The Palestinians are ready for statehood, according to a report to be presented to major aid donor countries in Brussels this week by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

A series of rockets have slammed into the Israeli port city of Ashdod, just south of Tel Aviv, shortly after Israeli aircraft pounded targets in Gaza, in an escalating conflict that has raised fears of a new war.

RAMALLAH (IPS) - The credibility of the Palestinian Authority (PA) on the Arab street has been further weakened by the release of the 'Palestine Papers', but ironically the release of the explosive documents by Al Jazeera could bolster support for the Palestinian cause internationally.

The international news agency Al Jazeera has released documents showing unprecedented concessions by the Palestinian Authority regarding East Jerusalem settlements and more, to which Israel "offered nothing in return."

 

GAZA CITY (IPS) - Despite the lingering trauma of living under siege, regular Israeli military attacks and the consequences of a bloody war several years ago, Gaza’s children still dream of happiness and of normal lives.

While intensively engaged in illegal settlement expansion, the government of Israel is also seeking to deal with two problems: a global campaign of what it perceives as “delegitimation” – that is, objections to its crimes and withdrawal of participation in them – and a parallel campaign of legitimation of Palestine.