THE MIDDLE EAST, TURKEY & NORTH AFRICA ARCHIVE :

Please note : Most publications move older stories into their archives which may require a fee to view the full story. Some stories listed below may no longer be available online.

See also archives for Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan/Pakistan.

Christian Science Monitor, 09 Dec 10, by Kristen Chick
Gaza blockade over? Not according to the UN
'The UN's top representative in Gaza says building projects are being delayed because Israel is not allowing the free flow of construction materials into the territory.'

Christian Science Monitor, 07 Dec 10, by Joshua Mitnick
US admits defeat on Israeli settlement freeze. Can it still broker peace?
'In the wake of Argentina and Brazil's formal recognition of a Palestinian state, some are calling on the US to step in with a peace plan of its own.'

Christian Science Monitor, 08 Dec 10, by Joshua Mitnick
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators fault US focus on settlements
'Both sides, together with the US, appear to be regrouping after the Obama administration gave up on securing another settlement freeze.'

Washington Post, 16 Nov 10, by Janine Zacharia
Israeli officials say time growing short for West Bank peace deal
'Israeli intelligence and military officials have warned in recent days that if a peace deal isn't achieved soon the moderate Palestinian leadership in the West Bank could collapse and give way to more radical Hamas militants, backed by Iran and Syria, who already rule the Gaza Strip.'

Washington Post, 23 Oct 10, by Glenn Kessler and Janine Zacharia
Halt to Palestinian peace talks could become permanent
'In perhaps the shortest round of peace negotiations in the history of their conflict, talks between the Israelis and Palestinians have ground to a halt and show little sign of resuming.'

Christian Science Monitor, 20 Oct 10, by Joshua Mitnick
Palestinians mull alternatives to peace talks, including UN recognition
'Palestinians are discussing other options if peace talks fail. Chief among them is seeking recognition as a sovereign state from the UN.'

Bloomberg, 12 Oct 10, by Nicole Gaouette
Israel-Palestinian Peace Deal Is Still Possible Within a Year, U.S. Says
'“We believe this can be resolved in a year’s time,” State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley said yesterday. “We need the commitment from the two sides to stay in direct talks.”'

New York Times, 11 Oct 10, by Ethan Bronner
Netanyahu’s Moves Spark Debate on Intentions
'An offer on Monday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to freeze West Bank Jewish settlements in exchange for Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state — instantly rejected by the Palestinians — was the latest complex maneuver engendering debate about his intentions.'

Christian Science Monitor, 08 Oct 10, by Josh Mitnick
Arab League expected to demand settlement freeze before peace talks continue
'Israelis-Palestinian peace talks remain stalled over Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The Arab League is debating the matter ...'

New York Times, 05 Oct 10, by Mark Landler
Risks and Advantages in U.S. Effort in Mideast
'The generosity of American concessions to each side, and the sides’ reluctance to accept them, have been telling.'

New York Times, 30 Sep 10, by Mark Landler, Helene Cooper and Ethan Bronner
U.S. Presses Israelis on Renewal of Freeze
'The Obama administration is offering Israel security guarantees but is also weighing a fallback plan that could involve reaching out to the Palestinians, officials said.'

Christian Science Monitor, 28 Sep 10, by Dan Murphy
Mahmoud Abbas gives Israel a week to halt settlement expansion. Does he mean it this time?
'Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas backed down again on his threat to quit peace talks over Israeli settlement expansion, this time pending consultation with the Arab League Oct. 4.'

Christian Science Monitor, 27 Sep 10, by Nicholas Blanford
Why Palestinian refugees in Lebanon support violence rather than peace talks
'With little faith in Israeli-Palestinian talks, and largely unable to integrate into Lebanon, many Palestinian refugees see violence as the only way to secure their "right of return."'

Christian Science Monitor, 16 Sep 10, by Dan Murphy
Can ignoring Hamas lead to Israeli-Palestinian peace?
'Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls Gaza, is being ignored in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Some think that's a big mistake.'

Christian Science Monitor, 16 Sep 10, by Nicholas Blanford
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks under threat from Hamas. Can Syria help?
'US envoy George Mitchell arrived in Damascus today after Israeli-Palestinian peace talks culminated in Jerusalem. He may ask President Bashar Assad to lean on Hamas amid fresh Gaza air strikes.'

Washington Post, 16 Sep 10, by Glenn Kessler
Clinton wraps up Israeli-Palestinian talks -- for now
'Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday wrapped up three days of intense Middle East diplomacy that produced good atmospherics but no sign that an impasse over Israeli settlement construction has been resolved.'

Christian Science Monitor, 16 Sep 10, by Joshua Mitnick
Israel-Palestinian talks end without settlement deal: What happens next?
'Only two weeks remain before Israel's settlement freeze expires. With Palestinians threatening to quit the talks if construction resumes, negotiators have a fast-closing window ... to come up with an end game.'

Washington Post, 15 Sep 10, by Glenn Kessler
Israelis, Palestinians broaching tough topics
'Israeli and Palestinian leaders are delving very quickly into some of the most difficult issues dividing them, the U.S. special envoy to the region said in an unusually upbeat report.'

New York Times, 15 Sep 10, by Eric Schmitt and Scott Shane
Aid to Counter Al Qaeda in Yemen Divides U.S. Officials
'Senior State Department and American military officials are deeply divided over the pace and scale of military aid to Yemen, which is emerging as a crucial testing ground for the Obama administration’s approach to countering the threat from Al Qaeda.'

Christian Science Monitor, 15 Sep 10, by Dan Murphy
Israel: Phosphorus bombshells launched from Gaza
'Israeli officials said white phosphorus – an incendiary banned for offensive use under international law – was in two of nine mortar shells fired from Gaza into southern Israel. Israel itself has been accused of using the weapon in Gaza.'

New York Times, 19 Aug 10, by Mark Mazzetti and David E. Sanger
U.S. Assures Israel That Iran Threat Is Not Imminent
'The Obama administration, citing evidence of continued troubles inside Iran’s nuclear program, has persuaded Israel that it would take roughly a year — and perhaps longer — for Iran to complete what one senior official called a “dash” for a nuclear weapon, according to American officials.'

Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug 10, by Christa Case Bryant and Joshua Mitnick
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks look less likely as settlers fret over freeze
'As the US steps up pressure for Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is insisting on a extension of an Israeli settlement freeze set to expire next month. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that isn't likely, citing public opposition.'

Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug 10, by Dan Murphy
Is Israel really likely to attack Iran next summer?
'That's the argument in an Atlantic Monthly cover story out this week. Others say Israel is striking a tough pose on Iran to push the Obama administration toward taking action on its own.'

Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug 10, by Dan Murphy
Repercussions of an Israeli attack on Iran
'An Atlantic Monthly article argues there's a high chance of an Israeli attack on Iran next summer. What might happen next if they did?'

Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug 10, by Nicholas Blanford
If US cuts Lebanon Army aid, would Hezbollah's sponsor Iran step in?
'Iran, a key supporter of Hezbollah, offered to underwrite the Lebanese Army after a top US congressman said Monday he had blocked $100 million in military aid. But some doubt it would substantially fill the void.'

Washington Post, 12 Aug 10, by Joel Greenberg
Resistance on Gaza flotilla more than expected, Israeli military chief says
'Israel's military chief testifies that although troops had been trained for a violent confrontation, they lacked intelligence about the activists.'

Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug 10, by Omar Kasrawi and Sommer Saadi
Why Israeli-Palestinian conflicts over land turn epic
'The importance of place to Jewish and Muslim identity intensifies Israeli-Palestinian conflicts over land, as illustrated by the disputed construction of a museum affiliated with the Simon Wiesenthal Center on Jerusalem's Mamilla cemetery.'

Christian Science Monitor, 26 Jul 10, by Joshua Mitnick
Israel signals new cooperation with UN over Gaza flotilla
'As a fresh round of activist ships prepares to set sail from Lebanon, Israel and the UN have made conciliatory statements on the Gaza flotilla issue that could help repair the fraught relationship – although not completely.'

New York Times, 14 Jul 10, by Isabel Kershner
Cheer, Then Gloom, on Talks for Peace Deal in Mideast
'Weeks after an upbeat meeting between American and Israeli leaders, Palestinian analysts suggest that indirect Israeli-Palestinian talks have accentuated differences.'

Washington Post, 30 Jun 10, by Joel Greenberg
U.S. envoy welcomes Israeli steps to relax Gaza blockade
'Israeli officials here were keen to show George J. Mitchell, who is mediating another round of indirect Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, that steps have already been taken to increase the supply of goods to the coastal strip, which is ruled by the militant group Hamas.'

Washington Post, 25 Jun 10, by Janine Zacharia
Israeli President Shimon Peres: U.S. and other powers must engage Hamas on peace
'Israel has sought to isolate Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, and has urged allies to do the same. But how to deal with Hamas as a political reality has largely eluded the international community ...'

Christian Science Monitor, 20 Jun 10, Kristen Chick
PKK attacks: Turkey's leader vows to ‘annihilate’ Kurdish rebels
After the PKK attacks killed 12 Turkish soldiers this weekend, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday that his government will not rest until the Kurdish rebels are 'annihilated.'

Washington Post, 22 Jun 10, by Janine Zacharia
Top Israeli official pessimistic about U.S.-led Mideast peace talks
'[Israel's national security advisor] Arad described the Palestinians as "major actors in the de-legitimization of Israel" and questioned Israel's decision to back talks on Palestinian statehood in the first place.'

New York Times, 20 Jun 10, by Isabel Kershner
Israeli Easing of Blockade of Gaza Draws Praise of U.S.
'Bowing to worldwide pressure and condemnation, Israel on Sunday formally announced an eased blockade of Gaza that could significantly expand the flow of goods overland into the impoverished coastal Palestinian enclave, isolated by the Israelis for three years.'

Washington Post, 22 Jun 10, by Janine Zacharia
Israel's feeling of isolation is becoming more pronounced
'Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's ... decision to ease a blockade of the Gaza Strip, a concession to the United States and European allies, revealed the extent to which Israel lacks international support, analysts say.'

The Times, 12 Jun 10, by Hugh Tomlinson
Saudi Arabia gives Israel clear skies to attack Iranian nuclear sites
'In the week that the UN Security Council imposed a new round of sanctions on Tehran, defence sources in the Gulf say that Riyadh has agreed to allow Israel to use a narrow corridor of its airspace in the north of the country to shorten the distance for a bombing run on Iran.'

Christian Science Monitor, 12 Jun 10, by Sarah A. Topol
Yemen's elite female counter-terrorism force takes on Al Qaeda
'Combating the increasing threat of Al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula, the 42 women in Yemen's elite counter-terrorism unit do all the jobs that the men do, plus the jobs they won't do.'

Christian Science Monitor, 09 Jun 10, by Walter Rodgers
Rift between Israel and the United States: Flotilla incident didn't help
'A closer look at Jewish anger over President Obama’s policies after the flotilla raid incident.'

Christian Science Monitor, 07 Jun 10, by Joshua Mitnick and Scott Peterson
Will Gaza flotilla raid mark end of Turkey-Israel relations?
'Turkey called for an international investigation into the Israeli raid on the Gaza flotilla sent to break the aid blockade. At security meeting in Istanbul today, Turkey positioned itself as a leader in crafting a regional response. Turkey-Israel relations are fraying rapidly.'

Christian Science Monitor, 07 Jun 10, by Soli Ozel
Turkey’s emergence as a center power in the Middle East is a game changer
'Turkey and Israel today have such diverging visions for the Middle East that their policy preferences and approaches are increasingly irreconcilable.'

New York Times, 12 Jun 10, by Sabrina Tavernise
For Turkey, an Embrace of Iran Is a Matter of Building Bridges
'... why have the two countries been locked in a clumsy embrace, with Turkey openly defying the United States last week by voting against imposing new sanctions on Iran?'

Christian Science Monitor, 11 Jun 10, by Kristen Chick
Is Obama starting to prod Egypt on human rights?
'Many human rights and democracy activists in the Middle East are disillusioned with Obama's lack of action. But Egypt's acceptance today of 21 human rights recommendations after a visit by Vice President Biden may signal a shift.'

Christian Science Monitor, 07 Jun 10, by Laura Kasinof
US cluster bombs in Yemen: The right weapon in Al Qaeda fight?
'A June 7 report from Amnesty International offers photographs of US-made cluster bombs that it says were used in a December attack against suspected Al Qaeda members.'

New York Times, 04 Jun 10, by Mark Landler
Israel Faces Deepening Tensions With Turkey Over Raid, and Bond With U.S. Frays
'Tensions deepened between Turkey and Israel on Friday, and a new fissure threatened to open between the United States and Israel, as the three countries continued to deal with the fallout from Israel's deadly raid on a humanitarian aid flotilla off Gaza.'

Washington Post, 04 Jun 10, by Janine Zacharia
Israel's Netanyahu maintains defiance amid criticism over Gaza blockade
'Defiance has been a signature of Netanyahu's career, and despite the expectations of some commentators that he would be more conciliatory during his second go-round as prime minister, that has not been the case ...'

Washington Post, 04 Jun 10, by Glenn Kessler
Israel gives its account of raid on aid ship headed for Gaza
'The officials insist they had no choice but to enforce the blockade of Gaza, controlled by the Hamas militant group, because allowing selective ships to pass would have rendered it legally meaningless.'

New York Times, 03 Jun 10, by Isabel Kershner
Israel Signals New Flexibility on Gaza Shipments
'While still insisting that its blockade of Gaza is essential to its security, the Israeli government is now shifting its position, “exploring new ways” of allowing goods to reach the coastal enclave ...'

Washington Post, 03 Jun 10, by Scott Wilson and Glenn Kessler
U.S. urged Israel to use caution and restraint with aid boats heading to Gaza
'The Obama administration said Wednesday that it had warned Israel's government repeatedly to use "caution and restraint" with half a dozen aid boats bound for the Gaza Strip before Israeli commandos raided the flotilla this week in an operation that killed nine people.'

Washington Post, 31 May 10, by Sudarsan Raghavan
Former Libyan militants now wage battle within homeland to discredit al-Qaeda
'... Saadi and other top leaders of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group are now waging an ideological battle to de-radicalize extremists and discredit al-Qaeda.'

Washington Post, 24 May 10, by Janine Zacharia
Spat over Iran may further strain relations between allies U.S., Turkey
'This month's spat resulted not only because of ideological differences over the best way to deal with Iran's nuclear program, but also as a consequence of growing Turkish confidence as it seeks to assert itself as a regional power.'

Asia Times, 26 May 10, by Justin Vela
Iran issue forces Turkey to a crossroads
'Turkey's efforts to pull Iran back from the brink of international sanctions over its nuclear program are indicative of the "zero problem" foreign policy approach it has taken in recent years to enhance its regional standing. However, Ankara may soon face a final decision on Iran that forces it to choose between older military allies in the West and newer links it has forged to the East.'

Christian Science Monitor, 19 May 10, by Scott Peterson
Turkey's work on Iran nuclear deal shows emerging diplomatic power
'While the US has continued to press for UN Security Council sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, Turkey's high-profile role in brokering a nuclear deal with Tehran is just the latest sign of an emerging diplomatic power.'

Christian Science Monitor, 21 May 10, by Erin Cunningham and Safwat Kahlout
Hamas faces financial crisis after three-year Israeli blockade
'Laboring under an Israel blockade supported by Egypt, Hamas hasn't paid government employees full salaries for two months. It's also had to raise taxes, an unpopular move in the impoverished Gaza Strip.'

Christian Science Monitor, 20 May 10, by Joshua Mitnick
Why Israel supports watered-down Iran nuclear sanctions
'Israel says that Iran nuclear sanctions proposed to the UN Security Council are weaker than it would like, but the symbolism of international unity is important.'

BBC News, 12 May 10, by Barbara Plett
Could the Middle East become a nuclear-free zone?
'Western concerns about Iran's nuclear programme have so far dominated the latest UN conference on the treaty aimed at stopping the spread and stockpiling of nuclear weapons.'

Christian Science Monitor, 11 May 10, by Claire Duffett
Why Russia's Dmitry Medvedev is visiting Syria
'Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is visiting Syria as part of a bid to raise Russia's Mideast profile. He discussed possible atomic energy development, and called on Hamas to release captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.'

New York Times, 11 May 10, by Michael Slackman
Egyptian Emergency Law Is Extended for 2 Years
'After years of the government’s promising to end Egypt’s state of emergency, Parliament on Tuesday approved a government request to extend for two years its right to arrest people without charge, detain prisoners indefinitely, limit freedom of expression and assembly, and maintain a special security court.'

Christian Science Monitor, 07 May 10, by Nicholas Blanford
Hezbollah says it's ready for fresh war with Israel – and stronger now
'Driving through Hezbollah's stronghold in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, a veteran fighter says the militant group has made significant military advances since their last war with Israel in 2006: 'We have many other surprises for the Israelis.'

New York Times, 28 Apr 10, by Mark Landler
2 Officials and 2 Views on Discussing Mideast Peace
'In Washington, Israel’s defense minister and the mayor of Jerusalem presented differing views of the peace process.'

New York Times, 20 Apr 10, by Robert F. Worth
Lebanon Rejects Israel Accusations About Scuds
'Lebanon’s prime minister has dismissed Israeli accusations that Syria had been providing Scud missiles to the Hezbollah militia in his country ...'

New York Times, 08 Apr 10, by Ethan Bronner and Isabel Kershner
Netanyahu Cancels Trip to U.S. Nuclear Summit
'... Israeli news media reported that the prime minister feared that Muslim states were planning on using the occasion to raise the question of Israel’s nuclear arsenal. Israel is widely believed to be the only nuclear armed power in the Middle East, but it refuses to discuss the issue and has declined to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.'

Christian Science Monitor, 06 Apr 10, by Ilene R. Prusher
Erekat: US efforts to jumpstart Israeli-Palestinian talks hit 'dead end'
'Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, said today that Obama's efforts to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have hit a dead end. His comments reflect dwindling Palestinian hopes for a two-state solution.'

New York Times, 06 Apr 10, by Ethan Bronner
Palestinians Try a Less Violent Path to Resistance
'With both diplomacy and armed struggle out of favor for having failed to end the Israeli occupation, the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority, joined by the business community, is trying to forge a third way: to rouse popular passions while avoiding violence.'

Christian Science Monitor, 08 Apr 10, by Ilene R. Prusher
Press freedom vs. state security: Israel's Anat Kam faces jail for leaking army files
'Israel today lifted a gag order on Israeli media reporting on the case of Anat Kam, who allegedly passed up to 2,000 classified army documents to the newspaper Haaretz. The case has raised fresh questions about whether press freedom is being sacrificed for state security.'

Christian Science Monitor, 21 Mar 10, by Ilene R. Prusher
Netanyahu hits defiant note ahead of visit with Obama
Two days before he meets President Obama in Washington, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet Sunday that "building in Jerusalem is the same as building in Tel Aviv."'

Washington Post, 19 Mar 10, by Mary Beth Sheridan
Clinton: Netanyahu responds with 'useful, productive' ideas to defuse crisis
'Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday that she had received a "useful and productive" response from Israel after a tense standoff over a housing project threatened to derail plans for Middle East peace talks.'

Christian Science Monitor, 19 Mar 10, by Erin Cunningham
Hamas fails to rein in Gaza rocket attacks, prompting Israel strike
'After Gaza rocket attacks resulted in the first fatality since last year's war, Israeli warplanes carried out retaliatory air strikes on at least six targets overnight. Hamas is struggling to contain unaffiliated militants in Gaza.'

New York Times, 16 Mar 10, by Ethan Bronner
Israel Objects to U.S. Construction Demands
'The discord between the United States and Israel over Jewish building in East Jerusalem deepened Tuesday with Israeli officials saying they would reject demands by Washington and expressing anger over the public upbraiding of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by the Obama administration.'

Washington Post, 19 Mar 10, by Ellen Nakashima
Dismantling of Saudi-CIA Web site illustrates need for clearer cyberwar policies
'By early 2008, top U.S. military officials had become convinced that extremists planning attacks on American forces in Iraq were making use of a Web site set up by the Saudi government and the CIA to uncover terrorist plots in the kingdom.'

PBS NewsHour, 16 Mar 10, with Margaret Warner
Yemen Dispatch: Battling Insurgents
'Yemeni security forces are working on honing their counterterrorism tactics in the battle against a resurgent al-Qaeda affiliate in the region -- AQAP, or Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.'

Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar 10, by Kristen Chick
Mahmoud Abbas: Israel-Palestinian peace talks off unless new settlements canceled
'PA President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday that Israel-Palestinian peace talks are off unless Israel cancels 1,600 newly planned homes for East Jerusalem. US Vice President Biden encouraged talks to go forward.'

New York Times, 11 Mar 10, by Ethan Bronner
Biden to Leave Mideast Amid Unease
'[Biden] left Thursday amid increased uncertainty over the nature and timing of [Israeli-Palestinian peace talks] and with a sense of unease hanging over the American-Israeli relationship.'

Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar 10, by Kristen Chick and Tom A. Peter
Arab neighbors cast a wary eye on Iraq election results
'With the first Iraq election results coming in, Middle East countries are watching close and gauging what the vote means for their influence on the oil-rich state.'

Christian Science Monitor, 05 Mar 10, by Yigal Schleifer
Turkey: Why 'Armenian genocide' resolution may hurt US interests
'Turkey's deep emotional reaction to the 'Armenian genocide' resolution passed by a US congressional committee yesterday could have far-ranging implications for US policy in Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan.'

New York Times, 01 Mar 10, by Sabrina Tavernise
Army Ebbs, and Power Realigns in Turkey
'The detention of top military officers in Turkey last week was nothing less than a quiet piece of history. The military, long considered untouchable in Turkey, was pushed from its political pedestal with startling finality.'

PBS NewsHour, 25 Feb 10, with Margaret Warner
Turkish Military Leaders Released in Coup Probe
Turkey's Islamic leaders met with the chiefs of its secular armed forces Thursday to address Monday's arrest of more than 50 senior military officers on allegations that they planned to overthrow the government.'

Washington Post, 15 Feb 10, by Glenn Kessler
Clinton expected to seek Saudi Arabia's help in confronting Iran
'Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton begins a difficult diplomatic assignment Monday in Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally. By all accounts, President Obama's meeting with King Abdullah last year went poorly over misunderstandings on a variety of issues, and now Clinton seeks to rebuild ties.'

BBC News, 29 Jan 10, by Heather Sharp
Long history of Israel's 'covert killing'
'The Islamic movement Hamas claims that the death of one its senior commanders, Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, is the latest in Israel's history of assassinating individuals it believes to have been behind attacks on its citizens.'

Washington Post, 10 Feb 10, by Sudarsan Raghavan
Yemen's alliance with radical Sunnis in internal war poses complication for U.S.
'Even as it fights a U.S.-supported war against al-Qaeda militants here, the Yemeni government is engaging Islamist extremists who share an ideology similar to Osama bin Laden's in its own civil war, adding new complications to efforts to fight terrorism.'

Washington Post, 10 Feb 10, by Sudarsan Raghavan
Yemen security agency prone to inside threats, officials say
'U.S. and some Yemeni officials remain concerned that radical Islamists and corrupt officials who can be bought off by al-Qaeda still pervade the Political Security Organization, the country's largest security and intelligence agency, which is vital to America's counterterrorism initiatives here.'

Christian Science Monitor, 09 Feb 10, by Ilene R. Prusher
US pushes Israelis and Palestinians to 'proximity' peace talks
'With the prospect for direct peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians bleak, US peace negotiator George Mitchell is pushing for "proximity" talks that would see him or an aide shuttling between the two sides.'

Christian Science Monitor, 02 Feb 10, by Erin Cunningham
Hamas threatens to take fight against Israel beyond Gaza
'After blaming Israeli agents for assassinating a Hamas official in Dubai on Friday, Hamas said it too could broaden the conflict beyond Israel and Gaza. But analysts are doubtful Hamas can pull it off.'

Christian Science Monitor, 01 Feb 10, by Ilene R. Prusher
Israel admission on white phosphorus doesn't settle larger debate
'In its response to the Goldstone report, Israel revealed that two senior military officers have been reprimanded for using white phosphorus in Gaza. But that doesn't settle the larger debate over launching an independent commission.'

Washington Post, 27 Jan 10, by Dana Priest
U.S. military teams, intelligence deeply involved in aiding Yemen on strikes
'The operations, approved by President Obama and begun six weeks ago, involve several dozen troops from the U.S. military's clandestine Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), whose main mission is tracking and killing suspected terrorists. The American advisers do not take part in raids in Yemen, but help plan missions, develop tactics and provide weapons and munitions.'

BBC News, 28 Jan 10, by Jonathan Marcus
Can Friends of Yemen bring about stability?
'Yemen is a failing state that threatens not just to implode but to explode, exporting instability to the wider region and beyond.'

Christian Science Monitor, 27 Jan 10, by Caryle Murphy
View from Mt. Doud: Saudi Arabia says offensive against Yemen rebels over
'Saudi Arabia’s deputy defense minister Wednesday rejected Yemeni rebel claims that they had voluntarily withdrawn from Saudi territory, saying they had “been forced out” by the Saudi military.'

Christian Science Monitor, 21 Jan 10, by Caryle Murphy
Yemen: Why it’s a bigger problem for Saudi than US
'Like the US, Saudi Arabia is deeply concerned that if the complex web of social, economic, and political problems in this strategically located country are not soon addressed, Yemen could become a redoubt for Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) ...'

Washington Post, 20 Jan 10, by Karen DeYoung and Greg Jaffe
U.S. increases efforts to boost security in Yemen amid increasing terror threat
'Experienced fighters returning to Yemen from the Iraq war and radicalized U.S. citizens who have taken up residence in that country have broadened assessments of the threat posed by the al-Qaeda affiliate there, according to administration and congressional officials.'

Christian Science Monitor, 19 Jan 10, by Scott Peterson
Why Al Qaeda finds sympathy in Yemen
'The adage that “all politics is local” applies to each branch of Al Qaeda, as it does in Yemen, where Islamist militants can work with relative ease inside a tribal structure; and where weak government and a heavy hand in two other conflicts provides ready-made talking points.'

Christian Science Monitor, 19 Jan 10, by Ilene R. Prusher
Gaza war: Palestinians battle bitterly over Palestinian forces' conduct
'One year after the Gaza war, 11 Palestinian rights groups came together to ask leaders of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority to investigate the conduct of Palestinian forces during the war.'

BBC News, 21 Jan 10
Netanyahu demands future Israeli presence in West Bank
'Israel's prime minister has said it must maintain a presence along the eastern border of a future Palestinian state to stop the smuggling of weapons.'

Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jan 10, by Scott Peterson
Yemen intensifies fight against Al Qaeda
'Yemen forces killed an Al Qaeda cell leader in a firefight Tuesday night and pursued two dozen other militants in Shabwa Province. For the moment, the calculation of the Yemen government is to proactively challenge Al Qaeda – militarily and with aid.'

Christian Science Monitor, 11 Jan 10, by Scott Peterson
US walking a tightrope with its Yemen policy
'The US is ramping up military aid to Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country, in an effort to go after Al Qaeda linked militants. But too heavy a footprint, analysts warn, could prove a recruiting boon for militants.'

Washington Post, 08 Jan 10, by Sudarsan Raghavan
Yemen's internal divide complicates U.S. efforts against al-Qaeda, analysts say
'A hatred of the government in southern Yemen is complicating U.S.-backed efforts to stem al-Qaeda's ambitions across the region, according to Western and Yemeni officials, analysts and human rights activists.'

Washington Post, 08 Jan 10, by Sudarsan Raghavan
Yemen says there are limits to its military cooperation with United States
'In its strongest language yet, Yemen's government declared Thursday that there are limits to its military cooperation with the United States, warning that any direct U.S. action in this impoverished Middle Eastern nation could bolster the popularity of Islamist militants.'

Christian Science Monitor, 04 Jan 10, by Michael Horton
In Yemen, locals worry about Obama policy on Al Qaeda
'From smoky halls to the rugged mountains of Yemen, locals are worried that their country – threatened more by poverty and water shortages than terrorism, they say – could turn into another Afghanistan.'

New York Times, 04 Jan 10, by Steven Erlanger
In Yemen, U.S. Faces Leader Who Puts Family First
'President Ali Abdullah Saleh is amenable to U.S. support, but the reach of his bureaucracy is limited and his willingness to battle Al Qaeda is questionable.'

Christian Science Monitor, 29 Dec 09, by Dan Murphy
What other Al Qaeda-linked attacks have involved Yemen?
With mounting evidence that alleged airplane bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab received his explosives and guidance in Yemen, eyes are turning to the Arab country that has been the source of Al Qaeda-linked attacks in the past.

Christian Science Monitor, 04 Jan 10, by Jonathan Adams
New US plan sees Palestinian state in 2012 but Israel wary
'The latest US proposal for peace between Israel and Palestinians envisions a Palestinian state in two years, according to Egyptian officials. US Middle East envoy George Mitchell is expected to visit in the coming weeks.'

2009 Middle East and North Africa stories