Palestine Liberation Organization

Israel designated six leading Palestinian civil society groups as outlawed "terrorist organisations" Friday in a move swiftly condemned by the Palestinian Authority and international human rights groups.

The United States announced Monday it will shutter the Palestinians' mission in Washington, adding further pressure on them to enter peace talks with Israel.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Sunday told visiting French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius that any new Palestinian unity government should not include Hamas, France's top diplomat said.

Israel's defence minister said today he did not believe a stable peace agreement could be reached with the Palestinians in his lifetime - one of the bleakest assessments from a top-level cabinet member since talks collapsed last year.

Israel's representative was conspicuously missing when the UN Human Rights Council started a special session today on the situation in the Palestinian territories and the 2014 Gaza conflict.

The re-election of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has ruled out a Palestinian state on his watch, has only strengthened the resolve of Palestinians to battle Israel on the world stage.

Reconstruction in Gaza, where heavy Israeli bombardment in a war with Islamist militants has caused widespread devastation and displaced half a million people, will cost at least $6 billion, the Palestinian deputy prime minister says.

Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah assured foreign diplomats on Tuesday that his new unity government would respect past agreements with Israel, after chairing the cabinet's first meeting.

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said on Tuesday that the Islamist group was close to mending rifts with rival President Mahmoud Abbas's Palestine Liberation Organization, but vowed resistance against Israel will continue.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said yesterday that his intense diplomacy in six visits to the Middle East was bearing fruit, narrowing gaps between Israel and the Palestinians.

Israel designated six leading Palestinian civil society groups as outlawed "terrorist organisations" Friday in a move swiftly condemned by the Palestinian Authority and international human rights groups.

The United States announced Monday it will shutter the Palestinians' mission in Washington, adding further pressure on them to enter peace talks with Israel.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Sunday told visiting French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius that any new Palestinian unity government should not include Hamas, France's top diplomat said.

Israel's defence minister said today he did not believe a stable peace agreement could be reached with the Palestinians in his lifetime - one of the bleakest assessments from a top-level cabinet member since talks collapsed last year.

Israel's representative was conspicuously missing when the UN Human Rights Council started a special session today on the situation in the Palestinian territories and the 2014 Gaza conflict.

The re-election of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has ruled out a Palestinian state on his watch, has only strengthened the resolve of Palestinians to battle Israel on the world stage.

Reconstruction in Gaza, where heavy Israeli bombardment in a war with Islamist militants has caused widespread devastation and displaced half a million people, will cost at least $6 billion, the Palestinian deputy prime minister says.

Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah assured foreign diplomats on Tuesday that his new unity government would respect past agreements with Israel, after chairing the cabinet's first meeting.

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said on Tuesday that the Islamist group was close to mending rifts with rival President Mahmoud Abbas's Palestine Liberation Organization, but vowed resistance against Israel will continue.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said yesterday that his intense diplomacy in six visits to the Middle East was bearing fruit, narrowing gaps between Israel and the Palestinians.