West Bank news stories on Newser

Rival Monks in Broom Brawl at Christ's Birthplace

Evann Gastaldo — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:22:35 CST

Not a very nice birthday present for Jesus: Dozens of rival monks brawled at his birthplace today, as the feuding clergy members were performing an annual cleaning of the holy spot. The Church of the Nativity, built over the site where Jesus is believed to have been born in Bethlehem,...

O Little Town of Bethlehem, Packed With Tourists

Mary Papenfuss — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 09:33:10 CST

There wasn't any room at the inns today as thousands of faithful thronged the streets of Bethlehem to worship at Christ's biblical birthplace. Visitors snapped photos at the 50-foot-tall Christmas tree at Manger Square and received blessings from Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal, the head of the Catholic Church in the...

Israel OKs 1,100 More Homes in East Jerusalem

Evann Gastaldo — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:17:01 CDT

In a move sure to ratchet up Israeli-Palestinian tension even further, Israel gave the OK today to construct 1,100 new housing units in east Jerusalem. Israel’s Interior Ministry says construction can begin after 60 days, a period that is mandatory for comments from the public but largely a formality,...

5 Reasons US Should Allow Palestinian State

John Johnson — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:36:31 CDT

Palestinians plan to push for full statehood in the UN later this month, and the US vows to block them. Reza Aslan offers five reasons in the Los Angeles Times why America should buck Israel ("it is not political suicide") and change its mind: Failed talks: Twenty years of negotiations...

Israel Arming Settlements as Protests Loom

Rob Quinn — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 04:58:35 CDT

The Israeli military, expecting widespread confrontations in the West Bank as the United Nations debates recognizing a Palestinian state, is training Jewish settlers to repel protests. Settlement security chiefs are being given tear gas and stun grenades, and the military is mapping out firing zones around settlements, according to leaked...

Who’s Not Happy That bin Laden’s Dead?

Matt Cantor — Mon, 02 May 2011 19:03:04 CDT

Reaction to Osama bin Laden's death is pouring in from around the world—and not everybody's cheering, Reuters reports: Hamas: “We condemn the assassination and the killing of an Arab holy warrior,” said Ismail Haniyeh, the group’s leader in the Gaza Strip. “We regard this as a continuation of the...

Hamas, Fatah Strike Deal on Palestinian Government

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:38:06 CDT

Palestinians have reached initial agreement on reuniting their rival governments in the West Bank and Gaza, a step that would remove a main obstacle in the way of peace efforts with Israel. Fatah and Hamas officials said the plan, brokered by Egypt, calls for the formation of a single caretaker...

Palin Ditches Bethlehem Trip at Last Minute

Rob Quinn — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 01:42:34 CDT

Sarah Palin aborted a trip to Bethlehem at the last minute yesterday, according to the Telegraph , which suggests some not-so-wise men among her advisers could be to blame. The city of Christ's birth was meant to be her first stop of the day, according to a leaked copy of her...

US Slaps Israel Settlement Plan

Matt Cantor — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 06:07:21 CDT

The US Embassy is “deeply concerned” about Israel’s plans to expand its West Bank settlements, a decision the country made following an attack this weekend on a settler family, the AP reports. Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday said: “They murder, we build.” To wit, Israel has approved the construction of between 300...