Middle East

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was re-elected to lead the Fatah party Tuesday as the movement opened its first congress since 2009 with talk mounting of who will eventually succeed the 81-year-old. Abbas was re-elected by consensus, Fatah party spokesman Mahmud Abu al-Hija said, and was due to address the congress at 6:00pm (1600 GMT).

Palestinians fume as envoys from seven countries meet Israeli officials near Jerusalem’s Western Wall, visit controversial City of David archeological park By Raphael Ahren After trekking through a narrow 600 meter-long, 2,000-year-old tunnel believed to have transported water from Jerusalem’s Temple Mount out of the city, the African diplomats were ushered into a small area

The two men were dragged from the building blindfolded, their heads bowed, and covered in dust. A few neighborhoods away, the battle for Mosul was raging. But their fight was over. The captured fighters belong to the Islamic State. They swept into the city two years ago in a blitzkrieg that shocked the world. Now

    6 teens suspected of arson remanded as Israel’s wildfire probe continues (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Six 17-year-old residents of the Galilee village of Jadeidi-Makr, who were arrested last week over their alleged involvement in setting fire to the nearby Ahihud Forest, were denied bail Monday and remanded to Israeli police custody for an

Assad forces recaptured 6 rebel-held areas in embatteled city over the weekend; over 200 killed since assault began 13 days ago By Karam al-Masri and Layal Abou Rahal Syrian displaced families gather at a makeshit camp on November 27, 2016 in the government-held district of Jibreen in Aleppo, as civilians have fled the eastern part

TEL AVIV, Israel — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ political party, Fatah, opens its first party congress in seven years Tuesday amid swirling speculation about who will succeed the 81-year-old at the helm of the Palestinian Authority. Some 1,400 Fatah delegates will gather at Abbas’ presidential compound in Ramallah for the five-day convention, with many coming

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM – For some days Israel has suffered from levels of personal hardship, dislocation, mobilization, and property damage equivalent to the 2014 Gaza operation of the IDF. The prime aggressor has been the weather, with incidents of civilian carelessness and aggression by Palestinians.. We’ve been experiencing an extreme case of what typically