MIDDLE EAST
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Israel shrugs off boycott effort
Despite Israel’s proven resilience, the strategy of targeting the country’s economic welfare in order to raise political pressure on the country is again gaining momentum
Israel defies US on settlements
Israel has defied US pressure by approving a plan to construct 900 new housing units in a suburb of Jerusalem built on occupied Palestinian land in a move that could stoke regional tensions
Editorial: Mideast brinksmen
Obama can still retrieve this situation by publishing a blueprint of a two-states solution and a Palestinian homeland on most of the West Bank and Gaza, and placing it before the UN Security Council
Ankara pursues lead role in Middle East
Simple formula of romantic television drama and an anti-Israeli stance has enabled Turkey to make a comeback as an influential power in the Middle East
Fatah signals change of direction if Abbas quits
Shaken by the prospect of losing their veteran leader, senior Palestinian officials have started debating new strategies in their long-running conflict with Israel in the hope of galvanising international support
Fatah signals new strategy if Abbas quits
Potential loss of veteran leader throws purpose behind the Palestinian Authority into doubt as officials cast around for fresh way forward
Abbas offers bleak view of peace
The Palestinian Authority president cast further doubt on the possible resumption of peace talks but declined to address his future at the PA
US fails to match Mideast rhetoric
Top diplomats acknowledge that Washington has failed to make substantial progress on the Arab-Israeli conflict and that Tehran was likely to reject a compromise offer
Editorial: A man humiliated
Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, is the principal Palestinian advocate of a negotiated two-state peace agreement with Israel. If he stands by his threat to quit it could deal a devastating blow to that process, if not destroy it
Pressure grows on Abbas to stay on
Mahmoud Abbas has been urged to revoke his decision not to run in the upcoming Palestinian presidential election, amid concern that his withdrawal could deal a fatal blow to diminishing prospects for peace













