http://www.uk.oneworld.net/article/country/376/ en_GB_uk Israel http://uk.oneworld.net/link/gotolink/addhit/83804 Israel's conflict with the Palestinians and the occupation of captured territory has undermined its economic growth and pushed up defence expenditure by at least £11 billion in the last 20 years, according to an Israeli think-tank report. http://uk.oneworld.net/link/gotolink/addhit/83763 Britain and other European governments should break from the United States over the international embargo on Gaza, according to former US president Jimmy Carter. http://us.oneworld.net/link/gotolink/addhit/83605 It is impossible to promote a lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace without engaging Hamas, says a women-for-peace group referring to former U.S. President Carter's talks with the governing political party in Palestine, which is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. http://us.oneworld.net/link/gotolink/addhit/83088 The power of the "Israel lobby" in the US is hard to measure exactly. But its hawkish positions do conflict with the views, and interests, of most American Jews. So why isn't there a more dovish lobby to counter it? One is, finally, about to be unveiled, says Gershom Gorenberg. From Prospect magazine http://us.oneworld.net/link/gotolink/addhit/83029 Israel’s 60th birthday celebrations look increasingly unpalatable, says Mike Marqusee. http://us.oneworld.net/link/gotolink/addhit/82988 The first Arab-language production of My Name Is Rachel Corrie, the play based on the writings of the young American killed by an Israeli bulldozer in the Palestinian territories, opened on Sunday -- the fifth anniversary of her death. From: Al Jazeera http://us.oneworld.net/link/gotolink/addhit/82735 A large-scale military attack on the densely populated Gaza Strip will worsen already unacceptable levels of civilian casualties, a leading international charity warned. http://us.oneworld.net/link/gotolink/addhit/82480 Senior Israeli defense officials have drafted a plan to replace the existing closure regime in the West Bank with a system that would maintain Israeli security while facilitating Palestinians' movement and allowing the territory's economy to grow. http://us.oneworld.net/link/gotolink/addhit/82318 An Israeli investigative committee has ruled Israel's use of cluster bombs during the July 2006 war in Lebanon -- fought against the armed wing of the Lebanese political party Hezbollah -- as a violation of international law with regards to protecting civilians. http://us.oneworld.net/link/gotolink/addhit/82251 The "U.N. Security Council (UNSC) is set to lose its credibility once again as it prepares to impose a third set of sanctions on Iran while failing to pass any strictures on Israel for its continued heavy-handed repression of Palestinians in Gaza," says a research organization focused on the Middle East. http://us.oneworld.net/link/gotolink/addhit/82180 Despite President Bush's optimism at the end of his Middle East peace tour, analyst Jamal Dajani paints a very different picture, citing recent bouts of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, as well as political complexities within their respective governments. http://uk.oneworld.net/link/gotolink/addhit/81752 Palestine will require "significant aid" over the next couple of years in order to avert a dangerous plunge in poverty levels, says a new report issued by an international development bank. http://us.oneworld.net/link/gotolink/addhit/81473 With tensions running high between Israel and Syria, a peace park agreement in the Golan Heights area could be essential to regional stability and should be put on the table at the current Middle East peace talks, write Saleem Ali and Michael Cohen. http://us.oneworld.net/link/gotolink/addhit/81447 "By their very presence [at the Middle East Peace Conference to be held in Annapolis, MD], the Arab states are signaling they are willing to normalize ties with Israel without receiving any concessions on borders, East Jerusalem or refugees," says Jalal Ghazi. From: New America Media http://us.oneworld.net/link/gotolink/addhit/81381 A warning of an increasing public health risk in Gaza has been given by an international development group as water and sanitation services begin to buckle under the strain of Israel's restrictions on fuel, vital maintenance goods and spare parts.