PressTV

17th January, 2009

Israel continues its offensive on Gaza for a 22nd consecutive day, pounding the Zaytun district of Gaza City with white phosphorous bombs. Hamas affiliated Al-Aqsa television reported on Saturday that many residential buildings have been hit by Israeli phosphorous bombs in the Zaytun district.  The Israeli phosphorous bombs also hit a UN school in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza early Saturday. According to medics and witnesses, the strike on the school, where civilians were sheltering from the fighting, has claimed the lives of a woman and a child, injuring eleven others.  Meanwhile, several explosions were heard as the Israeli army’s apache helicopters flew over Gaza and their tanks hit various locations in the outskirts of Gaza city Read the rest of this entry »

Qatar, Mauritania suspend ties with Israel 

PressTV
Fri, 16 Jan 2009 

Qatar and Mauritania have decided to suspend their ties with Israel following a regional summit in Doha to discuss the war on Gaza. 

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16/01/2009 Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal addressed Arab leaders in the Doha meeting Friday and thanked them for supporting the Palestinians and their cause. 
Speaking in the absence of Mahmoud Abbas and other Arab leaders, Meshaal seized the opportunity to praise the determination of Gazans and the heroic resistance there. 
“I tell Gazans that they are not alone, and they should be proud.”
 
The 22-member Arab League says Doha has failed to secure the quorum of 15 required for a formal Arab Summit, but Qatar has gone ahead with a broad consultative meeting that has attracted Meshaal, the Iranian president and Turkish officials.
13 of the Arab League’s 22 members went ahead despite objections of the PA, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

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PressTV

16th January, 2009

Turkey’s Prime Minister has called for Israel to be barred from the UN as long as it ignores international calls to stop war on Gaza. 

“How is such a country, which does not implement resolutions of the UN Security Council, allowed to enter through the gates of the UN (headquarters)?” Recep Tayyip Erdogan inquired on Friday. 

The remarks came before UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s arrival in Ankara to discuss the conflict and amid growing outrage in Turkey over Israel’s attacks on Gaza. 

Erdogan lashed out at the Israeli army’s raids on civilians under the pretext of targeting the Palestinian fighters in the territory. He also accused the Israeli media of falsely suggesting that Hamas uses civilians as human shields in the Gaza Strip. 

The UN chief, who traveled to the West Bank on Thursday, has urged an end to the ‘unbearable’ situation in Gaza and called on Israel for a unilateral humanitarian truce. 

Last Thursday, the UN Security Council approved a resolution which demanded an “immediate” and “durable” ceasefire leading to the “full withdrawal” of Israeli forces from Gaza. It also called for “the unimpeded provision and distribution throughout Gaza of humanitarian assistance, including of food, fuel and medical treatment.” 

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, however, vowed to resist outside pressureand push ahead with the military action against Gaza, while Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Israel would act ‘only according to its interests’. 

Weeks of ceaseless Israeli airstrikes and tank shelling have so far killed more than 1,133 Palestinians across the impoverished coastal sliver, which has been under Israel’s crippling blockade since June 2007. 

On Friday, Turkish President Abdullah Gul renewed calls for an immediate cease-fire and urged US President-elect Barack Obama to focus on a comprehensive, long-lasting and fair solution to the issue once he is in office. 

MRS/MMN