The Palestinian government on Tuesday expressed thanks to China for providing 2.35 million U.S. dollars for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

In a statement, the government stressed the need for the international community and donor countries to provide financial support to UNRWA's budget to ensure its continued service to Palestinian refugees, especially before the opening of the new school year.

Last"...

The Israeli government on August 1, 2018 held an event marking the opening of a settler-run “Jewish heritage center” in the Batn al-Hawa area of Silwan in East Jerusalem. Silwan is a densely populated Palestinian neighborhood adjacent to al-Aqsa Mosque that already suffers from multiple, expanding Israeli settlements and settler-run"...

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Palestine welcomed a contribution of €2.95 million (US$3.6 million) from the European Union to support critical food assistance to severely vulnerable Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The funds – channelled through the European Commission's European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department (ECHO) – will allow around 210,000 extremely poor people to purchase the"...

The Palestine Monetary Authority (PMA) on July 31 announced new regulations for the licensing of payment service companies. The new requirements, whose implementation was called for by the 2018 National Plan for the Promotion of the Use of Electronic Payment Systems, should help solve a problem many Palestinians in Gaza face in receiving payments for work performed online.

Hundreds"...

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented the cabinet with his “2030 Security Concept” on Wednesday, which will add hundreds of millions of shekels to military spending, and outlines the expected threats, military manpower needs, and principles for using force over the next decade.

The full classified version of the document, which has been developed over the past two years, will soon be shared with the Knesset Subcommittee for the"...

The Egyptian authorities decided to close the Rafah border crossing with Gaza for six consecutive days in both directions.

The crossing’s department said on Facebook that access out of and into the besieged Gaza Strip will be blocked as of Monday, August 20 until Saturday, August 25.

The closure decision was allegedly issued as a result of the advent of holy Eid"...

Israel’s Jerusalem Municipality’s Planning and Construction Committee has approved a plan to build military colleges on Palestinian land located in Ein Karem village, southwest of the holy city, Safareported yesterday.

According to news site, the Israeli Broadcasting Committee said that the plan was approved despite strong opposition by the Franciscan Church and its followers who fear the construction will drown Mary’s Spring,"...

Israel today reopened the Kerem Shalom (Karm Abu Salem) commercial crossing with Gaza for the first time since 17 July.

The decision was announced this morning by Israel’s Defence Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, and was made in conjunction with the Israel army. Lieberman said yesterday that he would reopen the crossing, which has been completely closed since 17 July, if quiet were maintained in thebesiegedGaza"...

The Israeli authorities have approved plans to build 20,000 new settlement units throughout Greater Jerusalem, Israeli media reported Wednesday.

According to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, most of the planned homes will be built in areas occupied by Israel since the 1967 Middle East War.

The project, the broadcaster said, is expected to cost some 1.4 billion Israeli"...

Israel allowed commercial goods back into the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, in a sign of easing tensions as neighbouring Egypt pursued a long-term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian enclave’s dominant armed faction, Reuters reports.

But the prospect of an agreement between Israel and the Islamist group prompted concern within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government that Hamas would take advantage of any"...