednesday, Israeli officials say.
Israel will release five Lebanese prisoners in exchange for two Israeli soldiers seized in a cross-border raid that triggered a 33-day war in 2006.
The condition of the two Israeli soldiers is not known, but it is widely believed that they are dead. The Lebanese prisoners due to be freed include Samir Qantar, in jail since 1979 for a deadly guerrilla raid.
Under the prisoner-swap arrangement, Hezbollah handed over documents about the navigator, including two previously unseen photographs, on Saturday. The photographs were passed on to his family along with letters that were reportedly written several years ago, but Israeli authorities said they provided no new information about his well being.
In the exchange Israel is also expected to hand over the bodies of 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters killed while infiltrating northern Israel. A planned prisoner exchange between Israel and Hezbollah will take place on Wednesday,... more
"The announcement came after Mr Sarkozy held talks with Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman and then Syria's leader Bashar Assad in Paris.
Lebanon and Syria broke off diplomatic ties after former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri was assassinated in 2005. Beirut accused Syria of involvement.
Mr Assad's welcome in Paris marks his return to the world stage.
"I would like to say what a historic step forward it is for France that Syrian President Bashar Assad is determined to open a diplomatic representation in Lebanon, and that Lebanon should open a diplomatic representation in Syria," Mr Sarkozy announced after meeting both men.
There has been no announcement by either Syria or Lebanon, but Mr Sarkozy said their leaders had authorised him to speak on their behalf.
Relations between Syria and Lebanon have been tense since the forced withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon in mid-2005 after Mr Hariri's assassination.
But the two nations have not had diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level since they became independent in the 1940s."
Syria and Lebanon have agreed to open embassies in each other's capitals, French leader Nicolas Sarkozy has said.
The announcement came after Mr Sarkozy held talks with Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman and then Syria's leader Bashar Assad in Paris.
Lebanon and Syria broke off diplomatic ties after former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri was assassinated in 2005. Beirut accused Syria of involvement.
Relations between Syria and Lebanon have been tense since the forced withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon in mid-2005 after Mr Hariri's assassination. But the two nations have not had diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level since they became independent in the 1940s. Syria and Lebanon have agreed to open embassies in each other's capitals, French... more
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon ended weeks of wrangling on Friday and formed a unity government in which Hezbollah and its allies hold effective veto power, as agreed under a deal that ended a paralyzing political conflict in the country.
The decisive say granted to the former opposition led by Hezbollah, an ally of Damascus, shows that Syria has succeeded in wrenching back some political leverage in Lebanon, where it was the main power broker until its troops left in 2005.
The birth of the government, the first under newly elected President Michel Suleiman, should close a long political crisis that had threatened to plunge Lebanon into a new civil war.BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon ended weeks of wrangling on Friday and formed a unity... more
BEIRUT, Lebanon - Lebanon's prime minister has formed a national unity Cabinet in which Hezbollah and its allies have veto power over government decisions.
Prime Minister Fuad Saniora had been struggling to form a government since former army chief Gen. Michel Suleiman was elected president in May.
Saniora announced the Cabinet formation Friday in Beirut.
Hezbollah's veto power was part of an Arab League-brokered deal to achieve compromise between the U.S. and Western-backed parliamentary majority and Hezbollah-led opposition BEIRUT, Lebanon - Lebanon's prime minister has formed a national unity Cabinet in... more
The Israeli Cabinet's approval Sunday of a prisoner swap with the militant group Hezbollah touched off cries of victory in Lebanon and sparked fresh debate within the Jewish state over the price of its determination to retrieve missing soldiers.
After weeks of emotional public speculation and a six-hour Cabinet debate, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government voted 22 to 3 in favor of a deal that would return two captured Israeli soldiers. Olmert acknowledged Sunday that they were probably dead.
In return for the men or their bodies, Hezbollah would receive several imprisoned Lebanese militants, the bodies of about a dozen other fighters and the release of a still-unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners.
Hezbollah's leadership still has to approve the deal, but the Shiite Muslim group on Sunday hailed it as a victory for the strategy of armed resistance. The Israeli Cabinet's approval Sunday of a prisoner swap with the militant group... more
Two people have been killed in a second day of fighting in the north Lebanese city of Tripoli.
The deaths on Monday came a day after four people died as supporters of the ruling majority and the Hezbollah-led opposition battled in the Bab al-Tebbaneh and Jabal Mohsen areas of the city.
Some residents fled their homes and others hid as machine-gun fire and grenade explosions erupted on the streets.
One person was killed on Monday morning in renewed violence, while another died of wounds sustained in the previous day's clashes. More than 30 people have been injured in the fighting. A police officer was killed by a stray bullet on Sunday in al-Qobbe district while three other men were killed during clashes in Jabal Mohsen, security officials said.
The various factions had agreed earlier on Sunday that the Lebanese army should be deployed to maintain security and they would keep their fighters off the streets, but clashes continued soon afterwards.Two people have been killed in a second day of fighting in the north Lebanese city of... more
Lebanon's Hezbollah and Israel are putting the final touches to an agreement to exchange prisoners, a Lebanese political source said on Wednesday.
The deal, mediated by a U.N.-appointed German negotiator, would see Hezbollah returning two Israeli soldiers captured in 2006 for four Lebanese prisoners and the bodies of about 10 Hezbollah fighters. It is not clear whether either of the Israelis is still alive.Lebanon's Hezbollah and Israel are putting the final touches to an agreement to... more
Israel said today it wanted to open "direct, bilateral" peace talks with Lebanon, as officials confirmed they have agreed a ceasefire with the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas due to begin in the Gaza Strip from dawn tomorrow.
The talks with Lebanon would include discussions over the Shebaa Farms, an area of land held by Israel and claimed by the Lebanese.
The overture appears to have been encouraged by the US administration and comes after indirect talks between Israel and Syria were re-started for the first time in eight years.
The approach to Lebanon may indicate that an agreement is close at hand with the Lebanese group Hizbullah over the return of two Israeli soldiers captured at the start of the 2006 Lebanon war and who are now feared dead. Israel is reportedly ready to release some Lebanese prisoners in return.
Today Israeli officials were cautious about how long the Gaza ceasefire might last, warning that the agreement was fragile and a military invasion still an option.
Amos Gilad, a senior Israeli defence official who was the envoy on the ceasefire negotiations, said: "This is not a peace agreement."
"A calm means that there is no type of terror, there is no difference if it comes from 'a' or 'b,"' he told Israel's Army Radio. "It's clear that if there won't be attacks on us, the army activity will be in accordance."
Palestinian militants fired rockets and mortars into southern Israel today and there was gunfire towards Israeli communities, but there were no reports of injuries.
Islamic Jihad said it carried out the attacks in response to the killing of 10 militants in Gaza this week.
"Thursday will be the beginning we hope of a new reality where Israeli citizens in the south will no longer be on the receiving end of continuous rocket attacks," said Mark Regev, a spokesman for the Israeli prime minister. "Israel is giving a serious chance to this Egyptian initiative and we want it to succeed."
Others, even in the Israeli cabinet, spoke out against the decision to accept the ceasefire, which has been arranged after weeks of mediation by the Egyptians.
"A calm brings a great accomplishment for Hamas," Meir Sheetrit, an Israeli cabinet minister, told Army Radio. "They prove that their determination and the war and the continued attacks on Israel help them achieve what they want."
The ceasefire will develop in stages, with Israel gradually easing its economic blockade of Gaza if the ceasefire holds.
Funerals were held in Gaza today for militants killed in an Israeli air strike yesterday, among them Moataz Dogmush, a senior leader in the Army of Islam.
The small but extreme militant group was responsible last year for kidnapping the British BBC reporter Alan Johnston and also played a role in the capture in June 2006 of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who remains in captivity in Gaza. Israel said today it wanted to open "direct, bilateral" peace talks with Lebanon, as... more
On Wednesday, Israel called on Lebanon to open direct peace talks between the two countries, said a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
"Israel wants peace with Lebanon. We are currently negotiating with the Syrians and with the Palestinians, and there is no logical reason whatsoever why we can't negotiate with the Lebanese," said Olmert spokesman Mark Regev.
Regev said Israel "is interested in direct bilateral talks where every issue of contention will be on the table."
This comment came as Israel and longtime foe Syria hold indirect peace talks in Turkey.
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Israel has never had formal diplomatic relations with Lebanon. It fought a war in Lebanon two years ago against the militant Shiite group Hezbollah and another one during the 1980s against Palestinian militants based there.
Israel has formal diplomatic relations with two other nations on its border, Egypt and Jordan.On Wednesday, Israel called on Lebanon to open direct peace talks between the two... more
Israel has called on Lebanon to open direct peace talks between the two sides, the prime minister's spokesman said Wednesday.
The appeal comes after Israel agreed to a truce with the Hamas leaders who control Gaza.
"Israel wants peace with Lebanon. We are currently negotiating with the Syrians and with the Palestinians, and there is no logical reason whatsoever why we can't negotiate with the Lebanese," spokesman Mark Regev said.
Regev said Israel "is interested in direct bilateral talks where every issue of contention will be on the table."
This comment came as Israel and its longtime foe Syria hold indirect peace talks in Turkey.
Israel has never had formal diplomatic relations with Lebanon. It fought a war in Lebanon two years ago against the militant Shiite group Hezbollah, and another during the 1980s against Palestinian militants based there.
Israel has formal diplomatic relations with two other nations on its border, Egypt and Jordan.
As for Israel's relations with the Palestinians, it has been engaged in peace efforts with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of the Fatah movement.
The truce between Israel and Gaza's Hamas leaders is scheduled to take effect Thursday morning and last for six months, Hamas officials said. Video Watch how violence continues in Gaza ยปIsrael has called on Lebanon to open direct peace talks between the two sides, the... more
