Sep 21 Rice Visits Mideast as Precursor to Peace Summit By Admin, PBS News Hour Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited for two days with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ahead of a U.S.-sponsored peace conference tentatively scheduled for November. Continue reading
Jul 20 Israel Frees 250 Palestinian Prisoners in Nod to Moderate Leadership By Admin, PBS News Hour Israel released 256 Palestinian prisoners Friday as part of a plan to help bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in his ongoing power struggle with Hamas militants who now run the Gaza Strip. Continue reading
Jun 27 Former Prime Minister Tony Blair Named Middle East Envoy By Admin, PBS News Hour Just hours after stepping down as British prime minister Wednesday, Tony Blair was tapped by the European Union, Russia, the United States and the United Nations to head international efforts to bring peace to the Middle East. Continue reading
Jun 19 Watch President Bush, Israel’s Olmert Back Palestinian Fatah Group President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met Tuesday to discuss their support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah while looking ahead to the possibility of two separate Palestines. Foreign policy analysts comment on the situation. Continue watching
Jun 18 Watch U.S. to Lift Embargo on Palestinian Government The U.S. State Department said Monday it would lift an economic and political embargo on the Palestinian government following the expulsion of Hamas militants. Foreign policy analysts examine the development. Continue watching
Jun 15 Watch Hamas, Fatah Jockey for Control After Gaza Clashes In the wake of Hamas forces seizing control of much of the Gaza Strip from Fatah rivals, a Washington Post reporter updates what comes next in the continuing struggle to govern the Palestinian Authority. Continue watching
Jun 07 Watch Experts Assess Mideast Progress Four Decades After Six-Day War Forty years ago, Israel entered the Six-Day War, the beginning of the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Two regional experts give their perspectives on the Middle East then and now. Continue watching
May 16 Watch Palestinian Infighting Continues to Divide Gaza City Despite calls for a cease-fire, fighting between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah continued Wednesday, leaving 16 people dead. Two Middle East experts discuss the recent strife in Gaza City. Continue watching
May 15 Fighting Among Palestinians Reignites in Gaza By Admin, PBS News Hour Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for implementation of the government's security plan as clashes between rival factions Hamas and Fatah left at least 11 Palestinians dead Tuesday. Continue reading
May 03 Fledgling Palestinian Government Faces Internal, External Challenges By PBS News Hour Six weeks after its formation, the Palestinian unity government is struggling with many of the same challenges it faced at its inception, including a crippling economic embargo and continued tensions between leaders of rival parties. Continue reading