Why the Homs truce matters for Syria
In spite of its brittle nature and the threat of such a move being nothing more than a short-lived lull, it still remains the most viable route to achieve a […]
Syria’s rebels admit they are unable to govern
STORY SUMMARY The Syrian border is just a few miles north of the processing station for refugees in Rabah al-Sarhan. Syrian rebel commanders had invited me to travel with them inside their country through a crossing point near there, but the Jordanian government emphatically said no. So this account is […]
OIC flays carnage of Indian Muslims
JEDDAH: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned the attacks on Muslims in which 32 were killed, including women and children, in the Indian state of Assam. OIC Secretary-General […]
Damascus opera suffers under mortar strikes
Story Summary Just as Leen Arbid entered the front gate of the Damascus Opera House, a potent symbol of the Assad family’s decadeslong authoritarian rule over Syria, she heard a deafening bang. Mortar attacks have become daily occurrence in the Syrian capital of some 2million, often killing more people than […]
Disillusioned ‘jihadi’ gets death threats for exposing recruiters
Blurring the line between reality and fiction, a former member of a terrorist group has made a movie slamming those in the Kingdom who recruit young Saudis to fight abroad. […]
Settlers Raze Agricultural Lands near Hebron
Hebron/PNN Settlers on Sunday razed agricultural lands east of West Bank city of Hebron. Local sources said that dozens of settlers from “Hafat Gal” settlement that was built on Palestinian […]
Syria neighbours want more from world to handle refugee burden
by Khetam Malkawi | May 04, 2014 | ZAATARI — Neighbours of Syria on Sunday called on the international community to help hosts of Syrian refugees shoulder the humanitarian burden […]
Muslim, Christian leaders decry Israel enlisting of Christian Arabs
by Rula Samain | May 04, 2014 | 22:48 AMMAN — Muslim and Christian leaders, and intellectuals have denounced a recent Israeli move to recruit Arab Christians in its army as a “Zionist conspiracy aiming not only to divide and weaken the Arab ranks, but also to push Christians to […]
Abbas, Hamas chief to hold first talks since unity deal
RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories: Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas was to hold talks with Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal in Doha on Monday for the first meeting since their rival movements signed a […]
Palestinians smuggling sperm out of Israeli jails so wives can have babies
ASKAR REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank: Suad Abu Fayed and her husband have had no physical contact for more than 11 years. That is how long he has been in an […]
In Jerusalem, an effort to quiet the call to prayer
JERUSALEM: Five times a day, loudspeakers at the top of nearly 200 minarets in this holy city call to Muslims to pray. They blare before dawn and the wailing cry […]
A time of opportunity for Palestinians
Story Summary The Palestinians are in the most difficult position, given their relative weakness militarily, their fragmentation politically, and their vulnerability economically. Yet this moment is also one of opportunity for the Palestinians, on three important fronts: national unity, coordinated political resistance and the mobilization of international support. The PLO […]
Jihadist battle sparks exodus, Syria rebels on way out of Homs
Story Summary Tens of thousands of Syrians fled inter-jihadist fighting in the east as rebels Saturday neared a final deal with the government to withdraw from their last besieged strongholds […]
Pilgrims over 60, kids face visa restrictions
Several Haj and Umrah pilgrimage establishments have stopped accepting applications for Umrah visas from pilgrims over 60, as well as children, following a Health Ministry advisory to that effect as […]
Azraq Refugee Camp officially opened
by Elisa Oddone | Apr 30, 2014 | 23:50 Syrian refugees are seen at the Azraq Refugee Camp, which was officially opened on Wednesday (Photo by Muath Freij ) AZRAQ […]
Muslim scholars end ban on visiting Al Aqsa Mosque under occupation
AMMAN — Muslim scholars and intellectuals from various Islamic countries and schools of jurisprudence have reached a consensus on a fatwa (religious edict) to end a ban of Muslim visits to Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem while under Israeli occupation. The fatwa was announced during the three-day “Road to Jerusalem” […]
Arabs and Muslims should flock to Jerusalem
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ repeated call on Arabs and Muslims to visit Jerusalem is finally paying off. A conference held in Amman, courageously tackled this issue and produced a surprising […]
US Panel Urges Action On Pak Religious Freedom – Ahmadi Minority Suffers ‘Apartheid-Like’ Conditions
Source: arabtimesonline.com WASHINGTON, May 1, (AFP): An expert panel on Wednesday urged the United States to add Pakistan to a blacklist of violators of religious freedom, saying that the Ahmadi minority […]
Erekat: Israel Never Gave Negotiations Chance to Succeed
Ramallah/PNN PLO Executive Committee member Saeb Erekat said in a statement issued by the Negotiations Affairs Department of the PLO that Israel never gave the negotiations a chance to succeed. Erekat stressed that everything Israel did during the past nine months aimed at sabotaging Palestinian and international efforts to achieve […]
Jordan opens Syria camp for 130,000
ASSOCIATED PRESS ARABNEWS.COM Published — Thursday 1 May 2014 AMMAN: A UN official says Jordan is opening a new, sprawling tent city to accommodate tens of thousands more Syrian refugees who are expected to flee fighting as their nation’s civil war continues unabated. Helene Daubelcour says Jordanian officials will open […]