Palestine & Israel : Side by side- A blind vision ?

Palestinians are fighting among themselves to control the battered borders of Gaza and West Bank.

Hamas is holding key posts in Gaza, while Fatah has captured West Bank.

At this juncture Bush and Olmert having a vision of two states of Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace will fuel internal Palestinian battles.

More so, how can a nation gain independence if they are not united within?

It is not a surprise Palestine is yet a territory!

News today

Middle-East

Iraq had one of the bloodiest weeks as bombings claimed 300 lives and
Iraq is at the brink of a civil war. Meanwhile prime minister has called for restraint.

Iran on the other hand is at a standoff with Britain, as it has captured British Naval soldiers as they allegedly entered Iranian waters.

Iran has released a five minute video and has warned of legal prosecution if
Britain does not resolve the matter with due negotiation.

 

Israeli premier Ehud Olmert has expressed his interest in holding talks with
Saudi Arabia and other moderate Arabs however has made it clear they are not ready to accept it “as it is”.

Asia 

Intense fighting between Pakistani locals and foreigners linked to Al-Qaeda killed 52 people.

Africa 

A helicopter gunship was shot down by rebels in
Mogadishu, fighting against Ethiopian and Somali troops. At least 30 people were killed as shells rained and tanks fired shattering homes.

Morocco has received a loan of $117.3 million from Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

Zimbabwe is looking for EU aid to help itself in the deepening food crisis.

Sports

A record number of countries, to be precise 204 have entered the qualifying fray for 2010 soccer world cup in
South Africa.

Health 

Transplant tourism is increasing as the number of volunteer donors is not able to meet the growing demand of organs.

While WHO is interested setting up new guidelines as people from countries like Pakistan, Egypt and Philippines are being exploited by brokers to donate their organs for commercial value.

Science/Technology  ICANN, the organization that oversees the domain registration has rejected a proposal to have .xxx for domain registration.

Top news

Arab summit:

Arab summit in Riyadh,Saudi Arabia ended with Palestine and other Arab countries urging Israel for peace.

United Sates has welcomed the initiative.The peace plan put forth in 2002  advocates Israel to return to 1967 pre-war boundaries.

President Mahmud Abbas has requested not to reject “hand of peace”.

Israel see this as a positive development and has called for negotiation without setting any preconditions.

More reports on Arab summit:

Guantanamo Bay

Amidst mounting pressure from Human Right groups and intense International pressure and criticism, US Defence Secretary has said to close the Guantanamo Bay prison. However he emphasised that few of international captives be not provided with legal assistance and set themselves free, hence holding them in prison for life.

Guantanamo Bay has 385 international prisoners few held since last 5 years without any legal prosecution.Meanwhile Britain has secured the release of their last national in the prison, who was living with a prayer mat and Koran.

Iraq:

While United States has rejected Saudi view of Iraq bieng occupied , senate has defied Presidents  veto threat to enforce a deadline on troup pullout in Iraq.Democratic controlled Senated voted 51-47 to set a deadline of 31st March, 2008 for complete pullout.

However today was one of the bloodiest day in Iraq as 130 people died , as suicide bombers blew atleast three car bombs within minutes.

Brief Iraq blasts chronology

The road ahead-Israel,Palestine talks

It is a welcome news for peacemongers especially in west-asia as Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have agreed to hold regular confidence-building talks.

Developments in the middle-east have been encouraging since Saudi brokered peace brought an end to Palestinian infighting between then ruling Hamas and Fatah factions.

With a unity government of Hamas and Fatah at the helm of  affairs, US in general and Condeleezza Rice in particular trying to persuade Israel and Palestine to talk regularly on wide spectrum of issues ranging from security,humanatarian and the political horizon is commendable.

With Iraq in turmoil, Rice’s effort in reviving peace are noteworthy as this is her fourth visit to the region in as many months.