US&nbspSecretary of State Mike Pompeo suggested on Monday he was open to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, saying a "two-party solution" was likely in his first extensive comments on peace efforts since taking the job last week.

"With respect to the two-state solution, the parties will ultimately make the decision. We are certainly open to a two-party solution as a likely outcome," he said at a news conference in Jordan after a visit to Israel.

"The Israelis and Palestinians need to have political engagement. We urge the Palestinians to return to that political dialogue," he added.

US&nbspPresident Donald Trump has said he would support a two-state solution, if the two sides agree, although he has stopped sort of re-asserting a U.S. commitment to eventual Palestinian statehood, a longtime bedrock of US&nbsppolicy. The White House is preparing a new Israeli-Palestinian peace plan.

Some 70 years after the creation of Israel, prospects for a Palestinian state appear dim. Israeli-Palestinian peace talks were based on the 1993 Oslo accords that envisaged a two-state solution.

Those talks have been stalled for years and Israel has built more settlements in the occupied territories, which it seized during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

Israel has refused any right of return for Palestinians who were expelled or fled and became refugees after the country declared independence in 1948, fearing it would lose its Jewish majority.

Israeli forces have killed dozens of Palestinians in recent weeks who were protesting in the Gaza Strip near the border with Israel to demand the return of refugees and their descendents. Israel says it is protecting its borders.

Palestinians have rejected U.S. peace-making efforts since Trump decided to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move its embassy to the city, wanted by Palestinians as capital of their own state.

VIOLENCE

Amman was Pompeo's last stop before he returns to Washington DC, where he has not yet entered the State Department. Moments after being sworn in as Secretary of State on Thursday, Pompeo immediately left for a meeting in Brussels, followed by a visit to allies in the Middle East.

"(The Mideast peace) is an incredible priority for the United States to provide whatever assistance we can to allow the two parties to come to a resolution on this incredibly long standing and important conflict," Pompeo said, standing alongside Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.

Pompeo also made his first comments on the violence along the Israel-Gaza Strip border, where Israeli forces have killed 42 Palestinians since protests began on March 30 and injured some 2,000 by gunfire. No serious casualties have been reported on the Israeli side.

"We do believe the Israelis have a right to defend themselves," he said.

The Palestinians say Israel has used excessive force, and its use of live fire has drawn international criticism.

Israel says it is protecting its borders and takes such action only when protesters, some hurling stones and rolling burning tires, or trying to lay explosives, come too close to the border fence.

Turning to Syria, he said the United States was "in perfect accord" with Jordan on Syria, including the preservation of a "de-escalation zone" in the south.

Pompeo said: "We believe there are many countries, including the United States, who will play an important political role in achieving the de-escalation and ultimate political resolution in Syria".

'With respect to the two-state solution, the parties will ultimately make the decision. We are certainly open to a two-party solution as a likely outcome,' Pompeo said

US&nbspSecretary of State Mike Pompeo suggested on Monday he was open to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, saying a "two-party solution" was likely in his first extensive comments on peace efforts since taking the job last week. "With respect to the two-state solution, the parties will ultimately make the decision. We are certainly open to a two-party solution as a likely outcome," he said at a news conference in Jordan after a visit to Israel. "The Israelis and Palestinians need to have political engagement. We urge the Palestinians to return to that political dialogue," he added. US&nbspPresident Donald Trump has said he would support a two-state solution, if the two sides agree, although he has stopped sort of re-asserting a U.S. commitment to eventual Palestinian statehood, a longtime bedrock of US&nbsppolicy. The White House is preparing a new Israeli-Palestinian peace plan. Some 70 years after the creation of Israel, prospects for a Palestinian state appear dim. Israeli-Palestinian peace talks were based on the 1993 Oslo accords that envisaged a two-state solution. Those talks have been stalled for years and Israel has built more settlements in the occupied territories, which it seized during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Israel has refused any right of return for Palestinians who were expelled or fled and became refugees after the country declared independence in 1948, fearing it would lose its Jewish majority. Israeli forces have killed dozens of Palestinians in recent weeks who were protesting in the Gaza Strip near the border with Israel to demand the return of refugees and their descendents. Israel says it is protecting its borders. Palestinians have rejected U.S. peace-making efforts since Trump decided to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move its embassy to the city, wanted by Palestinians as capital of their own state. VIOLENCE Amman was Pompeo's last stop before he returns to Washington DC, where he has not yet entered the State Department. Moments after being sworn in as Secretary of State on Thursday, Pompeo immediately left for a meeting in Brussels, followed by a visit to allies in the Middle East. "(The Mideast peace) is an incredible priority for the United States to provide whatever assistance we can to allow the two parties to come to a resolution on this incredibly long standing and important conflict," Pompeo said, standing alongside Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. Pompeo also made his first comments on the violence along the Israel-Gaza Strip border, where Israeli forces have killed 42 Palestinians since protests began on March 30 and injured some 2,000 by gunfire. No serious casualties have been reported on the Israeli side. "We do believe the Israelis have a right to defend themselves," he said. The Palestinians say Israel has used excessive force, and its use of live fire has drawn international criticism. Israel says it is protecting its borders and takes such action only when protesters, some hurling stones and rolling burning tires, or trying to lay explosives, come too close to the border fence. Turning to Syria, he said the United States was "in perfect accord" with Jordan on Syria, including the preservation of a "de-escalation zone" in the south. Pompeo said: "We believe there are many countries, including the United States, who will play an important political role in achieving the de-escalation and ultimate political resolution in Syria".

Pompeo says US open to 'two-party solution' for Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Israeli troops shot and killed three Palestinians along the border with the Gaza Strip in two separate incidents on Sunday, the Israeli military said.

The shootings follow a month of violence along the Israel-Gaza border, where Palestinians have been holding protests every Friday pressing for the right of return for refugees and their descendants to what is now Israel.

In the first incident on Sunday, two men "attempted to infiltrate" into Israel from the southern Gaza Strip, the military said in a statement. Soldiers shot and killed one of the men, and the other was wounded and held for questioning.

In the second incident, the army said, two militants who managed to cross the fence "hurled explosive devices" at Israeli soldiers, who shot them dead. There was no claim of responsibility from any militant group in Gaza.

Israel has refused any right of return for Palestinians who were expelled or fled and became refugees after the country declared independence in 1948, fearing that it would lose its Jewish majority.

Israeli forces have killed 42 Palestinians since protests began on March 30 and some 2,000 have been wounded by gunfire. No serious casualties have been reported on the Israeli side.

The Palestinians say Israel has used excessive force, and its use of live fire has drawn international criticism.

Israel says it is protecting its borders and takes such action only when protesters, some hurling stones and rolling burning tires, or trying to lay explosives, come too close to the border fence.

The Gaza Health Ministry said that three Palestinians were killed on Friday and 200 were wounded by Israeli gunfire, while a fourth died of his wounds on Saturday.

The Israeli military describes the protests as "riots," and says that some protesters have tried to breach the frontier, and to damage the border fence by setting it on fire.

The shootings follow a month of violence along the Israel-Gaza border, where Palestinians have been holding protests every Friday pressing for the right of return for refugees and their descendants to what is now Israel

Israeli troops shot and killed three Palestinians along the border with the Gaza Strip in two separate incidents on Sunday, the Israeli military said. The shootings follow a month of violence along the Israel-Gaza border, where Palestinians have been holding protests every Friday pressing for the right of return for refugees and their descendants to what is now Israel. In the first incident on Sunday, two men "attempted to infiltrate" into Israel from the southern Gaza Strip, the military said in a statement. Soldiers shot and killed one of the men, and the other was wounded and held for questioning. In the second incident, the army said, two militants who managed to cross the fence "hurled explosive devices" at Israeli soldiers, who shot them dead. There was no claim of responsibility from any militant group in Gaza. Israel has refused any right of return for Palestinians who were expelled or fled and became refugees after the country declared independence in 1948, fearing that it would lose its Jewish majority. Israeli forces have killed 42 Palestinians since protests began on March 30 and some 2,000 have been wounded by gunfire. No serious casualties have been reported on the Israeli side. The Palestinians say Israel has used excessive force, and its use of live fire has drawn international criticism. Israel says it is protecting its borders and takes such action only when protesters, some hurling stones and rolling burning tires, or trying to lay explosives, come too close to the border fence. The Gaza Health Ministry said that three Palestinians were killed on Friday and 200 were wounded by Israeli gunfire, while a fourth died of his wounds on Saturday. The Israeli military describes the protests as "riots," and says that some protesters have tried to breach the frontier, and to damage the border fence by setting it on fire.

Israeli military kills three Palestinians along Gaza Strip border

By:&nbsp;Mark Zeitoun and Ghassan Abu Sitta*

Gaza has often been invaded for its water. Every army leaving or entering the Sinai desert, whether Babylonians, Alexander the Great, the Ottomans, or the British, has sought relief there. But today the water of Gaza highlights a toxic situation that is spiralling out of control.

A combination of repeated Israeli attacks and the sealing of its borders by Israel and Egypt have left the territory unable to process its water or waste. Every drop of water swallowed in Gaza like every toilet flushed or antibiotic imbibed, returns to the environment in a degraded state.

When a hospital toilet is flushed, for instance, it seeps untreated through the sand into the aquifer. There it joins water laced with pesticides from farms, heavy metals from industry, and salt from the ocean.

It is then pumped back up by municipal or private wells, joined with a small fraction of freshwater purchased from Israel, and cycled back into people’s taps. This results in widespread contamination and undrinkable drinking water, about 90 per cent of which exceeds the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for salinity and chloride.

Incredibly, conditions are getting worse, thanks to the emergence of “superbugs”. These multi-drug resistant organisms have developed thanks to an over-prescription of antibiotics by doctors desperate to treat the victims of the seemingly endless assaults.

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<h5>Less regular access to clean water means infections will spread faster, bugs will be stronger, more antibiotics will be prescribed – and the victims will be ever-more weakened</h5>
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The more injury there is, the more chance there is of re-injury. Less regular access to clean water means infections will spread faster, bugs will be stronger, more antibiotics will be prescribed – and the victims will be ever-more weakened.

The result is what has been termed a toxic ecology or "biosphere of war", of which the noxious water cycle is just one part. A biosphere refers to the interaction of all living things with the natural resources that sustain them.

The point is that sanctions, blockades and a permanent state of war affect everything that humans might require in order to thrive, as water becomes contaminated, air is polluted, soil loses its fertility and livestock succumb to diseases. People in Gaza who may have evaded bombs or sniper fire have no escape from the biosphere.

War surgeons, health anthropologists and water engineers – including ourselves – have observed this situation developing wherever protracted armed conflict or economic sanctions grind on, as with water systems in Basrah and health systems throughout Iraq or Syria. It’s now well past time to clean it up.

There is water – for some

It's not as if there is no fresh water nearby to alleviate the situation in Gaza. Just a few hundred metres from the border are Israeli farms that use freshwater pumped from Lake Tiberias (the Sea of Galilee) to grow herbs destined for European supermarkets.

As the lake is around 200km to the north and lies 200 metres below sea level, a massive amount of energy is used to pump all that water. The lake water is also fiercely contested by Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Palestinians in the West Bank, each of which is seeking their legal entitlement to the Jordan River basin.

Meanwhile, Israel desalinates so much seawater these days that its municipalities are turning it down. Excess desalinated water is being used to irrigate crops, and the country’s water authority is even planning to use it to refill Tiberias itself – a bizarre and irrational cycle, considering the lake water continues to be pumped the other direction into the desert.

There is now so much manufactured water that some Israeli engineers can declare that "today, no one in Israel experiences water scarcity".

But the same cannot be said for Palestinians, especially not those in Gaza. People there have resorted to various ingenious filters, boilers, or under-the-sink or neighbourhood-level desalination units to treat their water. But these sources are unregulated, often full of germs, and just another reason children are prescribed antibiotics – thus continuing the pattern of injury and re-injury.

Doctors, nurses, and water maintenance crews meanwhile try to do the impossible with the minimal medical equipment at their disposal.

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Right now raw sewage is flowing into the Mediterranean Sea amid the Gaza Strip's electricity crisis. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/unrwalive?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#unrwalive</a> <a href="https://t.co/8ZT0Kv3OIG">pic.twitter.com/8ZT0Kv3OIG</a>
— UNRWA USA (@unrwausa) <a href="https://twitter.com/unrwausa/status/892024273182707716?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The implications for all those who invest in Gaza’s repeatedly destroyed water and health projects are clear. Providing more ambulances or water tankers – the "truck and chuck" strategy – might work when conflicts are at their most acute, but they are never more than a band-aid.

Yes, things will get better in the short term, but soon enough Gaza will be onto the next generation of antibiotics and dealing with Teflon-coated superbugs.

Donors must instead design programmes suited to the all-pervasive and incessant biosphere of war. This means training many more doctors and nurses, providing more medicines, and infrastructure support for health and water services.

More importantly, donors should build-in political “cover” to protect their investments (if not the local children), perhaps by calling for those who destroy the infrastructure to foot the bill for repairs.

And there is an even bigger message for the rest of us. Our research shows that war is more than simply armies and geopolitics – it extends across entire ecosystems.

If the dehumanising ideology behind the conflict was confronted, and if the excess water was diverted to people rather than to lakes, then the easily avoidable repeated injuries suffered by people in Gaza would become a thing of the past. Palestinians would soon find their biosphere a whole lot healthier.

*Mark Zeitoun is Professor of Water Security at the University of East Anglia, and former humanitarian-aid engineer throughout Africa and the Middle East and Ghassan Abu Sitta is a founder of the Conflict Medicine Program at the American University of Beirut, and has been a war surgeon throughout Europe and the Middle East.

(This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/gaza-now-has-a-toxic-biosphere-of-war-that-no-one-can-escape-95397">original article</a>.)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL

The water of Gaza highlights a toxic situation that is spiralling out of control.

By: Mark Zeitoun and Ghassan Abu Sitta* Gaza has often been invaded for its water. Every army leaving or entering the Sinai desert, whether Babylonians, Alexander the Great, the Ottomans, or the British, has sought relief there. But today the water of Gaza highlights a toxic situation that is spiralling out of control. A combination of repeated Israeli attacks and the sealing of its borders by Israel and Egypt have left the territory unable to process its water or waste. Every drop of water swallowed in Gaza like every toilet flushed or antibiotic imbibed, returns to the environment in a degraded state. When a hospital toilet is flushed, for instance, it seeps untreated through the sand into the aquifer. There it joins water laced with pesticides from farms, heavy metals from industry, and salt from the ocean. It is then pumped back up by municipal or private wells, joined with a small fraction of freshwater purchased from Israel, and cycled back into people’s taps. This results in widespread contamination and undrinkable drinking water, about 90 per cent of which exceeds the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for salinity and chloride. Incredibly, conditions are getting worse, thanks to the emergence of “superbugs”. These multi-drug resistant organisms have developed thanks to an over-prescription of antibiotics by doctors desperate to treat the victims of the seemingly endless assaults. Less regular access to clean water means infections will spread faster, bugs will be stronger, more antibiotics will be prescribed – and the victims will be ever-more weakened × The more injury there is, the more chance there is of re-injury. Less regular access to clean water means infections will spread faster, bugs will be stronger, more antibiotics will be prescribed – and the victims will be ever-more weakened. The result is what has been termed a toxic ecology or "biosphere of war", of which the noxious water cycle is just one part. A biosphere refers to the interaction of all living things with the natural resources that sustain them. The point is that sanctions, blockades and a permanent state of war affect everything that humans might require in order to thrive, as water becomes contaminated, air is polluted, soil loses its fertility and livestock succumb to diseases. People in Gaza who may have evaded bombs or sniper fire have no escape from the biosphere. War surgeons, health anthropologists and water engineers – including ourselves – have observed this situation developing wherever protracted armed conflict or economic sanctions grind on, as with water systems in Basrah and health systems throughout Iraq or Syria. It’s now well past time to clean it up. There is water – for some It's not as if there is no fresh water nearby to alleviate the situation in Gaza. Just a few hundred metres from the border are Israeli farms that use freshwater pumped from Lake Tiberias (the Sea of Galilee) to grow herbs destined for European supermarkets. As the lake is around 200km to the north and lies 200 metres below sea level, a massive amount of energy is used to pump all that water. The lake water is also fiercely contested by Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Palestinians in the West Bank, each of which is seeking their legal entitlement to the Jordan River basin. Meanwhile, Israel desalinates so much seawater these days that its municipalities are turning it down. Excess desalinated water is being used to irrigate crops, and the country’s water authority is even planning to use it to refill Tiberias itself – a bizarre and irrational cycle, considering the lake water continues to be pumped the other direction into the desert. There is now so much manufactured water that some Israeli engineers can declare that "today, no one in Israel experiences water scarcity". But the same cannot be said for Palestinians, especially not those in Gaza. People there have resorted to various ingenious filters, boilers, or under-the-sink or neighbourhood-level desalination units to treat their water. But these sources are unregulated, often full of germs, and just another reason children are prescribed antibiotics – thus continuing the pattern of injury and re-injury. Doctors, nurses, and water maintenance crews meanwhile try to do the impossible with the minimal medical equipment at their disposal. Things will get better in the short term, but soon enough Gaza will be onto the next generation of antibiotics and dealing with Teflon-coated superbugs × Right now raw sewage is flowing into the Mediterranean Sea amid the Gaza Strip's electricity crisis. #unrwalive pic.twitter.com/8ZT0Kv3OIG — UNRWA USA (@unrwausa) July 31, 2017 × The implications for all those who invest in Gaza’s repeatedly destroyed water and health projects are clear. Providing more ambulances or water tankers – the "truck and chuck" strategy – might work when conflicts are at their most acute, but they are never more than a band-aid. Yes, things will get better in the short term, but soon enough Gaza will be onto the next generation of antibiotics and dealing with Teflon-coated superbugs. Donors must instead design programmes suited to the all-pervasive and incessant biosphere of war. This means training many more doctors and nurses, providing more medicines, and infrastructure support for health and water services. More importantly, donors should build-in political “cover” to protect their investments (if not the local children), perhaps by calling for those who destroy the infrastructure to foot the bill for repairs. And there is an even bigger message for the rest of us. Our research shows that war is more than simply armies and geopolitics – it extends across entire ecosystems. If the dehumanising ideology behind the conflict was confronted, and if the excess water was diverted to people rather than to lakes, then the easily avoidable repeated injuries suffered by people in Gaza would become a thing of the past. Palestinians would soon find their biosphere a whole lot healthier. *Mark Zeitoun is Professor of Water Security at the University of East Anglia, and former humanitarian-aid engineer throughout Africa and the Middle East and Ghassan Abu Sitta is a founder of the Conflict Medicine Program at the American University of Beirut, and has been a war surgeon throughout Europe and the Middle East. (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL

Opinion: Gaza now has a toxic 'biosphere of war' that no one can escape

I saw a strange picture the other day.&nbsp;

The picture (above) was I thought at first of a man on his knees. In his hands, pointed upwards, he held a catapult.&nbsp;

The "weapon" was pulled back, ready to launch a projectile at someone or something.&nbsp;

Then, when I looked more closely, I saw crutches in the background.&nbsp;

I imagine then that the man was without a leg, or legs. The caption that went with the picture was frustratingly "incomplete" — it said something like "Palestinians clash with Israeli defence forces on the Gaza border" there was nothing about the man himself, or why there might have been crutches lying behind him.&nbsp;

Some 16 Palestinians were killed in the clashes.&nbsp;

I do not know what happened to the man in the picture.&nbsp;

But I think I know why he might have been launching stones at soldiers who have colonised his land. And I thought back then to another picture that we often use here at wionews.com to try and explain the situation in Kashmir.&nbsp;

Here it is:&nbsp;

<img alt="kashmir stone pelters-reuters_0.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="430" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/kashmir%20stone%20pelters-reuters_0.jpg" width="770" />

(Kashmiri schoolboys pelt stones at Indian security forces.)

&nbsp;

Here's another:&nbsp;

<img alt="kashmir stone pelters2-znn.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="400" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/kashmir%20stone%20pelters2-znn.jpg" width="700" />

(Kashmiri schoolgirls do the same.)

&nbsp;

I was in Kashmir after the killing of the young Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.&nbsp;

The valley had erupted in fury and as the Indian security forces clamped down on the protests that ensued, the bodies began to pile up. By the time that summer of gore ended, the death toll had touched a 100.&nbsp;

Early one morning we left for south Kashmir, the hotbed of the protests.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/in-and-a-difficult-out-of-south-kashmir-3206">In and a difficult out of South Kashmir</a>

We were in time directed to the village of Hillerbhai Kokernag in Anantnag where, we were told, a man had been shot dead by the CRPF the previous day.&nbsp;

When we got there, an announcement was made over the loudspeaker atop the village mosque. It said the media were here and that the villagers should come out and speak to us.&nbsp;

The gathering suddenly morphed into a protest.&nbsp;

A young boy was lifted onto the crowd’s shoulders. He would chant a line ("India, India") and the crowd would shout another back in unison ("Go back, go back").&nbsp;

The chanting went on for a long time.&nbsp;

When it finally began to lull, the women joined in, and it picked up again.&nbsp;

"How does a crowd chant for so long? What keeps it going?" I had written then.&nbsp;

The answer is simple.&nbsp;

Like the Palestinian man with the crutches, or the Kashmiri schoolchildren in the other pictures, the villagers of Hillerbhai Kokernag believe soldiers have colonised their land. And from what I saw, I imagine they will stop at nothing to throw them out.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/story-most-kashmiri-men-tell-i-was-beaten-by-security-forces-3124">Story most Kashmiri men tell: 'I was beaten by security forces'</a>

We have already been warned of that.&nbsp;

India's security forces recently killed 13 Kashmiri militants in one day. The killings were dubbed the Indian Army's "greatest success" in over a decade.&nbsp;

But a day or two later, a commentator gently reminded us that we might be barking up the wrong tree. And that what we are forgetting is that along with the 13 militants, three civilians were also killed, and that another was reportedly used as a human shield by the security forces.&nbsp;

And, that 50 civilians were injured in clashes that broke out between the security forces and locals after the encounters. The civilians, the commentator said, were showing "solidarity" with the militants.&nbsp;

That he said was the bigger battle. The one against the "people". That everyone in Kashmir knows the militants are no match for the Indian military.&nbsp;

But how do you beat a boy or a crippled man with a stone, even if you're armed with a gun?&nbsp;

And when an entire people pick up stones against you, that battle is unwinnable.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author&nbsp;and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

How do you beat a boy or a crippled man with a stone, even if you're armed with a gun?

I saw a strange picture the other day. The picture (above) was I thought at first of a man on his knees. In his hands, pointed upwards, he held a catapult. The "weapon" was pulled back, ready to launch a projectile at someone or something. Then, when I looked more closely, I saw crutches in the background. I imagine then that the man was without a leg, or legs. The caption that went with the picture was frustratingly "incomplete" — it said something like "Palestinians clash with Israeli defence forces on the Gaza border" there was nothing about the man himself, or why there might have been crutches lying behind him. Some 16 Palestinians were killed in the clashes. I do not know what happened to the man in the picture. But I think I know why he might have been launching stones at soldiers who have colonised his land. And I thought back then to another picture that we often use here at wionews.com to try and explain the situation in Kashmir. Here it is: (Kashmiri schoolboys pelt stones at Indian security forces.) Here's another: (Kashmiri schoolgirls do the same.) I was in Kashmir after the killing of the young Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. The valley had erupted in fury and as the Indian security forces clamped down on the protests that ensued, the bodies began to pile up. By the time that summer of gore ended, the death toll had touched a 100. Early one morning we left for south Kashmir, the hotbed of the protests. Also read: In and a difficult out of South Kashmir We were in time directed to the village of Hillerbhai Kokernag in Anantnag where, we were told, a man had been shot dead by the CRPF the previous day. When we got there, an announcement was made over the loudspeaker atop the village mosque. It said the media were here and that the villagers should come out and speak to us. The gathering suddenly morphed into a protest. A young boy was lifted onto the crowd’s shoulders. He would chant a line ("India, India") and the crowd would shout another back in unison ("Go back, go back"). The chanting went on for a long time. When it finally began to lull, the women joined in, and it picked up again. "How does a crowd chant for so long? What keeps it going?" I had written then. The answer is simple. Like the Palestinian man with the crutches, or the Kashmiri schoolchildren in the other pictures, the villagers of Hillerbhai Kokernag believe soldiers have colonised their land. And from what I saw, I imagine they will stop at nothing to throw them out. Story most Kashmiri men tell: 'I was beaten by security forces' We have already been warned of that. India's security forces recently killed 13 Kashmiri militants in one day. The killings were dubbed the Indian Army's "greatest success" in over a decade. But a day or two later, a commentator gently reminded us that we might be barking up the wrong tree. And that what we are forgetting is that along with the 13 militants, three civilians were also killed, and that another was reportedly used as a human shield by the security forces. And, that 50 civilians were injured in clashes that broke out between the security forces and locals after the encounters. The civilians, the commentator said, were showing "solidarity" with the militants. That he said was the bigger battle. The one against the "people". That everyone in Kashmir knows the militants are no match for the Indian military. But how do you beat a boy or a crippled man with a stone, even if you're armed with a gun? And when an entire people pick up stones against you, that battle is unwinnable. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: In Kashmir and Palestine, the stone is mightier than the gun

Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Sunday there were "no innocent people" in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip after 10 days of protests and clashes left 30 Palestinians dead.

"There are no innocent people in the Gaza Strip," Lieberman told Israel's public radio.

"Everyone's connected to Hamas, everyone gets a salary from Hamas, and all the activists trying to challenge us and breach the border are Hamas military wing activists."

Israel has faced mounting questions over its use of live fire after 10 days of protests and clashes along the Gaza Strip border in which its forces have killed 30 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry.

Violence spiked again on Friday, when clashes erupted as thousands protested along the border, and nine Palestinians, including a journalist, were killed.

On March 30, Israeli forces killed 19 Palestinians as a protest by tens of thousands led to clashes.

There have been no reported Israeli casualties.

Israel says it has only opened fire when necessary to stop damage to the border fence, infiltrations and attempted attacks.

It alleges Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip and with whom it has fought three wars since 2008, is seeking to use the protests as cover to carry out violence.

But rights groups have harshly criticised Israeli soldiers' actions, and Palestinians say protesters are being shot while posing no threat to troops.

The European Union and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have called for an independent investigation, which Israel has rejected.

On Saturday, the European Union raised questions over whether Israeli troops engaged in "proportionate use of force".

Israel has faced mounting questions over its use of live fire after 10 days of protests and clashes along the Gaza Strip border in which its forces have killed 30 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry

Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Sunday there were "no innocent people" in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip after 10 days of protests and clashes left 30 Palestinians dead. "There are no innocent people in the Gaza Strip," Lieberman told Israel's public radio. "Everyone's connected to Hamas, everyone gets a salary from Hamas, and all the activists trying to challenge us and breach the border are Hamas military wing activists." Israel has faced mounting questions over its use of live fire after 10 days of protests and clashes along the Gaza Strip border in which its forces have killed 30 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry. Violence spiked again on Friday, when clashes erupted as thousands protested along the border, and nine Palestinians, including a journalist, were killed. On March 30, Israeli forces killed 19 Palestinians as a protest by tens of thousands led to clashes. There have been no reported Israeli casualties. Israel says it has only opened fire when necessary to stop damage to the border fence, infiltrations and attempted attacks. It alleges Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip and with whom it has fought three wars since 2008, is seeking to use the protests as cover to carry out violence. But rights groups have harshly criticised Israeli soldiers' actions, and Palestinians say protesters are being shot while posing no threat to troops. The European Union and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have called for an independent investigation, which Israel has rejected. On Saturday, the European Union raised questions over whether Israeli troops engaged in "proportionate use of force".

Israel defence minister says 'no innocent people' in Gaza

Palestinians readied Thursday for new protests along the Gaza border and Israel warned that its open-fire rules would not change as fears of fresh violence rose a week after the bloodiest day in years.

Thousands of Palestinians are again expected to gather at five spots near the Gaza border on Friday, while Israeli soldiers and snipers will take up positions on the other side of the fence.

Protest organisers said they were planning to try to stop smaller numbers of protesters approaching the fence and hurling stones or rolling burning tyres at Israeli troops, who killed 18 Palestinians last Friday.

It was the bloodiest day since a 2014 war. Another two Gazans have been killed since.

But widespread social media calls for protesters to bring tyres to burn and Israel's pledge to prevent damage to the fence and infiltration attempts have raised fears of more deaths.

Young Palestinians have been gathering tyres and carting them near the border to burn and create a smokescreen to make it harder for Israeli snipers.

Some have been walking the streets collecting money to buy tyres.

Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman vowed that open-fire rules would not change.

"If there are provocations, there will be a reaction of the harshest kind like last week," Lieberman told public radio.

"We do not intend to change the rules of engagement."

'A mistake' 
Last Friday's protest near the Gaza border was attended by tens of thousands of Palestinians.&nbsp;

A smaller number strayed from the main protest and approached the heavily fortified fence on the border with Israel.

Israel says troops opened fire only when necessary against those throwing stones and firebombs or rolling tyres at soldiers.

It said there were attempts to damage the fence and infiltrate Israel, while alleging there was also an attempted gun attack against soldiers along the border.

It accuses Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip and with whom it has fought three wars since 2008, of using the protests as cover to carry out violence.

But questions have mounted over Israel's use of live fire, with Palestinians saying protesters were fired on while posing no threat to soldiers.

Rights groups have criticised the army's actions, while the European Union and UN chief Antonio Guterres have called for an independent investigation.

Human Rights Watch called the deaths "calculated" and illegal.

On Thursday, an Israeli rights group launched a prominent campaign calling on soldiers to refuse to fire on unarmed Palestinians.

The campaign led Israel's public security minister to suggest the rights group, B'Tselem, should be investigated for calling for sedition.

Hamas has meanwhile offered compensation of $3,000 to the families of protesters killed and $500 for those seriously injured.

The protests calling for Palestinian refugees to be able to return to their former lands in what is now Israel are supposed to last six weeks, coinciding with the expected opening of the new US embassy in Jerusalem in mid-May.

The US embassy move has led to deep anger among Palestinians, who see the annexed eastern sector of Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

Asaad abu Sharkh, a spokesman and member of the organising committee of the protests dubbed the Great March of Return, said better attempts will be made on Friday to keep Gazans from approaching the fence.

"I think this was a mistake, a mistake of organisation from us because we shouldn't have let people (go to the border)," he said.&nbsp;

"But at the same time we were not expecting the Israelis to shoot to kill."&nbsp;

He added that "I don't think there is going to be another massacre."

Israel says more than half of the dead were members of militant groups, including the armed wing of Hamas.&nbsp;

Hamas's armed wing has claimed only five of them, saying they were participating "in popular events side-by-side with their people".

Militant group Islamic Jihad has claimed at least one of the dead as a member, but said he was not carrying a weapon when he was shot.

'To Jerusalem we go' 
Smaller protests have continued since Friday, while preparations for the large demonstration for this coming Friday have also been underway.

On Wednesday, a few hundred people gathered near the border east of Gaza City, with some performing the traditional Palestinian dabke dance near specially erected tents.

A newly married couple celebrated by driving near the crowd, while a group of children sang the Palestinian chant of "To Jerusalem we go, with millions of martyrs."

Closer to the fence, dozens of mostly young men hurled stones in the direction of Israeli soldiers leaning over a ridge on the other side of the dusty border.

A 50-year-old, who would only give his name as Abu Mohammed, was trying in vain to reflect the light off a small mirror into the snipers' eyes.

Like other protesters, 21-year-old Mutassim Abu Qumboz cited the crippled economy in the blockaded enclave as his reason for coming out.

He said he knew the protest was unlikely to achieve anything in the short term, but "we will send a message."

Thousands of Palestinians are again expected to gather at five spots near the Gaza border on Friday, while Israeli soldiers and snipers will take up positions on the other side of the fence

Palestinians readied Thursday for new protests along the Gaza border and Israel warned that its open-fire rules would not change as fears of fresh violence rose a week after the bloodiest day in years. Thousands of Palestinians are again expected to gather at five spots near the Gaza border on Friday, while Israeli soldiers and snipers will take up positions on the other side of the fence. Protest organisers said they were planning to try to stop smaller numbers of protesters approaching the fence and hurling stones or rolling burning tyres at Israeli troops, who killed 18 Palestinians last Friday. It was the bloodiest day since a 2014 war. Another two Gazans have been killed since. But widespread social media calls for protesters to bring tyres to burn and Israel's pledge to prevent damage to the fence and infiltration attempts have raised fears of more deaths. Young Palestinians have been gathering tyres and carting them near the border to burn and create a smokescreen to make it harder for Israeli snipers. Some have been walking the streets collecting money to buy tyres. Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman vowed that open-fire rules would not change. "If there are provocations, there will be a reaction of the harshest kind like last week," Lieberman told public radio. "We do not intend to change the rules of engagement." 'A mistake' Last Friday's protest near the Gaza border was attended by tens of thousands of Palestinians. A smaller number strayed from the main protest and approached the heavily fortified fence on the border with Israel. Israel says troops opened fire only when necessary against those throwing stones and firebombs or rolling tyres at soldiers. It said there were attempts to damage the fence and infiltrate Israel, while alleging there was also an attempted gun attack against soldiers along the border. It accuses Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip and with whom it has fought three wars since 2008, of using the protests as cover to carry out violence. But questions have mounted over Israel's use of live fire, with Palestinians saying protesters were fired on while posing no threat to soldiers. Rights groups have criticised the army's actions, while the European Union and UN chief Antonio Guterres have called for an independent investigation. Human Rights Watch called the deaths "calculated" and illegal. On Thursday, an Israeli rights group launched a prominent campaign calling on soldiers to refuse to fire on unarmed Palestinians. The campaign led Israel's public security minister to suggest the rights group, B'Tselem, should be investigated for calling for sedition. Hamas has meanwhile offered compensation of $3,000 to the families of protesters killed and $500 for those seriously injured. The protests calling for Palestinian refugees to be able to return to their former lands in what is now Israel are supposed to last six weeks, coinciding with the expected opening of the new US embassy in Jerusalem in mid-May. The US embassy move has led to deep anger among Palestinians, who see the annexed eastern sector of Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. Asaad abu Sharkh, a spokesman and member of the organising committee of the protests dubbed the Great March of Return, said better attempts will be made on Friday to keep Gazans from approaching the fence. "I think this was a mistake, a mistake of organisation from us because we shouldn't have let people (go to the border)," he said. "But at the same time we were not expecting the Israelis to shoot to kill." He added that "I don't think there is going to be another massacre." Israel says more than half of the dead were members of militant groups, including the armed wing of Hamas. Hamas's armed wing has claimed only five of them, saying they were participating "in popular events side-by-side with their people". Militant group Islamic Jihad has claimed at least one of the dead as a member, but said he was not carrying a weapon when he was shot. 'To Jerusalem we go' Smaller protests have continued since Friday, while preparations for the large demonstration for this coming Friday have also been underway. On Wednesday, a few hundred people gathered near the border east of Gaza City, with some performing the traditional Palestinian dabke dance near specially erected tents. A newly married couple celebrated by driving near the crowd, while a group of children sang the Palestinian chant of "To Jerusalem we go, with millions of martyrs." Closer to the fence, dozens of mostly young men hurled stones in the direction of Israeli soldiers leaning over a ridge on the other side of the dusty border. A 50-year-old, who would only give his name as Abu Mohammed, was trying in vain to reflect the light off a small mirror into the snipers' eyes. Like other protesters, 21-year-old Mutassim Abu Qumboz cited the crippled economy in the blockaded enclave as his reason for coming out. He said he knew the protest was unlikely to achieve anything in the short term, but "we will send a message."

Fresh fears of violence ahead of new Gaza protest

Gazans buried their dead on Saturday with calls for "revenge" a day after a mass protest led to clashes that saw Israeli forces kill 16 Palestinians in the bloodiest day since a 2014 war.

The angry funeral scenes came as the United States blocked a draft UN Security Council statement urging restraint and calling for an investigation into the clashes.

Only several hundred protesters returned to tents erected at sites near the Gaza Strip's border with Israel to resume demonstrations planned to last six weeks in the blockaded enclave.

On the diplomatic front, UN chief Antonio Guterres and European Union diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini called for an "independent and transparent investigation" into Israel's use of live ammunition.

But a motion put forward before the UN Security Council by Kuwait late Saturday calling for such a move was rejected by the United States, a Security Council diplomat told AFP.

Israel defended the army fire at Palestinians who broke away from the main protest of tens of thousands and neared the heavily fortified fence around the Gaza Strip.

"Well done to our soldiers," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote in a statement Saturday.

"Israel acts vigorously and with determination to protect its sovereignty and the security of its citizens."

An Israeli military spokesman said Friday's events were "not a protest demonstration" but "organised terrorist activity" by Hamas, which has fought three wars with Israel since 2008.

"If it continues, we shall have no choice but to respond inside the Gaza Strip against terrorist targets which we understand to be behind these events," said Brigadier General Ronen Manelis.

Gaza's health ministry said 35 people suffered wounds that were not life-threatening in low-level clashes along the border on Saturday.

Thousands attended funerals for 14 of those killed -- two were buried on Friday -- with mourners holding Palestinian flags and some chanting "revenge" and firing into the air.

&nbsp

Pressure for inquiry 
The armed wing of Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip, said five of those killed were its members who were participating "in popular events side-by-side with their people."

The Israeli army said in a statement Saturday night that 10 of the dead had "documented terror backgrounds" in Hamas and other groups and were killed "whilst carrying out acts of terror."

In addition to the 16 Palestinians killed, more than 1,400 were wounded Friday, 758 of them by live fire, with the remainder hurt by rubber bullets and tear gas inhalation, according to the health ministry in Gaza.

The Israeli military says its forces opened fire only when necessary against those throwing stones and firebombs or rolling tyres at soldiers.

It said there were attempts to damage the fence and break through into Israel, as well as an attempted gun attack against troops.

No casualties were reported among Israelis.

Palestinians accused Israel of using disproportionate force, saying its soldiers opened fire on protesters who did not pose a threat, while human rights groups questioned Israel's use of live fire.

Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman issued a scornful rejection of demands for a probe.

"I do not understand the chorus of hypocrites who want a commission of inquiry," he posted in Hebrew on his Twitter account.

"They got confused and thought Hamas organised a Woodstock Festival yesterday and that we should give them flowers."

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas declared Saturday a day of national mourning and in a speech said he held Israel fully responsible for the deaths.

&nbsp

US 'cover for Israel' 
The six-week protest is in support of Palestinian refugees and the timetable holds significance for a range of reasons that have added to tensions.

It began on Land Day, when Palestinians commemorate the killing of six unarmed Arab protesters in Israel in 1976.

Protests will continue until the United States opens its new Jerusalem embassy around May 14, a move that has enraged Palestinians, who see the city's annexed eastern sector as the capital of their future state.

May 14 will also mark 70 years since the creation of Israel, while Palestinians will mark what they call the Nakba, or "catastrophe," the following day.

The Nakba commemorates the more than 700,000 Palestinians who either fled or were expelled from their homes in the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948.

US President Donald Trump has harshly criticised the Palestinians in the past, but the State Department said only that it was "deeply saddened" by the loss of life and urged steps to lower tensions.

Human Rights Watch called calling the number of killed and wounded "shocking".

"Israeli allegations of violence by some protesters do not change the fact that using lethal force is banned by international law except to meet an imminent threat to life," the New York-based group said.

Israel had deployed troop reinforcements along the border, including more than 100 special forces snipers, saying it would prevent attempts to break through the fence.

Protests along the border are common, often involving young Palestinian men throwing stones at Israeli soldiers who respond with tear gas along with rubber and live bullets.

But the "March of Return" protest that began on Friday is on a larger scale and intended to involve families with women and children camping in tent cities near the border for weeks.

A mass protest led to clashes that saw Israeli forces kill 16 Palestinians, the highest number of casualties in one day since a 2014 war

Gazans buried their dead on Saturday with calls for "revenge" a day after a mass protest led to clashes that saw Israeli forces kill 16 Palestinians in the bloodiest day since a 2014 war. The angry funeral scenes came as the United States blocked a draft UN Security Council statement urging restraint and calling for an investigation into the clashes. Only several hundred protesters returned to tents erected at sites near the Gaza Strip's border with Israel to resume demonstrations planned to last six weeks in the blockaded enclave. On the diplomatic front, UN chief Antonio Guterres and European Union diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini called for an "independent and transparent investigation" into Israel's use of live ammunition. But a motion put forward before the UN Security Council by Kuwait late Saturday calling for such a move was rejected by the United States, a Security Council diplomat told AFP. Israel defended the army fire at Palestinians who broke away from the main protest of tens of thousands and neared the heavily fortified fence around the Gaza Strip. "Well done to our soldiers," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote in a statement Saturday. "Israel acts vigorously and with determination to protect its sovereignty and the security of its citizens." An Israeli military spokesman said Friday's events were "not a protest demonstration" but "organised terrorist activity" by Hamas, which has fought three wars with Israel since 2008. "If it continues, we shall have no choice but to respond inside the Gaza Strip against terrorist targets which we understand to be behind these events," said Brigadier General Ronen Manelis. Gaza's health ministry said 35 people suffered wounds that were not life-threatening in low-level clashes along the border on Saturday. Thousands attended funerals for 14 of those killed -- two were buried on Friday -- with mourners holding Palestinian flags and some chanting "revenge" and firing into the air. Pressure for inquiry The armed wing of Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip, said five of those killed were its members who were participating "in popular events side-by-side with their people." The Israeli army said in a statement Saturday night that 10 of the dead had "documented terror backgrounds" in Hamas and other groups and were killed "whilst carrying out acts of terror." In addition to the 16 Palestinians killed, more than 1,400 were wounded Friday, 758 of them by live fire, with the remainder hurt by rubber bullets and tear gas inhalation, according to the health ministry in Gaza. The Israeli military says its forces opened fire only when necessary against those throwing stones and firebombs or rolling tyres at soldiers. It said there were attempts to damage the fence and break through into Israel, as well as an attempted gun attack against troops. No casualties were reported among Israelis. Palestinians accused Israel of using disproportionate force, saying its soldiers opened fire on protesters who did not pose a threat, while human rights groups questioned Israel's use of live fire. Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman issued a scornful rejection of demands for a probe. "I do not understand the chorus of hypocrites who want a commission of inquiry," he posted in Hebrew on his Twitter account. "They got confused and thought Hamas organised a Woodstock Festival yesterday and that we should give them flowers." Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas declared Saturday a day of national mourning and in a speech said he held Israel fully responsible for the deaths. US 'cover for Israel' The six-week protest is in support of Palestinian refugees and the timetable holds significance for a range of reasons that have added to tensions. It began on Land Day, when Palestinians commemorate the killing of six unarmed Arab protesters in Israel in 1976. Protests will continue until the United States opens its new Jerusalem embassy around May 14, a move that has enraged Palestinians, who see the city's annexed eastern sector as the capital of their future state. May 14 will also mark 70 years since the creation of Israel, while Palestinians will mark what they call the Nakba, or "catastrophe," the following day. The Nakba commemorates the more than 700,000 Palestinians who either fled or were expelled from their homes in the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948. US President Donald Trump has harshly criticised the Palestinians in the past, but the State Department said only that it was "deeply saddened" by the loss of life and urged steps to lower tensions. Human Rights Watch called calling the number of killed and wounded "shocking". "Israeli allegations of violence by some protesters do not change the fact that using lethal force is banned by international law except to meet an imminent threat to life," the New York-based group said. Israel had deployed troop reinforcements along the border, including more than 100 special forces snipers, saying it would prevent attempts to break through the fence. Protests along the border are common, often involving young Palestinian men throwing stones at Israeli soldiers who respond with tear gas along with rubber and live bullets. But the "March of Return" protest that began on Friday is on a larger scale and intended to involve families with women and children camping in tent cities near the border for weeks.

Gaza sees bloodiest day in years

Israel rejected calls for an independent probe on Sunday after its soldiers killed 16 Palestinians and wounded hundreds more when a major demonstration led to clashes along the border with the Gaza Strip.

Israel's military has faced questions from rights groups over its use of live fire on Friday, the bloodiest day in the conflict since a 2014 war, while Palestinians accuse soldiers of firing on protesters posing no threat.

Both UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini have called for an independent investigation.

On Saturday, the United States blocked a draft UN Security Council statement urging restraint and calling for an investigation of the violence, diplomats said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised soldiers' actions for "guarding the country's borders," while Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the protests were not a "Woodstock festival".

Lieberman said calls for an independent investigation were hypocritical and on Sunday repeated his rejection of such an investigation.

"There will be no commission of inquiry," he told Israel's public radio.

"There will be no such thing here. We shall not cooperate with any commission of inquiry."

Netanyahu also hit back at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over his sharp criticism of what he called Israel's "inhumane attack" in Gaza.

"The most moral army in the world will not be lectured to on morality from someone who for years has been bombing civilians indiscriminately," Netanyahu tweeted.

He has previously labelled Erdogan as someone who "bombs Kurdish villagers".

Hard to believe

On Friday Israeli troops opened fire on Palestinians who strayed from a main protest camp attended by tens of thousands and approached the heavily fortified fence cutting off the blockaded Gaza Strip.

The military has defended the soldiers' action and said they opened fire only when necessary against those throwing stones and firebombs or rolling tyres at soldiers.

It said there were attempts to damage the fence and infiltrate Israel, while alleging there was also an attempted gun attack against soldiers along the border.

Israel accuses Hamas, the Islamist group that runs Gaza and with whom it has fought three wars since 2008, of using the protest as cover to carry out violence.

In addition to the 16 Palestinians killed, more than 1,400 were wounded Friday, 758 of them by live fire, with the remainder hurt by rubber bullets and tear gas inhalation, the health ministry in Gaza said.

No casualties were reported among Israelis.

The armed wing of Hamas said five of those killed were its members who were participating "in popular events side-by-side with their people".

The Israeli army alleges 10 of the dead had "documented terror backgrounds" in Hamas and other groups and were killed "whilst carrying out acts of terror".

Unverified videos being shared online have fuelled the debate, including one appearing to show a protester running with a tyre being shot while seeming to pose no threat.

Israel's army has issued a statement saying footage is being "edited and fabricated," without referring to specific videos.

Rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have criticised Israel's use of live fire.

Israel had deployed troop reinforcements along the border, including more than 100 special forces snipers, saying it would prevent attempts to break through the fence.

"While some Palestinian demonstrators have thrown stones and other objects towards the fence, it's hard to believe how this would be an imminent danger to the lives of well-equipped soldiers protected by snipers, tanks and drones," Amnesty said.

More protests ahead

The protest, which includes tents erected at various areas, is designed to last six weeks, ending around the time the United States moves its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in mid-May.

The embassy move has deeply angered the Palestinians, who see Jerusalem's annexed eastern sector as the capital of their future state.

But while tens of thousands attended Friday's start of the protests, demonstrations have since dwindled. Several hundred attended on Saturday, while on Sunday dozens milled around protest tents.

The protests may however again see large crowds after Friday's main Muslim prayers and for upcoming key dates.

May 14 will mark 70 years since the creation of Israel and is when the United States is expected to open its new Jerusalem embassy.

Palestinians will mark what they call the Nakba, or "catastrophe," the following day.

The Nakba commemorates the more than 700,000 Palestinians who either fled or were expelled from their homes in the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948.

Gaza's protest is in support of refugees, including those in the Palestinian enclave who want to return to their former homes in what is now Israel.

Israel rejected calls for an independent probe on Sunday after its soldiers killed 16 Palestinians and wounded hundreds more when a major demonstration led to clashes along the border with the Gaza Strip

Israel rejected calls for an independent probe on Sunday after its soldiers killed 16 Palestinians and wounded hundreds more when a major demonstration led to clashes along the border with the Gaza Strip. Israel's military has faced questions from rights groups over its use of live fire on Friday, the bloodiest day in the conflict since a 2014 war, while Palestinians accuse soldiers of firing on protesters posing no threat. Both UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini have called for an independent investigation. On Saturday, the United States blocked a draft UN Security Council statement urging restraint and calling for an investigation of the violence, diplomats said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised soldiers' actions for "guarding the country's borders," while Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the protests were not a "Woodstock festival". Lieberman said calls for an independent investigation were hypocritical and on Sunday repeated his rejection of such an investigation. "There will be no commission of inquiry," he told Israel's public radio. "There will be no such thing here. We shall not cooperate with any commission of inquiry." Netanyahu also hit back at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over his sharp criticism of what he called Israel's "inhumane attack" in Gaza. "The most moral army in the world will not be lectured to on morality from someone who for years has been bombing civilians indiscriminately," Netanyahu tweeted. He has previously labelled Erdogan as someone who "bombs Kurdish villagers". Hard to believe On Friday Israeli troops opened fire on Palestinians who strayed from a main protest camp attended by tens of thousands and approached the heavily fortified fence cutting off the blockaded Gaza Strip. The military has defended the soldiers' action and said they opened fire only when necessary against those throwing stones and firebombs or rolling tyres at soldiers. It said there were attempts to damage the fence and infiltrate Israel, while alleging there was also an attempted gun attack against soldiers along the border. Israel accuses Hamas, the Islamist group that runs Gaza and with whom it has fought three wars since 2008, of using the protest as cover to carry out violence. In addition to the 16 Palestinians killed, more than 1,400 were wounded Friday, 758 of them by live fire, with the remainder hurt by rubber bullets and tear gas inhalation, the health ministry in Gaza said. No casualties were reported among Israelis. The armed wing of Hamas said five of those killed were its members who were participating "in popular events side-by-side with their people". The Israeli army alleges 10 of the dead had "documented terror backgrounds" in Hamas and other groups and were killed "whilst carrying out acts of terror". Unverified videos being shared online have fuelled the debate, including one appearing to show a protester running with a tyre being shot while seeming to pose no threat. Israel's army has issued a statement saying footage is being "edited and fabricated," without referring to specific videos. Rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have criticised Israel's use of live fire. Israel had deployed troop reinforcements along the border, including more than 100 special forces snipers, saying it would prevent attempts to break through the fence. "While some Palestinian demonstrators have thrown stones and other objects towards the fence, it's hard to believe how this would be an imminent danger to the lives of well-equipped soldiers protected by snipers, tanks and drones," Amnesty said. More protests ahead The protest, which includes tents erected at various areas, is designed to last six weeks, ending around the time the United States moves its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in mid-May. The embassy move has deeply angered the Palestinians, who see Jerusalem's annexed eastern sector as the capital of their future state. But while tens of thousands attended Friday's start of the protests, demonstrations have since dwindled. Several hundred attended on Saturday, while on Sunday dozens milled around protest tents. The protests may however again see large crowds after Friday's main Muslim prayers and for upcoming key dates. May 14 will mark 70 years since the creation of Israel and is when the United States is expected to open its new Jerusalem embassy. Palestinians will mark what they call the Nakba, or "catastrophe," the following day. The Nakba commemorates the more than 700,000 Palestinians who either fled or were expelled from their homes in the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948. Gaza's protest is in support of refugees, including those in the Palestinian enclave who want to return to their former homes in what is now Israel.

Israel rejects calls for independent probe of Gaza violence

Clashes erupted as tens of thousands of Gazans marched near the Israeli border in a major protest on Friday, leaving 16 Palestinians dead and hundreds more wounded in the conflict's worst single day of violence since the 2014 Gaza war.

Late in the day, Israel's military targeted three Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip with tank fire and an air strike after what it said was an attempted shooting attack against soldiers along the border that caused no injuries.

Protesters, including women and children, had earlier gathered at multiple sites throughout the blockaded territory, which is flanked by Israel along its eastern and northern borders.

Smaller numbers approached within a few hundred metres (yards) of the heavily fortified border fence, with Israeli troops using tear gas and live fire to force them back.

Israeli security forces used a drone to fire tear gas toward those along the border, in one of the first uses of the device, a police spokesman said.

The health ministry in Gaza said 16 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces.

More than 1,400 were injured, including 758 by live fire, with the remainder hurt by rubber bullets and tear gas inhalation, it said.

Palestinians accused Israel of using disproportionate force, as did Turkey.

The UN Security Council was to hold closed-door talks about the situation in Gaza later today at the request of Kuwait, a diplomat said.

Egypt and Jordan, the only two Arab countries to have signed peace treaties with Israel, denounced the use of force against the protesters while the Arab League condemned what it called Israel's "savagery".

Israel's military alleged that the main protests were being used as cover by militants to either break through the border or carry out attacks.

"It is not a peaceful demonstration," an Israeli military official told journalists.

"There was no small number of attempts to damage the fence and cross" the border, she added.

The army said it estimated some 30,000 demonstrators were taking part in the protests.

"Rioters are rolling burning tyres and hurling firebombs and rocks at the security fence and at (Israeli) troops, who are responding with riot dispersal means and firing towards main instigators," it said.

Protesters were demanding hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees who fled or were expelled during the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948 be allowed to return.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniya attended the protest, believed to be the first time he has gone so close to the border in years.

Hamas and Israel have fought three wars since 2008, the most recent of which in 2014 ended with a fragile truce.

Far smaller protests broke out in parts of the occupied West Bank.

On Friday evening, Gazan leaders called on protesters to retreat from the border area until Saturday, with the demonstration planned to last six weeks, until the inauguration of the new US embassy in Jerusalem around May 14.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas declared Saturday a day of national mourning.

In a later speech Friday he said he held Israel fully responsible for the deaths.

The upcoming embassy move has added to tensions surrounding the march.

US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December has infuriated Palestinians, who claim its annexed eastern sector as the capital of their future state.

The protest also began as Jewish Israelis were to mark the Passover holiday.

Israel announced a "closed military zone in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip," accusing its Islamist rulers Hamas of using the lives of civilians "for the purpose of terror".

It deployed reinforcements, including more than 100 special forces snipers, for fear of mass attempts to break through the security fence.

Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said in a tweet directed to Gazans in both Hebrew and Arabic that "Hamas's leadership is playing with your life".

Late in the day, Israel's military targeted three Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip with tank fire and an air strike after what it said was an attempted shooting attack against soldiers along the border that caused no injuries

Clashes erupted as tens of thousands of Gazans marched near the Israeli border in a major protest on Friday, leaving 16 Palestinians dead and hundreds more wounded in the conflict's worst single day of violence since the 2014 Gaza war. Late in the day, Israel's military targeted three Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip with tank fire and an air strike after what it said was an attempted shooting attack against soldiers along the border that caused no injuries. Protesters, including women and children, had earlier gathered at multiple sites throughout the blockaded territory, which is flanked by Israel along its eastern and northern borders. Smaller numbers approached within a few hundred metres (yards) of the heavily fortified border fence, with Israeli troops using tear gas and live fire to force them back. Israeli security forces used a drone to fire tear gas toward those along the border, in one of the first uses of the device, a police spokesman said. The health ministry in Gaza said 16 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces. More than 1,400 were injured, including 758 by live fire, with the remainder hurt by rubber bullets and tear gas inhalation, it said. Palestinians accused Israel of using disproportionate force, as did Turkey. The UN Security Council was to hold closed-door talks about the situation in Gaza later today at the request of Kuwait, a diplomat said. Egypt and Jordan, the only two Arab countries to have signed peace treaties with Israel, denounced the use of force against the protesters while the Arab League condemned what it called Israel's "savagery". Israel's military alleged that the main protests were being used as cover by militants to either break through the border or carry out attacks. "It is not a peaceful demonstration," an Israeli military official told journalists. "There was no small number of attempts to damage the fence and cross" the border, she added. The army said it estimated some 30,000 demonstrators were taking part in the protests. "Rioters are rolling burning tyres and hurling firebombs and rocks at the security fence and at (Israeli) troops, who are responding with riot dispersal means and firing towards main instigators," it said. Protesters were demanding hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees who fled or were expelled during the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948 be allowed to return. Hamas leader Ismail Haniya attended the protest, believed to be the first time he has gone so close to the border in years. Hamas and Israel have fought three wars since 2008, the most recent of which in 2014 ended with a fragile truce. Far smaller protests broke out in parts of the occupied West Bank. On Friday evening, Gazan leaders called on protesters to retreat from the border area until Saturday, with the demonstration planned to last six weeks, until the inauguration of the new US embassy in Jerusalem around May 14. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas declared Saturday a day of national mourning. In a later speech Friday he said he held Israel fully responsible for the deaths. The upcoming embassy move has added to tensions surrounding the march. US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December has infuriated Palestinians, who claim its annexed eastern sector as the capital of their future state. The protest also began as Jewish Israelis were to mark the Passover holiday. Israel announced a "closed military zone in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip," accusing its Islamist rulers Hamas of using the lives of civilians "for the purpose of terror". It deployed reinforcements, including more than 100 special forces snipers, for fear of mass attempts to break through the security fence. Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said in a tweet directed to Gazans in both Hebrew and Arabic that "Hamas's leadership is playing with your life".

Clashes, 16 dead as thousands of Gazans march near Israel border

Israeli tanks hit two Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday after activists set fire to the base of the security fence on the volatile frontier, the army said.

The army said the two suspected arsonists had not crossed the fence and infiltrated Israel but it retaliated with tank fire against two Hamas observation posts.

"The (army) views with great severity any attempt to damage the security fence, as well as security infrastructure," it said.

The incident comes a day after Israeli soldiers detained three Palestinians who had slipped across the border from Gaza in possession of knives and grenades.

The army said the trio were apprehended near an army base some 20 kilometres (12 miles) inside Israel, while police distributed pictures of hand grenades, knives and wire cutters found on them.

There had already been an uptick in incidents along the border as Palestinian anger runs high over US President Donald Trump's decision in December to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

On Saturday, a number of Palestinians breached the frontier and tried to torch heavy equipment.

In response, Israeli jets attacked positions of Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza.

A day later gunfire from Gaza set off Israel's Iron Dome air defence system and in response a tank fired at a Hamas position.

The incidents come as Israel braces for the annual Palestinian Land Day protests, commemorating the killing of six unarmed Arab demonstrators in Israel in 1976, set to begin in Gaza on Friday.

Gazans are being called to march towards the border fence en masse.

Israeli tanks hit two Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday after activists set fire to the base of the security fence on the volatile frontier, the army said

Israeli tanks hit two Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday after activists set fire to the base of the security fence on the volatile frontier, the army said. The army said the two suspected arsonists had not crossed the fence and infiltrated Israel but it retaliated with tank fire against two Hamas observation posts. "The (army) views with great severity any attempt to damage the security fence, as well as security infrastructure," it said. The incident comes a day after Israeli soldiers detained three Palestinians who had slipped across the border from Gaza in possession of knives and grenades. The army said the trio were apprehended near an army base some 20 kilometres (12 miles) inside Israel, while police distributed pictures of hand grenades, knives and wire cutters found on them. There had already been an uptick in incidents along the border as Palestinian anger runs high over US President Donald Trump's decision in December to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. On Saturday, a number of Palestinians breached the frontier and tried to torch heavy equipment. In response, Israeli jets attacked positions of Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza. A day later gunfire from Gaza set off Israel's Iron Dome air defence system and in response a tank fired at a Hamas position. The incidents come as Israel braces for the annual Palestinian Land Day protests, commemorating the killing of six unarmed Arab demonstrators in Israel in 1976, set to begin in Gaza on Friday. Gazans are being called to march towards the border fence en masse.

Israel strikes Hamas positions in Gaza: Army

Israeli jets pounded Hamas positions in Gaza overnight after Palestinians staged a cross-border raid into southern Israel, the military said early Sunday.

&quot;Israel Air Force fighter jets targeted a terror target in a military compound belonging to the Hamas terror organisation in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip,&quot; it said in an English-language statement.&nbsp;

The strike on the enclave&#39;s Islamist rulers came after four Palestinians &quot;carrying bottles filled with flammable material&quot; breached Gaza&#39;s border fence on Saturday evening near the kibbutz of Kissufim, Israeli daily Haaretz reported, citing the army.

There, an army spokeswoman told AFP, they attempted to torch heavy equipment used for work on the frontier barrier.

The machinery was damaged but did not catch fire, and the attackers fled back into Gaza, she said.

No casualties were reported.

&quot;The incident that took place yesterday is one of many severe incidents that have taken place in the security fence area,&quot; the statement said.

Israel holds Hamas, which rules Gaza, accountable for all attacks launched from the blockaded coastal territory.

Last month there was an uptick in cross-border violence, seen as among the most serious since Israel and Hamas fought a war in 2014 -- their third since 2008.

After a bomb wounded four Israeli soldiers inspecting the border fence on February 17, Israel responded by pounding 18 Hamas facilities in two waves of air strikes.

Israeli ground forces also killed two Palestinian teenagers in cross-border fire.

Last Sunday, Israel said it had carried out air strikes against an underground Hamas facility in the Gaza Strip, adding that its ground forces had destroyed a partly-built tunnel that could have been used for attacks on Israel.

'Israel Air Force fighter jets targeted a terror target in a military compound belonging to the Hamas terror organisation in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip,' the army said in an English-language statement

Israeli jets pounded Hamas positions in Gaza overnight after Palestinians staged a cross-border raid into southern Israel, the military said early Sunday. "Israel Air Force fighter jets targeted a terror target in a military compound belonging to the Hamas terror organisation in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip," it said in an English-language statement. The strike on the enclave's Islamist rulers came after four Palestinians "carrying bottles filled with flammable material" breached Gaza's border fence on Saturday evening near the kibbutz of Kissufim, Israeli daily Haaretz reported, citing the army. There, an army spokeswoman told AFP, they attempted to torch heavy equipment used for work on the frontier barrier. The machinery was damaged but did not catch fire, and the attackers fled back into Gaza, she said. No casualties were reported. "The incident that took place yesterday is one of many severe incidents that have taken place in the security fence area," the statement said. Israel holds Hamas, which rules Gaza, accountable for all attacks launched from the blockaded coastal territory. Last month there was an uptick in cross-border violence, seen as among the most serious since Israel and Hamas fought a war in 2014 -- their third since 2008. After a bomb wounded four Israeli soldiers inspecting the border fence on February 17, Israel responded by pounding 18 Hamas facilities in two waves of air strikes. Israeli ground forces also killed two Palestinian teenagers in cross-border fire. Last Sunday, Israel said it had carried out air strikes against an underground Hamas facility in the Gaza Strip, adding that its ground forces had destroyed a partly-built tunnel that could have been used for attacks on Israel.

Israeli warplanes hit Hamas in Gaza: Army

A Palestinian stabbed an Israeli security guard to death in Jerusalem&#39;s Old City on Sunday before being shot dead by a police officer, Israeli officials said.

The stabbing came with concerns over the potential for an upsurge in unrest in the coming weeks as the United States prepares to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

The security guard was taken to hospital in serious condition suffering a stab wound to his torso, medics said.

The hospital later announced he had died from his wounds. Israeli media reported that he was in his 30s, with some reports saying he was off-duty at the time.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld confirmed the assailant had been shot dead.

Israel&#39;s Shin Bet domestic security service identified the assailant as Abdul Rahmani Faddal, 28, and a father of two from Aqraba near Nablus in the north of the occupied West Bank.

The attack comes after a Friday car ramming by a Palestinian near Jenin in the northern West Bank that the army said killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded two others.

Tensions were high after Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas called for a day of rage on Friday to mark 100 days since US President Donald Trump&#39;s controversial recognition of Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital.

Palestinians also see the city as their capital and Trump&#39;s recognition broke with decades of US policy that Jerusalem&#39;s status would be negotiated between the parties.

Palestinian leaders have boycotted Trump&#39;s administration over the declaration, though the White House says it still plans to push ahead with its efforts to restart peace talks.&nbsp;

At least 32 Palestinians and four Israelis have been killed since Trump&#39;s announcement, which set off major protests.

The United States is planning to open its new embassy in Jerusalem in May to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Israel&#39;s founding.

Palestinians commemorate May 15 as the Nakba, or &quot;catastrophe,&quot; marking when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians either fled or were expelled in the 1948 war surrounding Israel&#39;s creation.

Gaza tensions 
There have also been tensions along the border between Gaza and Israel in recent days.

Israel&#39;s military said Sunday it had carried out an air raid overnight against an underground Hamas facility in the Gaza Strip and destroyed a separate tunnel under construction that could be used for attacks.

No casualties were reported in either operation, which came after an explosive device was detonated near the Gaza border with Israel, the latest in a string of such incidents.

Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, called Israel&#39;s actions an attempt &quot;to scare the people&quot; and head off planned protests along the border beginning later this month.

Israel &quot;bears all the consequences of the escalation,&quot; Hamas spokesman Fawzy Barhoum said.

Beginning on March 30, Gazans are planning to erect hundreds of tents near the Israeli border in a six-week show of support for Palestinian refugees.

Two explosive devices were detonated Thursday along the border, which had already provoked Israeli attacks on Hamas positions.

Also on February 17, four Israeli soldiers were wounded by an improvised explosive device on the border, sparking intense military retaliation.

It was not clear who was behind the blasts, but Israel held Hamas responsible as the de facto power in the Palestinian enclave.

Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza have fought three wars since 2008. The strip has been under an Israeli blockade for around a decade.

The stabbing came with concerns over the potential for an upsurge in unrest in the coming weeks as the United States prepares to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem

A Palestinian stabbed an Israeli security guard to death in Jerusalem's Old City on Sunday before being shot dead by a police officer, Israeli officials said. The stabbing came with concerns over the potential for an upsurge in unrest in the coming weeks as the United States prepares to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. The security guard was taken to hospital in serious condition suffering a stab wound to his torso, medics said. The hospital later announced he had died from his wounds. Israeli media reported that he was in his 30s, with some reports saying he was off-duty at the time. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld confirmed the assailant had been shot dead. Israel's Shin Bet domestic security service identified the assailant as Abdul Rahmani Faddal, 28, and a father of two from Aqraba near Nablus in the north of the occupied West Bank. The attack comes after a Friday car ramming by a Palestinian near Jenin in the northern West Bank that the army said killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded two others. Tensions were high after Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas called for a day of rage on Friday to mark 100 days since US President Donald Trump's controversial recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Palestinians also see the city as their capital and Trump's recognition broke with decades of US policy that Jerusalem's status would be negotiated between the parties. Palestinian leaders have boycotted Trump's administration over the declaration, though the White House says it still plans to push ahead with its efforts to restart peace talks. At least 32 Palestinians and four Israelis have been killed since Trump's announcement, which set off major protests. The United States is planning to open its new embassy in Jerusalem in May to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Israel's founding. Palestinians commemorate May 15 as the Nakba, or "catastrophe," marking when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians either fled or were expelled in the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation. Gaza tensions There have also been tensions along the border between Gaza and Israel in recent days. Israel's military said Sunday it had carried out an air raid overnight against an underground Hamas facility in the Gaza Strip and destroyed a separate tunnel under construction that could be used for attacks. No casualties were reported in either operation, which came after an explosive device was detonated near the Gaza border with Israel, the latest in a string of such incidents. Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, called Israel's actions an attempt "to scare the people" and head off planned protests along the border beginning later this month. Israel "bears all the consequences of the escalation," Hamas spokesman Fawzy Barhoum said. Beginning on March 30, Gazans are planning to erect hundreds of tents near the Israeli border in a six-week show of support for Palestinian refugees. Two explosive devices were detonated Thursday along the border, which had already provoked Israeli attacks on Hamas positions. Also on February 17, four Israeli soldiers were wounded by an improvised explosive device on the border, sparking intense military retaliation. It was not clear who was behind the blasts, but Israel held Hamas responsible as the de facto power in the Palestinian enclave. Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza have fought three wars since 2008. The strip has been under an Israeli blockade for around a decade.

Israeli killed by Palestinian in Jerusalem Old City stabbing

A Palestinian man was killed in clashes on Friday with the Israeli army in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said.

Mohammed al-Jabari, 24, was shot during the clashes in the southern West Bank city of Hebron and later died in hospital, the ministry said.

The official Palestinian news agency said he had disabilities, without further details.

The Israeli army said a &quot;riot&quot; had broken out in Hebron and that protesters had attacked soldiers.

&quot;Troops fired live rounds towards a main instigator who held a firebomb with the intent to hurl it,&quot; a spokesman said, adding an investigation had been launched.

Clashes between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers are common after Friday Muslim prayers.

Meanwhile, at least four people were wounded in the Gaza Strip on Friday, one of them seriously, in clashes along the border with Israel, the health ministry in the Palestinian enclave said.

Tensions have risen since US President Donald Trump&#39;s recognition in December of Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital -- a decision that has infuriated the Palestinians.

Israel occupied mainly Palestinian east Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community. It sees the entire city as its capital.

The Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

At least 30 Palestinians and two Israelis have been killed since Trump&#39;s December 6 announcement.

Mohammed al-Jabari, 24, was shot during the clashes in the southern West Bank city of Hebron and later died in hospital, the ministry said

A Palestinian man was killed in clashes on Friday with the Israeli army in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said. Mohammed al-Jabari, 24, was shot during the clashes in the southern West Bank city of Hebron and later died in hospital, the ministry said. The official Palestinian news agency said he had disabilities, without further details. The Israeli army said a "riot" had broken out in Hebron and that protesters had attacked soldiers. "Troops fired live rounds towards a main instigator who held a firebomb with the intent to hurl it," a spokesman said, adding an investigation had been launched. Clashes between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers are common after Friday Muslim prayers. Meanwhile, at least four people were wounded in the Gaza Strip on Friday, one of them seriously, in clashes along the border with Israel, the health ministry in the Palestinian enclave said. Tensions have risen since US President Donald Trump's recognition in December of Jerusalem as Israel's capital -- a decision that has infuriated the Palestinians. Israel occupied mainly Palestinian east Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community. It sees the entire city as its capital. The Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. At least 30 Palestinians and two Israelis have been killed since Trump's December 6 announcement.

Palestinian killed in clashes with Israeli army: Palestinian ministry

Israeli lawmakers have passed a controversial bill allowing police to hold the corpses of alleged Palestinian assailants indefinitely, parliament said on Thursday.&nbsp;

The act was passed late Wednesday by 48 votes to 10, a Knesset statement said, hours after another measure permitting the interior minister to strip Palestinians in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem of their permanent residency permits &quot;if they are involved in terrorism.&quot;

The government announced in 2016 that it would not release for burial the bodies of Palestinian assailants killed during attacks unless Palestinians in Gaza released the remains of two Israeli soldiers believed to have been killed in a 2014 war in Gaza.

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In November 2017, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled that Israel would not repatriate the bodies of five Islamic Jihad militants killed when the army blew up a tunnel stretching from the Gaza Strip into its territory.

The Israeli Supreme Court ruled in December that the policy was illegal under current law, but it gave the government six months to enact new legislation.

The revised act gives authority to police district commanders &quot;to set conditions for returning the body of a terrorist for family burial,&quot; the Knesset statement said.

If the commander decides that a funeral may spark another attack or turn into a political rally in support of violence he can impose limits on the time, location and number of mourners and &quot;a body could be held until the family agrees to the terms,&quot; the statement adds.

The bill was sponsored by two MPs from Netanyahu&#39;s right-wing Likud party and the religious-nationalist Jewish Home.

Arab MP Yousef Jabareen, of the opposition Joint List party, said it was &quot;a delusional and draconian law of a delusional government.&quot;

It applies only to Israel and east Jerusalem, where the police have authority, and not to the occupied West Bank, which is under army rule.

The legislation on revoking permanent residency permits, proposed by a Likud MP, passed by 48 votes to 18, the Knesset said.

Israel seized control of Arab east Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war.

It later annexed the territory, in a move never recognised by the international community, and today it is home to about 300,000 Palestinians.&nbsp;

Although they have the right to apply for Israeli citizenship few take up the offer and of those many are refused, often on unspecified &quot;security grounds.&quot;

The vast majority opt for permanent residency status, which gives them free movement throughout Israel, access to health and welfare services and a vote in Jerusalem municipal elections.

They cannot vote in parliamentary elections and they do not hold Israeli passports.

The act was passed late Wednesday by 48 votes to 10, a Knesset statement said

Israeli lawmakers have passed a controversial bill allowing police to hold the corpses of alleged Palestinian assailants indefinitely, parliament said on Thursday. The act was passed late Wednesday by 48 votes to 10, a Knesset statement said, hours after another measure permitting the interior minister to strip Palestinians in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem of their permanent residency permits "if they are involved in terrorism." The government announced in 2016 that it would not release for burial the bodies of Palestinian assailants killed during attacks unless Palestinians in Gaza released the remains of two Israeli soldiers believed to have been killed in a 2014 war in Gaza. The law was passed hours after another measure permitting the interior minister to strip Palestinians in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem of their permanent residency permits 'if they are involved in terrorism' × In November 2017, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled that Israel would not repatriate the bodies of five Islamic Jihad militants killed when the army blew up a tunnel stretching from the Gaza Strip into its territory. The Israeli Supreme Court ruled in December that the policy was illegal under current law, but it gave the government six months to enact new legislation. The revised act gives authority to police district commanders "to set conditions for returning the body of a terrorist for family burial," the Knesset statement said. If the commander decides that a funeral may spark another attack or turn into a political rally in support of violence he can impose limits on the time, location and number of mourners and "a body could be held until the family agrees to the terms," the statement adds. The bill was sponsored by two MPs from Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party and the religious-nationalist Jewish Home. Arab MP Yousef Jabareen, of the opposition Joint List party, said it was "a delusional and draconian law of a delusional government." It applies only to Israel and east Jerusalem, where the police have authority, and not to the occupied West Bank, which is under army rule. The legislation on revoking permanent residency permits, proposed by a Likud MP, passed by 48 votes to 18, the Knesset said. Israel seized control of Arab east Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war. It later annexed the territory, in a move never recognised by the international community, and today it is home to about 300,000 Palestinians. Although they have the right to apply for Israeli citizenship few take up the offer and of those many are refused, often on unspecified "security grounds." The vast majority opt for permanent residency status, which gives them free movement throughout Israel, access to health and welfare services and a vote in Jerusalem municipal elections. They cannot vote in parliamentary elections and they do not hold Israeli passports.

Israeli police get right to hold Palestinian assailants' bodies

Britain&#39;s Prince William will visit the Palestinian Territories and Israel this summer, Kensington Palace announced on Thursday, as part of a royal tour which will also take in Jordan.

The visit by the second in line to the throne &quot;is at the request of Her Majesty&#39;s government and has been welcomed by the Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian authorities&quot;, the palace said in a statement. 
&nbsp;

The visit by the second in line to the throne "is at the request of Her Majesty's government

Britain's Prince William will visit the Palestinian Territories and Israel this summer, Kensington Palace announced on Thursday, as part of a royal tour which will also take in Jordan. The visit by the second in line to the throne "is at the request of Her Majesty's government and has been welcomed by the Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian authorities", the palace said in a statement.

Prince William to visit Palestinian Territories, Israel this summer

Egypt decided to open the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip for four days starting from Wednesday, the Palestinian embassy in Cairo said in a statement Tuesday.

&quot;The Egyptian authorities decided to open Rafah border crossing for four days, starting from Wednesday and ending on Saturday, for the travel and return of Palestinian citizens in both directions,&quot; the statement said.

Some 160 Palestinians, who were stranded in Cairo&#39;s airport for nearly two weeks after being denied entry to the Gaza Strip, are being allowed to return to the enclave.&nbsp;

The group was stranded in Cairo airport for 13 days after Egypt suddenly closed the border crossing. Egypt had previously said it would temporarily open the Rafah crossing on February 7 for three days, but closed it two days later, on February 9.

The Palestinian embassy in Cairo confirmed the opening of Gaza&#39;s main gateway to the outside world.

Thousands of Gaza residents are on travel lists, most of them medical patients, students and holders of residency permits of other countries. Only a few thousand will make it out in the time allotted.

Egypt has kept Rafah largely sealed off since 2013, after the ouster of Egypt&#39;s elected Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.&nbsp;

The two officials said today the Rafah crossing point will operate starting tomorrow for four days on a humanitarian basis

Egypt decided to open the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip for four days starting from Wednesday, the Palestinian embassy in Cairo said in a statement Tuesday. "The Egyptian authorities decided to open Rafah border crossing for four days, starting from Wednesday and ending on Saturday, for the travel and return of Palestinian citizens in both directions," the statement said. Some 160 Palestinians, who were stranded in Cairo's airport for nearly two weeks after being denied entry to the Gaza Strip, are being allowed to return to the enclave. The group was stranded in Cairo airport for 13 days after Egypt suddenly closed the border crossing. Egypt had previously said it would temporarily open the Rafah crossing on February 7 for three days, but closed it two days later, on February 9. The Palestinian embassy in Cairo confirmed the opening of Gaza's main gateway to the outside world. Thousands of Gaza residents are on travel lists, most of them medical patients, students and holders of residency permits of other countries. Only a few thousand will make it out in the time allotted. Egypt has kept Rafah largely sealed off since 2013, after the ouster of Egypt's elected Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

Egypt opens border gate to Gaza Strip for four days

Israeli warplanes hit Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip early on Monday after a rocket fired by Palestinians slammed into southern Israel, the army said.

It did not elaborate on the targets but Palestinian security sources said several missiles were fired at farmland east of Rafah in the south of the coastal enclave.

Israeli &quot;fighter jets targeted underground infrastructure in the southern Gaza Strip, in response to the projectile that was launched at Israel earlier,&quot; an army statement said.

No casualties were reported in either incident.

The strikes followed fierce exchanges over the weekend in which <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/israel-strikes-gaza-after-blast-wounds-four-soldiers-33212" target="_blank">Israeli ground forces killed two Palestinian teenagers</a> in the enclave in cross-border fire.

Warplanes also pounded 18 Hamas facilities in two waves of air strikes, according to the Israeli military.

Those raids were in response to an explosion Saturday in which four Israeli soldiers inspecting the border fence were injured by an apparent Palestinian booby trap.

Two of the men were severely wounded but their lives were not in danger, the army said.

The blast and the retaliatory fire marked one of the most serious escalations in the Hamas-ruled territory since the Islamist movement and Israel fought a war in 2014.

The strikes followed fierce exchanges over the weekend in which Israeli ground forces killed two Palestinian teenagers in the enclave in cross-border fire

Israeli warplanes hit Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip early on Monday after a rocket fired by Palestinians slammed into southern Israel, the army said. It did not elaborate on the targets but Palestinian security sources said several missiles were fired at farmland east of Rafah in the south of the coastal enclave. Israeli "fighter jets targeted underground infrastructure in the southern Gaza Strip, in response to the projectile that was launched at Israel earlier," an army statement said. No casualties were reported in either incident. The strikes followed fierce exchanges over the weekend in which Israeli ground forces killed two Palestinian teenagers in the enclave in cross-border fire. Warplanes also pounded 18 Hamas facilities in two waves of air strikes, according to the Israeli military. Those raids were in response to an explosion Saturday in which four Israeli soldiers inspecting the border fence were injured by an apparent Palestinian booby trap. Two of the men were severely wounded but their lives were not in danger, the army said. The blast and the retaliatory fire marked one of the most serious escalations in the Hamas-ruled territory since the Islamist movement and Israel fought a war in 2014.

Israeli warplanes hit Gaza again after new rocket attack

Israel arrested six Palestinians suspected of planning attacks targeting Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman and other Israelis in the occupied West Bank, security agency Shin Bet said today.

Shin Bet said the six were affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group and were active in the Bethlehem area where they sought to carry out shootings against Israeli civilians and security forces.

In addition, some of the group had been planning to target Lieberman&#39;s vehicle when he travelled to his home in a West Bank settlement.

According to a Shin Bet statement, the suspects had been &quot;trying to obtain explosives to make a bomb, and even reached out to terror elements in (Gaza) for funding.&quot;

&quot;Upon failing to acquire the materials, they decided to create a fake device to receive recognition for their action and enable further attacks,&quot; the statement read.

The six will be charged in an Israeli military court later today.

In 2014, Shin Bet said it had apprehended a Hamas group planning to assassinate then-foreign minister Lieberman by firing a rocket-propelled grenade at his convoy.&nbsp;

According to a Shin Bet statement, the suspects had been 'trying to obtain explosives to make a bomb'

Israel arrested six Palestinians suspected of planning attacks targeting Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman and other Israelis in the occupied West Bank, security agency Shin Bet said today. Shin Bet said the six were affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group and were active in the Bethlehem area where they sought to carry out shootings against Israeli civilians and security forces. In addition, some of the group had been planning to target Lieberman's vehicle when he travelled to his home in a West Bank settlement. According to a Shin Bet statement, the suspects had been "trying to obtain explosives to make a bomb, and even reached out to terror elements in (Gaza) for funding." "Upon failing to acquire the materials, they decided to create a fake device to receive recognition for their action and enable further attacks," the statement read. The six will be charged in an Israeli military court later today. In 2014, Shin Bet said it had apprehended a Hamas group planning to assassinate then-foreign minister Lieberman by firing a rocket-propelled grenade at his convoy.

Israel arrests Palestinians planning attack on defence minister

Two Palestinians were killed by Israeli army fire in Gaza in a flare-up after soldiers were wounded by an explosive device along the Palestinian enclave&#39;s border, Gaza medical sources said Sunday.

The fatalities were identified by the Gaza health ministry as Salam Sabah and Abdullah Abu Sheikha, both 17, who were killed during a strike east of Rafah in southern Gaza.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/israel-strikes-gaza-after-blast-wounds-four-soldiers-33212" target="_blank">Israeli jets hit Gaza after IED wounds four soldiers</a>

According to Palestinian eye witnesses, the two were killed by shots near the border.

The Israeli army said that its forces had fired &quot;warning shots&quot; at a number of Palestinians approaching the border fence &quot;in a suspicious manner&quot;.

Their death comes after Israel launched a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/israel-strikes-gaza-after-blast-wounds-four-soldiers-33212" target="_blank">series of air strikes</a> targeting 18 &quot;terror targets belonging to Hamas&quot; in Gaza, after the explosive device wounded soldiers and a projectile from Gaza hit in an Israeli border town.

The fatalities were identified by the Gaza health ministry as Salam Sabah and Abdullah Abu Sheikha, both 17, who were killed during a strike east of Rafah in southern Gaza

Two Palestinians were killed by Israeli army fire in Gaza in a flare-up after soldiers were wounded by an explosive device along the Palestinian enclave's border, Gaza medical sources said Sunday. The fatalities were identified by the Gaza health ministry as Salam Sabah and Abdullah Abu Sheikha, both 17, who were killed during a strike east of Rafah in southern Gaza. Also read: Israeli jets hit Gaza after IED wounds four soldiers According to Palestinian eye witnesses, the two were killed by shots near the border. The Israeli army said that its forces had fired "warning shots" at a number of Palestinians approaching the border fence "in a suspicious manner". Their death comes after Israel launched a series of air strikes targeting 18 "terror targets belonging to Hamas" in Gaza, after the explosive device wounded soldiers and a projectile from Gaza hit in an Israeli border town.

Two Palestinians killed by Israeli Army: Medics

Israeli lawmakers today gave a nod to a bill that will withhold tax collected for the Palestinian Authority.&nbsp;

The bill was drafted under the leadership of Israel&#39;s Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman. The bill is now all set to be sent to parliament to be passed as a law.&nbsp;

&quot;Soon there will be an end to this theatre of absurd,&quot; Lieberman wrote in Hebrew on Twitter.

He also added that the money confiscated would be used to ward off terror and compensate victims.

An annual report of payments made to &quot;terror activists&quot; by the Palestinian Authority will be also be presented by Lieberman.&nbsp;

&quot;Based on the report, the sum will be deducted from payments handed from Israel to the Palestinian Authority,&quot; AFP reported.&nbsp;

The bill is likely to be debated in the Israeli parliament. Israel&#39;s move has been condemned by the Palestinian government who called it an instance of &quot;piracy and theft&quot; as well as a breach of international law.&nbsp;

A total sum of around $127 million is recovered in customs duties levied on goods destined for Palestinian markets. These commodities transit through Israeli ports.&nbsp;

The US Senate also considers a bill approved by the House of Representatives to withhold aid to the PA if it does not stop the controversial practice of so-called martyr payments to families of Palestinians convicted of terrorist attacks.&nbsp;

(With inputs from AFP)&nbsp;

The bill was drafted under the leadership of Israel's Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman

Israeli lawmakers today gave a nod to a bill that will withhold tax collected for the Palestinian Authority. The bill was drafted under the leadership of Israel's Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman. The bill is now all set to be sent to parliament to be passed as a law. "Soon there will be an end to this theatre of absurd," Lieberman wrote in Hebrew on Twitter. He also added that the money confiscated would be used to ward off terror and compensate victims. An annual report of payments made to "terror activists" by the Palestinian Authority will be also be presented by Lieberman. "Based on the report, the sum will be deducted from payments handed from Israel to the Palestinian Authority," AFP reported. The bill is likely to be debated in the Israeli parliament. Israel's move has been condemned by the Palestinian government who called it an instance of "piracy and theft" as well as a breach of international law. A total sum of around $127 million is recovered in customs duties levied on goods destined for Palestinian markets. These commodities transit through Israeli ports. The US Senate also considers a bill approved by the House of Representatives to withhold aid to the PA if it does not stop the controversial practice of so-called martyr payments to families of Palestinians convicted of terrorist attacks. (With inputs from AFP)

Israel readies bill cutting Palestinian funding over 'terror'

Israeli jets struck the Gaza Strip on Saturday after four soldiers were wounded when an improvised explosive device blew up along the border with the Palestinian enclave.

The explosion earlier Saturday, which left two of the Israeli soldiers severely injured, was one of the most serious incidents on the border of the Hamas-ruled enclave since the Islamist movement and Israel fought a war in 2014.

In response Israel&#39;s army said &quot;fighter jets targeted six military targets in Gaza belonging to Hamas, including: a terror tunnel in the Zaytun area and military compounds near Deir el-Balah and Khan Yunis&quot;.

The army then reported a &quot;launch was identified from the Gaza Strip at Israeli territory&quot;.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a security conference in Munich called the Gaza border incident &quot;very serious&quot; and pledged to &quot;respond appropriately&quot;.&nbsp;

A Palestinian security source said the Israeli air strikes hit three bases belonging to Hamas in the east of the blockaded Gaza enclave.

Two Palestinians were injured in the raids, Palestinian medical sources said.&nbsp;

Earlier in the day the army said &quot;two soldiers were severely wounded, one moderately and one slightly&quot; when an improvised explosive device blew up along the border fence with Gaza.

None of the soldiers&#39; lives were in danger, a spokesman clarified.

In response Israeli forces said a tank quickly opened fire at an &quot;observation post&quot; in southern Gaza, causing no injuries on the Palestinian side.

Palestinian security sources said the explosion took place east of the city of Khan Yunis.

Rogue group

Spokesman Jonathan Conricus said a &quot;rogue group&quot; had claimed responsibility for the blast, likely indicating one of the more radical Islamist groups who are present in Gaza.&nbsp;

But he insisted that &quot;from our point of view Hamas is responsible&quot; and said the explosive had been planted during a protest arranged by the group on Friday.&nbsp;

Israel holds the Islamist Palestinian movement Hamas responsible for any fire coming from the blockaded coastal enclave.

The Israeli army responds automatically to any strikes on its territory, generally targeting Hamas facilities.

Hamas&#39;s armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, in a statement said they had fired at the Israeli jets overhead.

But Israeli army spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, said there was no truth to the claim.

Hamas and Israel have fought three wars since 2008, and the last conflict in 2014 was waged in part over tunnels from Gaza that were used to launch attacks.

Israeli aircraft hit Hamas targets in the southern Gaza Strip repeatedly in early February, after it said Palestinians there fired a rocket into the Jewish state.

Tensions between the Palestinians and Israel have been high since US President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state in December.

Netanyahu will visit the White House next month, a senior US administration official told AFP on Friday.

The March 5 visit comes after a war of words between close allies Israel and the US over settlements, and a scandal that has seen police recommend Netanyahu be indicted for graft.

Two of the soldiers were severely injured

Israeli jets struck the Gaza Strip on Saturday after four soldiers were wounded when an improvised explosive device blew up along the border with the Palestinian enclave. The explosion earlier Saturday, which left two of the Israeli soldiers severely injured, was one of the most serious incidents on the border of the Hamas-ruled enclave since the Islamist movement and Israel fought a war in 2014. In response Israel's army said "fighter jets targeted six military targets in Gaza belonging to Hamas, including: a terror tunnel in the Zaytun area and military compounds near Deir el-Balah and Khan Yunis". The army then reported a "launch was identified from the Gaza Strip at Israeli territory". Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a security conference in Munich called the Gaza border incident "very serious" and pledged to "respond appropriately". A Palestinian security source said the Israeli air strikes hit three bases belonging to Hamas in the east of the blockaded Gaza enclave. Two Palestinians were injured in the raids, Palestinian medical sources said. Earlier in the day the army said "two soldiers were severely wounded, one moderately and one slightly" when an improvised explosive device blew up along the border fence with Gaza. None of the soldiers' lives were in danger, a spokesman clarified. In response Israeli forces said a tank quickly opened fire at an "observation post" in southern Gaza, causing no injuries on the Palestinian side. Palestinian security sources said the explosion took place east of the city of Khan Yunis. Rogue group Spokesman Jonathan Conricus said a "rogue group" had claimed responsibility for the blast, likely indicating one of the more radical Islamist groups who are present in Gaza. But he insisted that "from our point of view Hamas is responsible" and said the explosive had been planted during a protest arranged by the group on Friday. Israel holds the Islamist Palestinian movement Hamas responsible for any fire coming from the blockaded coastal enclave. The Israeli army responds automatically to any strikes on its territory, generally targeting Hamas facilities. Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, in a statement said they had fired at the Israeli jets overhead. But Israeli army spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, said there was no truth to the claim. Hamas and Israel have fought three wars since 2008, and the last conflict in 2014 was waged in part over tunnels from Gaza that were used to launch attacks. Israeli aircraft hit Hamas targets in the southern Gaza Strip repeatedly in early February, after it said Palestinians there fired a rocket into the Jewish state. Tensions between the Palestinians and Israel have been high since US President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state in December. Netanyahu will visit the White House next month, a senior US administration official told AFP on Friday. The March 5 visit comes after a war of words between close allies Israel and the US over settlements, and a scandal that has seen police recommend Netanyahu be indicted for graft.

Israeli jets hit Gaza after IED wounds four soldiers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a four-day state visit to Palestine, Oman and the UAE on February 9, during which he will hold talks with the leadership in the countries on &quot;matters of mutual interest&quot;, the external affairs ministry announced here today.

&quot;This will be the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Palestine, and Modi&#39;s second visit to UAE and first to Oman. During the visit, the prime minister will hold discussions on matters of mutual interest with their leaders, apart from participating in other events,&quot; the ministry said in a release.

During his Palestine visit, the prime minister will hold a meeting with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, who had visited India last May during which Modi had reassured him of India&#39;s &quot;unwavering&quot; support towards the Palestinian cause.

Significantly, Modi&#39;s visit to Palestine comes less than a month after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#39;s India trip. The two leaders had discussed the Palestine issue.

After the Modi-Netanyahu talks, Vijay Gokhale, secretary (economic relations) in the external affairs ministry, had said, &quot;What the two sides agreed, that our relationship was much larger than any single issue...That we need to look at it holistically and while we continue to talk to each other, our relationship is not determined by a single issue.&quot;

He was asked whether the long-pending issue of Palestine figured in the talks between the two prime ministers.

During his UAE visit, apart from holding talks with the leadership on key issues of defence, security and trade, the prime minister would be addressing the Sixth World Government Summit.

The summit is being held in Dubai and India has been extended &#39;Guest of Honour&#39; status, the ministry said.

In Oman, Modi&#39;s focus would be on intensifying cooperation in key sectors such as trade and defence.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the bilateral trade and investment between India and Oman remain robust and buoyant.

Bilateral trade, which saw a decline during 2014-15 and 2015-16, has resumed its upward trend with an increase of 3.6 per cent from USD 3.8 billion in 2015-16 to USD 4 billion in 2016-17, the ministry said.

Modi will also meet the Indian community in the UAE and Oman, the release added.&nbsp;

This will be the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Palestine

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a four-day state visit to Palestine, Oman and the UAE on February 9, during which he will hold talks with the leadership in the countries on "matters of mutual interest", the external affairs ministry announced here today. "This will be the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Palestine, and Modi's second visit to UAE and first to Oman. During the visit, the prime minister will hold discussions on matters of mutual interest with their leaders, apart from participating in other events," the ministry said in a release. During his Palestine visit, the prime minister will hold a meeting with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, who had visited India last May during which Modi had reassured him of India's "unwavering" support towards the Palestinian cause. Significantly, Modi's visit to Palestine comes less than a month after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's India trip. The two leaders had discussed the Palestine issue. After the Modi-Netanyahu talks, Vijay Gokhale, secretary (economic relations) in the external affairs ministry, had said, "What the two sides agreed, that our relationship was much larger than any single issue...That we need to look at it holistically and while we continue to talk to each other, our relationship is not determined by a single issue." He was asked whether the long-pending issue of Palestine figured in the talks between the two prime ministers. During his UAE visit, apart from holding talks with the leadership on key issues of defence, security and trade, the prime minister would be addressing the Sixth World Government Summit. The summit is being held in Dubai and India has been extended 'Guest of Honour' status, the ministry said. In Oman, Modi's focus would be on intensifying cooperation in key sectors such as trade and defence. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the bilateral trade and investment between India and Oman remain robust and buoyant. Bilateral trade, which saw a decline during 2014-15 and 2015-16, has resumed its upward trend with an increase of 3.6 per cent from USD 3.8 billion in 2015-16 to USD 4 billion in 2016-17, the ministry said. Modi will also meet the Indian community in the UAE and Oman, the release added.

Prime Minister to embark on 4-day visit to Palestine, UAE, Oman on February 9

Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas will ask the EU to officially recognise the state of Palestine when he meets foreign ministers from the bloc on Monday, a senior official told AFP Sunday.

Palestinian foreign minister Riad al-Malki said Abbas will tell the EU it should take the step &quot;as a way to respond&quot; to US President Donald Trump&#39;s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.

Abbas will also &quot;reiterate his commitment to the peace process&quot; in the Middle East, Malki said in an interview with AFP in Brussels.

A week ago Abbas denounced Trump&#39;s efforts to resolve the long-running conflict as the &quot;slap of the century&quot; and caused alarm by saying Israel had sunk the so-called Oslo accords that underpin the stalled peace process.

&quot;Since Trump&#39;s decision has altered the rules of the game, he (Abbas) expects the European foreign ministers to come forward and collectively recognise the state of Palestine as a way to respond back to Trump&#39;s decision,&quot; Malki said.

&quot;If the Europeans want to be a player then they have to be fair in their treatment of both parties and this should start with the recognition of the state of Palestine.&quot;

Abbas will meet EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini and the bloc&#39;s 28 foreign ministers on Monday on the sidelines of their monthly meeting after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a similar visit last month.

Diplomats and officials in Brussels say recognition for Palestine is not on the cards on Monday -- the EU leaves recognition in the hands of individual members -- and the best Abbas can hope for is progress towards an &quot;association agreement&quot; with the bloc.

Malki told AFP that while the Palestinian Authority was &quot;very serious&quot; about such an agreement, they also expected to be formally recognised as a state.&nbsp;

&quot;One does not replace the other. Absolutely not,&quot; he said.

Despite Abbas&#39;s comments on the Oslo accord and his insistence that the United States can no longer serve as mediator, Malki said he was still committed to the peace process -- effectively frozen since 2014.

&quot;He wants to reiterate his commitment to the peace process. He&#39;s going to say I`m not going to withdraw from the peace process, I will stay committed,&quot; Malki told AFP.

Abbas&#39;s talks in Brussels come as US Vice President Mike Pence visits Israel during a tour of the Middle East with Arab anger still smouldering over Washington&#39;s hugely contentious decision on Jerusalem.

Abbas and the Palestinian leadership are refusing to meet Pence because of the declaration, making his visit a rare one by a high-ranking US official not to include talks with the Palestinians.

Palestinian foreign minister will tell the EU it should take the step "as a way to respond" to US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital

Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas will ask the EU to officially recognise the state of Palestine when he meets foreign ministers from the bloc on Monday, a senior official told AFP Sunday. Palestinian foreign minister Riad al-Malki said Abbas will tell the EU it should take the step "as a way to respond" to US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital. Abbas will also "reiterate his commitment to the peace process" in the Middle East, Malki said in an interview with AFP in Brussels. A week ago Abbas denounced Trump's efforts to resolve the long-running conflict as the "slap of the century" and caused alarm by saying Israel had sunk the so-called Oslo accords that underpin the stalled peace process. "Since Trump's decision has altered the rules of the game, he (Abbas) expects the European foreign ministers to come forward and collectively recognise the state of Palestine as a way to respond back to Trump's decision," Malki said. "If the Europeans want to be a player then they have to be fair in their treatment of both parties and this should start with the recognition of the state of Palestine." Abbas will meet EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini and the bloc's 28 foreign ministers on Monday on the sidelines of their monthly meeting after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a similar visit last month. Diplomats and officials in Brussels say recognition for Palestine is not on the cards on Monday -- the EU leaves recognition in the hands of individual members -- and the best Abbas can hope for is progress towards an "association agreement" with the bloc. Malki told AFP that while the Palestinian Authority was "very serious" about such an agreement, they also expected to be formally recognised as a state. "One does not replace the other. Absolutely not," he said. Despite Abbas's comments on the Oslo accord and his insistence that the United States can no longer serve as mediator, Malki said he was still committed to the peace process -- effectively frozen since 2014. "He wants to reiterate his commitment to the peace process. He's going to say I`m not going to withdraw from the peace process, I will stay committed," Malki told AFP. Abbas's talks in Brussels come as US Vice President Mike Pence visits Israel during a tour of the Middle East with Arab anger still smouldering over Washington's hugely contentious decision on Jerusalem. Abbas and the Palestinian leadership are refusing to meet Pence because of the declaration, making his visit a rare one by a high-ranking US official not to include talks with the Palestinians.

President Abbas to ask EU to recognise Palestinian state

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/prime-minister-narendra-modis-jordan-visit-first-in-three-decades-by-indian-prime-minister-vijay-gokhale-32441">Modi&#39;s Jordan visit, first in three decades by Indian PM: Vijay Gokhale</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s visit to Jordan is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in three decades, said Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-meets-crown-prince-of-abu-dhabi-india-uae-sign-5-agreements-32442">PM meets Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; India, UAE sign 5 agreements</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Saturday as the two sides signed five agreements including a historic pact awarding a consortium of Indian oil companies a 10 per cent stake in offshore oil concession.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-supports-israels-right-to-defend-itself-pentagon-32443">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-supports-israels-right-to-defend-itself-pentagon-32443"> supports Israel&#39;s right to defend itself: Pentagon</a>

The United States fully supports Israel`s right to defend itself against threats, a Pentagon spokesman said after Israel said it struck 12 Iranian and Syrian targets in Syria, including Syrian air defense systems.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-build-speciality-hospital-women-empowerment-centre-in-palestine-signs-6-mous-32445">India to build </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-build-speciality-hospital-women-empowerment-centre-in-palestine-signs-6-mous-32445">speciality</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-build-speciality-hospital-women-empowerment-centre-in-palestine-signs-6-mous-32445"> hospital, women empowerment </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-build-speciality-hospital-women-empowerment-centre-in-palestine-signs-6-mous-32445">centre</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-build-speciality-hospital-women-empowerment-centre-in-palestine-signs-6-mous-32445"> in Palestine, signs 6 MoUs</a>

India and Palestine signed six Memorandums of Understanding (MoU)s worth $40 million on Saturday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/fire-breaks-out-in-mumbai-shop-12-fire-tenders-at-the-spot-32450">Fire breaks out in Mumbai shop; 12 fire tenders at the spot</a>

A fire broke out in a &nbsp;shop near Maya Hotel at Mankhurd in Mumbai.&nbsp;

As many as 20 fire tenders at the spot battling to put out the fire, according to news agency ANI.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-4th-pink-odi-india-vs-south-africa-32417">4th ODI IND vs SA: South Africa beats India by 5 wickets</a>

South Africa defeated India in the 4th ODI match by 5 wickets at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. Earlier, India won the toss and opted to bat.

Modi's Jordan visit, first in three decades by Indian PM: Vijay Gokhale Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s visit to Jordan is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in three decades, said Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale. PM meets Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; India, UAE sign 5 agreements Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Saturday as the two sides signed five agreements including a historic pact awarding a consortium of Indian oil companies a 10 per cent stake in offshore oil concession. US supports Israel's right to defend itself: Pentagon The United States fully supports Israel`s right to defend itself against threats, a Pentagon spokesman said after Israel said it struck 12 Iranian and Syrian targets in Syria, including Syrian air defense systems. India to build speciality hospital, women empowerment centre in Palestine, signs 6 MoUs India and Palestine signed six Memorandums of Understanding (MoU)s worth $40 million on Saturday. Fire breaks out in Mumbai shop; 12 fire tenders at the spot A fire broke out in a shop near Maya Hotel at Mankhurd in Mumbai. As many as 20 fire tenders at the spot battling to put out the fire, according to news agency ANI. 4th ODI IND vs SA: South Africa beats India by 5 wickets South Africa defeated India in the 4th ODI match by 5 wickets at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. Earlier, India won the toss and opted to bat.

WION Morning News Brief, February 11, 2018

India and Palestine signed six Memorandums of Understanding (MoU)s worth $40 million on Saturday.

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale addressed a media briefing in Abu Dhabi yesterday and shared details about the new projects which India will undertake.&nbsp;

The Palestinian President welcomed the Indian Prime Minister and thanked him for the ongoing projects.&nbsp;

India will take up the project of building a speciality hospital of 100 beds in Palestine and a women&#39;s empowerment centre where women from different parts of Palestine can come and learn skills.

Gokhale also shared details about the renovation of schools in Palestine. The national printing press here will receive machinery from India.&nbsp;

Gokhale called PM Modi&#39;s visit to Palestine &quot;historic&quot;, the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured with the Grand Collar of the State of Palestine. He engaged in a bilateral meeting with the Palestinian counterpart and expressed India&#39;s commitment towards assisting the Palestinian state.&nbsp;

PM Modi was escorted by Israeli choppers and Royal Jordanian choppers by the King on his way to Palestine.&nbsp;

The Palestinian President welcomed the Indian Prime Minister and thanked him for the ongoing projects

India and Palestine signed six Memorandums of Understanding (MoU)s worth $40 million on Saturday. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale addressed a media briefing in Abu Dhabi yesterday and shared details about the new projects which India will undertake. The Palestinian President welcomed the Indian Prime Minister and thanked him for the ongoing projects. India will take up the project of building a speciality hospital of 100 beds in Palestine and a women's empowerment centre where women from different parts of Palestine can come and learn skills. Gokhale also shared details about the renovation of schools in Palestine. The national printing press here will receive machinery from India. Gokhale called PM Modi's visit to Palestine "historic", the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured with the Grand Collar of the State of Palestine. He engaged in a bilateral meeting with the Palestinian counterpart and expressed India's commitment towards assisting the Palestinian state. PM Modi was escorted by Israeli choppers and Royal Jordanian choppers by the King on his way to Palestine.

India to build speciality hospital, women empowerment centre in Palestine, signs 6 MoUs

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/hope-palestine-will-soon-become-a-free-country-pm-modi-in-palestine-32412">Hope Palestine will soon become a free country: PM Modi</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today arrived in Palestine&#39;s Ramallah, the headquarters of the Palestine National Authority, as a part of his three-nation tour. The Indian PM and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas signed six memoranda of understanding (MOUs) that includes the setting up of a USD 30 million super speciality hospital in Beit Sahur.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pm-modi-arrives-in-palestine-on-a-historic-visit-32399">&#39;Historic visit&#39;, tweets PM Modi in Palestine</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived in Ramallah on the first leg of his three-nation tour. Soon after his arrival, the prime minister tweeted that the &quot;historic visit&quot; would improve bilateral ties between the two countries.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/charges-made-by-tdp-members-a-propaganda-says-narasimha-rao-32413">Charges made by TDP members a &#39;propaganda&#39;, says BJP</a>

The BJP today dismissed as &quot;propaganda&quot; claims that the Centre has not done much for Andhra Pradesh&#39;s development, and asked its ally TDP to sort out its issues with the government &quot;amicably&quot;. At a press conference, BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao and state party president and Visakhapatnam MP K Hari Babu presented a list of institutions, projects and funds sanctioned for the state by the NDA government and asserted that the Centre has taken utmost care of the state.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/8-yr-old-indian-origin-schoolgirl-enters-uks-mathletics-hall-of-fame-32419">8-yr-old Indian-origin schoolgirl enters UK&#39;s Mathletics Hall of Fame</a>

An eight-year-old Indian-origin school girl has entered the UK&#39;s Mathletics Hall of Fame, an online mathematics-based competitive tool aimed at primary school pupils. Sohini Roy Chowdhury competed with pupils from across Britain and other countries to also make it into the top 100 World Hall of Fame after solving mathematical puzzles with speed and accuracy.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/four-injured-as-jaish-militants-attack-army-camp-32387">Two Army men killed, 6 injured as militants attack Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir</a>

Two Army men were killed and six others sustained injuries in a pre-dawn attack by a group of Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists at Sunjwan Army camp in Jammu city, officials said. One of the terrorists has been killed.

Hope Palestine will soon become a free country: PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi today arrived in Palestine's Ramallah, the headquarters of the Palestine National Authority, as a part of his three-nation tour. The Indian PM and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas signed six memoranda of understanding (MOUs) that includes the setting up of a USD 30 million super speciality hospital in Beit Sahur. 'Historic visit', tweets PM Modi in Palestine Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived in Ramallah on the first leg of his three-nation tour. Soon after his arrival, the prime minister tweeted that the "historic visit" would improve bilateral ties between the two countries. Charges made by TDP members a 'propaganda', says BJP The BJP today dismissed as "propaganda" claims that the Centre has not done much for Andhra Pradesh's development, and asked its ally TDP to sort out its issues with the government "amicably". At a press conference, BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao and state party president and Visakhapatnam MP K Hari Babu presented a list of institutions, projects and funds sanctioned for the state by the NDA government and asserted that the Centre has taken utmost care of the state. 8-yr-old Indian-origin schoolgirl enters UK's Mathletics Hall of Fame An eight-year-old Indian-origin school girl has entered the UK's Mathletics Hall of Fame, an online mathematics-based competitive tool aimed at primary school pupils. Sohini Roy Chowdhury competed with pupils from across Britain and other countries to also make it into the top 100 World Hall of Fame after solving mathematical puzzles with speed and accuracy. Two Army men killed, 6 injured as militants attack Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir Two Army men were killed and six others sustained injuries in a pre-dawn attack by a group of Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists at Sunjwan Army camp in Jammu city, officials said. One of the terrorists has been killed.

WION Evening News Brief, February 10, 2018

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a four-day State visit to Palestine, the United Arab Emirates and Oman from today.

This is the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Palestine, and Prime Minister Modi&#39;s second visit to UAE and first to Oman. Modi will conclude his three-nation tour on February 12.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on three nation visit to Palestine, Oman and the UAE. <a href="https://t.co/HhTYMAu7Ld">pic.twitter.com/HhTYMAu7Ld</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/961854456055738368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&#39;&#39;Prime Minister of India will be on a State visit to Palestine, UAE and Oman from 9-12 February 2018. This will be the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Palestine, and Prime Minister Modi&#39;s second visit to UAE and first to Oman,&#39;&#39;&#39; the MEA said in a statement earlier.&nbsp;

During the visit, the Prime Minister will hold discussions on matters of mutual interest with the leaders of the three countries, apart from participating in other events.

Prime Minister would be addressing the Sixth World Government Summit being held in Dubai at which India has been extended &#39;Guest of Honour&#39; status.

He will also meet the Indian community in UAE and Oman.

During the visit, the Prime Minister will hold discussions on matters of mutual interest with the leaders of the three countries, apart from participating in other events.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a four-day State visit to Palestine, the United Arab Emirates and Oman from today. This is the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Palestine, and Prime Minister Modi's second visit to UAE and first to Oman. Modi will conclude his three-nation tour on February 12. Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on three nation visit to Palestine, Oman and the UAE. pic.twitter.com/HhTYMAu7Ld — ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2018 × ''Prime Minister of India will be on a State visit to Palestine, UAE and Oman from 9-12 February 2018. This will be the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Palestine, and Prime Minister Modi's second visit to UAE and first to Oman,''' the MEA said in a statement earlier. During the visit, the Prime Minister will hold discussions on matters of mutual interest with the leaders of the three countries, apart from participating in other events. Prime Minister would be addressing the Sixth World Government Summit being held in Dubai at which India has been extended 'Guest of Honour' status. He will also meet the Indian community in UAE and Oman.

PM Modi begins 4-day visit to Palestine, UAE  and Oman

India is steadfast in its commitment to the Palestinian cause, including the inalienable rights of its people to establish an independent Palestine state in conformity with the relevant UN resolutions, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar made the assertion in a written reply to a question.

The Indian reiteration also comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s visit to Palestine on Saturday.

&quot;India has been consistently providing support to Palestinian people in the field of capacity building and infrastructure development,&quot; he said.

PM Modi will be travelling from February 9-12 to Palestine, the UAE and Oman.&nbsp;

Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar made the assertion in a written reply

India is steadfast in its commitment to the Palestinian cause, including the inalienable rights of its people to establish an independent Palestine state in conformity with the relevant UN resolutions, the Rajya Sabha was informed today. Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar made the assertion in a written reply to a question. The Indian reiteration also comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Palestine on Saturday. "India has been consistently providing support to Palestinian people in the field of capacity building and infrastructure development," he said. PM Modi will be travelling from February 9-12 to Palestine, the UAE and Oman.

India steadfast in commitment to Palestinian cause: Government

A Palestinian stabbed and killed an Israeli man near a major West Bank settlement on Monday before fleeing the scene, Israeli authorities said.

&quot;Israeli man murdered in stabbing attack in Ariel,&quot; police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said in a statement, referring to the settlement in the occupied West Bank.

He said that security forces were searching for the attacker.

The Israeli army identified the attacker as a Palestinian and said the incident occurred at a bus stop at the entrance to Ariel.

The victim was identified by an internal settler communique as Itamar Ben Gal, in his 40s and a resident of the Har Bracha settlement in the northern West Bank.

Ariel is one of the largest settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, located 35 kilometres (22 miles) north of Jerusalem.

It was the second fatal attack on Israelis in the northern West Bank in a month after Rabbi Raziel Shevah was shot dead on January 8.

A Palestinian stabbed and killed an Israeli man near a major West Bank settlement on Monday before fleeing the scene, Israeli authorities said

A Palestinian stabbed and killed an Israeli man near a major West Bank settlement on Monday before fleeing the scene, Israeli authorities said. "Israeli man murdered in stabbing attack in Ariel," police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said in a statement, referring to the settlement in the occupied West Bank. He said that security forces were searching for the attacker. The Israeli army identified the attacker as a Palestinian and said the incident occurred at a bus stop at the entrance to Ariel. The victim was identified by an internal settler communique as Itamar Ben Gal, in his 40s and a resident of the Har Bracha settlement in the northern West Bank. Ariel is one of the largest settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, located 35 kilometres (22 miles) north of Jerusalem. It was the second fatal attack on Israelis in the northern West Bank in a month after Rabbi Raziel Shevah was shot dead on January 8.

Palestinian stabs Israeli dead near West Bank settlement: Police

A 19-year-old Palestinian man shot dead by an Israeli army soldier during clashes carried out due to raid in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said on Saturday.

The man was shot in the head and critically wounded before he was pronounced dead at a hospital in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The health ministry identified the dead man as Ahmad Abu Obeid, 19.

The Israeli army had carried out a military campaign in the Jenin area on Saturday seeking to arrest Palestinians reportedly involved in killing an Israeli rabbi in January.&nbsp;

An Israeli military spokesman confirmed the campaign in the Jenin area and said that the army arrested a number of suspected Palestinians and took them in for questioning.

Raziel Shevah, a 35-year-old rabbi, was shot dead near Havat Gilad, a wildcat Jewish settlement outpost in the Nablus area, on January 9.

The army has since launched multiple violent raids to search for the suspected killer, 22-year-old Ahmed Jarrar.

Jarrar is the son of Nasser Jarrar, a member of Islamist militant movement Hamas who was killed while fighting Israeli forces during the second Palestinian intifada.

The army did not say if he had been caught during the raid.

The health ministry identified the dead man as Ahmad Abu Obeid, 19

A 19-year-old Palestinian man shot dead by an Israeli army soldier during clashes carried out due to raid in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said on Saturday. The man was shot in the head and critically wounded before he was pronounced dead at a hospital in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The health ministry identified the dead man as Ahmad Abu Obeid, 19. The Israeli army had carried out a military campaign in the Jenin area on Saturday seeking to arrest Palestinians reportedly involved in killing an Israeli rabbi in January. An Israeli military spokesman confirmed the campaign in the Jenin area and said that the army arrested a number of suspected Palestinians and took them in for questioning. Raziel Shevah, a 35-year-old rabbi, was shot dead near Havat Gilad, a wildcat Jewish settlement outpost in the Nablus area, on January 9. The army has since launched multiple violent raids to search for the suspected killer, 22-year-old Ahmed Jarrar. Jarrar is the son of Nasser Jarrar, a member of Islamist militant movement Hamas who was killed while fighting Israeli forces during the second Palestinian intifada. The army did not say if he had been caught during the raid.

Palestine man shot dead by Israeli army soldier during clashes

The Modi government has attracted the considerable attention in the global affairs. There is an increasing global recognition of India&rsquo;s assertive role in the international affairs.

&nbsp;

PM Modi&rsquo;s policy broadly operates within the foundational structure and principles of non-alignment; albeit in more realist manner and has been successful in protecting and securing India&rsquo;s interest first. This policy is most visible and evident in the region of West Asia, particularly in relations with GCC, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Israel.

&nbsp;

PM Modi will be on 4 days, 3 nation tour from 9th to 12th February to Palestine, Oman and UAE during which he will hold talks with the leadership in these countries on &quot;matters of mutual interest.&rdquo; This visit to Palestine also comes after Modi hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on six-day visit to India between 14-19 January as the two countries marked the completion of 25 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

&nbsp;

PM Modi&rsquo;s visit is significant as he is the first Prime Minister to visit Palestine which has dispelled the considerable perception at the global and domestic level that India is ignoring the legitimate cause of Palestinian nationhood at the behest of Israel and Israeli lobby at the USA. In this context, it may be noted that India under the leadership of Modi has opposed the Trump&rsquo;s administration declaration of recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

&nbsp;

PM Modi will be visiting Ramallah alone and not Israel, like the way he did last year when he visited only Tel Aviv, not Ramallah. As a visit to both these places is considered a customary stop for world leaders. In the past, President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had done so.

&nbsp;

PM Modi is wedded to the doctrine of realism and he recognises the fundamental change that has taken place in the structure of International Relations in post-Soviet era. This demands that India must pursue a pragmatic foreign policy with centers of global powers.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Since 1991 all prime ministers have diluted the ideological component of nonalignment and brought necessary pragmatism in its foreign policy by cultivating a strong relationship with all major powers of the world, such as Western European countries, USA, Israel, Japan, Australia, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iran. In his upcoming visit, PM Modi will attend the World Government Summit in the UAE where he has been accorded &ldquo;guest of honour&rdquo; status. This is his second visit to the Emirates. PM Modi had previously visited the UAE in August 2015. Also, he will be visiting Oman, to strengthen cooperation in key sectors such as trade and defence.

&nbsp;

The same trend has been pursued more rigorously under the dynamic leadership of PM Modi.

&nbsp;

However, contrary to the critical perception, PM Modi has paid more attention in cultivating good relationships with the countries of West Asia than other regions and countries of the world. This can be seen from a number of visits that PM Modi has made to countries of West Asia particularly UAE, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel as well as making the crown prince of Abu Dhabi as a republic day guest in 2017.

&nbsp;

The underlying reasons behind PM Modi intensive policy in West Asia are the following:

&nbsp;

1) India has a strong diasporic presence in this world, with the largest concentration in the Gulf countries.

&nbsp;

The region contributes largest remittance which is critical for the stability of India&rsquo;s economy. Seven million Indians live and work in the Arab region and sends back remittances between $35 and $4o billion annually.

&nbsp;

2) India needs to acquire an uninterrupted supply of gas and oil and store at a time when the global price of oil and gas is very low

&nbsp;

3) The region has a huge basket of sovereign wealth and they are looking towards India as a major destination country for their investment.

&nbsp;

4) The region is a critical source of support to Pakistan. PM Modi has successfully exposed the terror face of Pakistan and has isolated it in the region.

&nbsp;

However, at the same time, the Indian government is keenly aware of the Arab sensitivity on the question of Palestine and, therefore, he is successful in maintaining a diplomatic balance between Israel and Palestine. To conclude, Indian foreign policy has become more realistic, pragmatic in orientation and less concerned about ideological and symbolic actions.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Indian government is keenly aware of the Arab sensitivity on the question of Palestine and, therefore, Narendra Modi is successful in maintaining a diplomatic balance between Israel and Palestine.

The Modi government has attracted the considerable attention in the global affairs. There is an increasing global recognition of India’s assertive role in the international affairs. PM Modi’s policy broadly operates within the foundational structure and principles of non-alignment; albeit in more realist manner and has been successful in protecting and securing India’s interest first. This policy is most visible and evident in the region of West Asia, particularly in relations with GCC, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Israel. PM Modi will be on 4 days, 3 nation tour from 9th to 12th February to Palestine, Oman and UAE during which he will hold talks with the leadership in these countries on "matters of mutual interest.” This visit to Palestine also comes after Modi hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on six-day visit to India between 14-19 January as the two countries marked the completion of 25 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations. PM Modi’s visit is significant as he is the first Prime Minister to visit Palestine which has dispelled the considerable perception at the global and domestic level that India is ignoring the legitimate cause of Palestinian nationhood at the behest of Israel and Israeli lobby at the USA. In this context, it may be noted that India under the leadership of Modi has opposed the Trump’s administration declaration of recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. PM Modi will be visiting Ramallah alone and not Israel, like the way he did last year when he visited only Tel Aviv, not Ramallah. As a visit to both these places is considered a customary stop for world leaders. In the past, President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had done so. PM Modi is wedded to the doctrine of realism and he recognises the fundamental change that has taken place in the structure of International Relations in post-Soviet era. This demands that India must pursue a pragmatic foreign policy with centers of global powers. Since 1991 all prime ministers have diluted the ideological component of nonalignment and brought necessary pragmatism in its foreign policy by cultivating a strong relationship with all major powers of the world, such as Western European countries, USA, Israel, Japan, Australia, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iran. In his upcoming visit, PM Modi will attend the World Government Summit in the UAE where he has been accorded “guest of honour” status. This is his second visit to the Emirates. PM Modi had previously visited the UAE in August 2015. Also, he will be visiting Oman, to strengthen cooperation in key sectors such as trade and defence. The same trend has been pursued more rigorously under the dynamic leadership of PM Modi. However, contrary to the critical perception, PM Modi has paid more attention in cultivating good relationships with the countries of West Asia than other regions and countries of the world. This can be seen from a number of visits that PM Modi has made to countries of West Asia particularly UAE, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel as well as making the crown prince of Abu Dhabi as a republic day guest in 2017. The underlying reasons behind PM Modi intensive policy in West Asia are the following: 1) India has a strong diasporic presence in this world, with the largest concentration in the Gulf countries. The region contributes largest remittance which is critical for the stability of India’s economy. Seven million Indians live and work in the Arab region and sends back remittances between $35 and $4o billion annually. 2) India needs to acquire an uninterrupted supply of gas and oil and store at a time when the global price of oil and gas is very low 3) The region has a huge basket of sovereign wealth and they are looking towards India as a major destination country for their investment. 4) The region is a critical source of support to Pakistan. PM Modi has successfully exposed the terror face of Pakistan and has isolated it in the region. However, at the same time, the Indian government is keenly aware of the Arab sensitivity on the question of Palestine and, therefore, he is successful in maintaining a diplomatic balance between Israel and Palestine. To conclude, Indian foreign policy has become more realistic, pragmatic in orientation and less concerned about ideological and symbolic actions. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: PM Modi's visit to Palestine will be a step in right direction. This is why.

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