May 12 Watch 5:08 Qatar gifting Trump $400M luxury jet raises ethical and legal concerns By Geoff Bennett, Ian Couzens President Trump says the U.S. government is poised to accept an airplane from Qatar valued at nearly $400 million. He claims the 747 aircraft will replace the 40-year-old Air Force One. But the announcement has raised ethical and national security… Continue watching
May 12 WATCH: Asked about Qatar’s gift of luxury 747, Trump says ‘We give free things out, we’ll take one, too’ By Associated Press President Donald Trump on Monday defended Qatar’s gift of a plane as a “gesture of good faith.”… Continue reading
May 12 Trump will visit Gulf Arab states this week as pressing crises flare in Gaza and Iran By Jon Gambrell, Tia Goldenberg, Associated Press President Donald Trump will focus his attention on three energy-rich nations home to existing or planned Trump-branded real estate projects — places where he aims to leverage American economic interests to do what he personally revels in: making business deals. Continue reading
May 11 Trump reportedly set to accept a luxury jet from Qatar for possible use as Air Force One By Zeke Miller, Will Weissert, Associated Press The Qatari government acknowledged discussions between the two countries about “the possible transfer” of a plane to be used temporarily as Trump’s Air Force One, but denied that the jet “is being gifted” or that a final had been decision… Continue reading
Jan 11 Israel sending Mossad director to Qatar for Gaza ceasefire talks in sign of progress By Wafaa Shurafa, Natalie Melzer, Associated Press Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is sending the director of the Mossad foreign intelligence agency to ceasefire negotiations in Qatar, his office said Saturday, in a sign of progress in talks on the war in Gaza. Continue reading
Nov 09 Officials say Qatar is suspending its Gaza mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas By Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy, Matthew Lee, Associated Press Qatar has decided to suspend its key mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel, officials said Saturday, after growing frustration with the lack of progress on a cease-fire deal for Gaza. Continue reading
Oct 24 WATCH: Blinken says Israel-Hamas cease-fire talks may resume in the coming days By Wafaa Shurafa, Farnoush Amiri, Fatma Khaled, Associated Press Meanwhile, an Israeli strike on a school where displaced people were sheltering in the central Gaza Strip killed at least 17 people on Thursday, nearly all women and children, Palestinian medical officials said. Continue reading
Aug 20 Blinken ends latest Mideast visit without cease-fire for Gaza, warning ‘time is of the essence’ By Julia Frankel, Matthew Lee, Associated Press After meetings with officials in fellow mediating countries Egypt and Qatar, Blinken said that because Israel has accepted a proposal to bridge gaps with the militant group, the focus turns to doing everything possible to "get Hamas on board."… Continue reading
Aug 16 Mediators are preparing to implement Israel-Hamas cease-fire deal before final agreement, U.S. official says By Ravi Nessman, Associated Press The official said the proposal currently on the table basically bridges every gap between Israel and Hamas. Continue reading
Aug 16 Latest round of Gaza cease-fire talks conclude, will continue in Cairo next week By Ravi Nessman, Associated Press In a statement Friday, the United States, Egypt and Qatar said ceasefire talks were constructive and conducted in a positive atmosphere. Continue reading