HIGHLIGHTS: Philippines vs Palestine - 2017 FIBA Asia Champions Cup
Follow Rappler’s blog for live updates on the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas’ FIBA Asia Champions Cup match-up vs Palestine's Sareyyet Ramallah on Saturday, 4:45 pm
Hamas agrees to steps toward Palestinian unity
The Palestinian Islamist movement agrees to dissolve a so-called 'administrative committee' and says it is prepared for elections
Pessimism as Kushner holds Israeli-Palestinian talks
The visit comes with both Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not in position to make major concessions some analysts say
Jordanian king backs Palestinian leader in rare visit
Abdullah s visit is seen by analysts as providing support to Abbas who has been isolated by Israel over his response to the Al Aqsa row
Israeli army arrests Hamas lawmaker – NGO
Muhammed Abu Teir s arrest brings to 13 the number of people from the 132 member Palestinian Legislative Council currently jailed by Israel according to the Palestinian rights group Addameer
UN chief to make first visit to Israel, Palestinian territories
The UN chief will hold talks with Israeli leaders travel to Ramallah to meet Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas and to the Gaza Strip where the United Nations runs a major Palestinian aid program
For Palestinians, holy site showdown represents rare victory
The celebrations came nearly two weeks after the attack near the Haram al Sharif compound known to Jews as the Temple Mount
The week in photos: July 22-28, 2017
This week s selection of photo highlights here and around the world
Palestinians to end boycott of Jerusalem holy site
Muslim authorities announce a boycott of the Haram al Sharif compound known to Jews as the Temple Mount is to end on Thursday afternoon after Israel removed remaining new security measures
All new security measures removed from Jerusalem holy site – Israel police
Police: The police returned the security measures to how they were before the terrorist attack at the Haram al Sharif before July 14
Israel removes holy site metal detectors, but boycott maintained
4th UPDATE The move comes after intensive international diplomacy seeking to stop the outbreak of wider unrest with warnings that it could spread far beyond Israel and the Palestinian territories
TIMELINE: Jerusalem holy site crisis
The series of events that led to the violence that killed 8 people in Jerusalem s Haram al Sharif compound
Netanyahu faces pressure over holy site after violence kills 8
Israeli officials signaled they may be open to changing the measures at the Haram al Sharif mosque compound after the violence that killed 8 people two policemen included
Palestinians die in new clashes over Jerusalem holy site
The UN Security Council will hold closed door talks Monday July 24 about the spiraling violence after Egypt France and Sweden sought a meeting to discuss the issue
Rappler Talk: Israel Ambassador Effie Ben Matityau on PH-Israel relations
Rappler talks to the Israeli Ambassador amid the shifting power dynamics in the Middle East
Gaza Strip in peril as Hamas marks decade in power
Hamas this week marks 10 years since taking power in Gaza with the Palestinian enclave at risk of conflict and facing electricity blackouts poverty and Israel s blockade
Netanyahu tells Israeli settlers 'nobody will be uprooted'
His comments come as Israeli authorities also advances plans for some 1 500 settlement homes in the West Bank including units for the first new official settlement in some 25 years
Trump wants Mideast peace 'compromise' but admits won't be easy
Trump s speech comes after he met Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank earlier in the day
Trump lashes out at Iran during Jerusalem visit
3rd UPDATE While in Saudi Arabia Trump had accused Iran of fuelling the fires of sectarian conflict and terror while calling for its international isolation
Row over Trump's Israel policy ahead of his visit
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces political backlash for allegedly advising US President Donald Trump against moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to the disputed city of Jerusalem
Jordanian stabs Israeli officer in Jerusalem, shot dead – police
The officer who sustained moderate injuries was attacked in one of the alleys of the Old City
Abbas says ready to meet Israel PM as part of Trump peace efforts
UPDATED US President Donald Trump has been seeking ways to restart Israeli Palestinian peace efforts which have been at a standstill since a US led initiative collapsed in April 2014
Hamas eases stance on Israel with new policy document
While the new document does not amount to recognition of Israel as demanded by the international community Hamas officials say it formally softens its stance in a few key areas
Palestinian, UN alarm after Israel approves new settlement
Israel s security cabinet gives its backing to the new settlement late on Thursday as the government presses ahead with settlement expansion in defiance of international concern
Arab leaders denounce 'foreign interference'
The leaders of the 22 member Arab League also call for the settlement of conflicts that are tearing the region apart
Hamas shuts Gaza crossing, blames Israel for assassination
Islamist movement Hamas accuses Israeli intelligence agency Mossad of being behind the killing of Mazen Faqha
Israel ignores UN demand against settlements – diplomat
The January spike in illegal settlement announcements by Israel is deeply concerning says envoy Nickolay Mladenov
U.S. Senate approves settlement backer as Israel envoy
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared on Twitter that Friedman will be warmly welcomed as President Trump s representative and as a close friend of Israel
Trump envoy meets Israeli settlers in unusual move
A US government official says Jason Greenblatt reiterated to the Yesha Council President Trump s previously expressed views regarding settlements
Trump envoy meets Abbas as White House wades into Mideast conflict
UPDATED US officials have described the visit as a fact finding mission as the White House seeks a way forward in restarting long deadlocked peace efforts
Trump invites Palestinian leader Abbas to White House 'soon'
UPDATED Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas spokesman says US President Donald Trump stressed his commitment to a peace process that would lead to a real peace between Palestinians and Israelis
Israeli soldier gets 18 months for killing Palestinian
Defense lawyers announce an appeal and right wing Israeli ministers immediately called for a pardon while the Palestinian government and the victim s family condemns the sentence as too lenient
FAST FACTS: What is the two-state solution?
Here are some questions and answers about the two state solution and the possible alternatives
Trump drops U.S. commitment to 'two-state' Mideast deal
UPDATED This change in the US stance was calculated to please Netanyahu and his right wing coalition and Trump s views on the shortcomings of the Palestinian position will delight them
U.S. shift on two-state solution 'doesn't make sense' – Palestinians
This does not make sense Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee member Hanan Ashrawi explains This is not a responsible policy and it does not serve the cause of peace
Trump will not insist on two-state solution as Netanyahu visits
UPDATED A senior White House official said the United States would no longer seek to dictate the terms of any eventual peace settlement but would support what the two sides agree to together
Israel hits Hamas after 'projectile' fired – army
Two Hamas posts were targeted by Israeli tank fire a Palestinian security source says while air strikes later hit targets in northern Gaza sending a column of black smoke into the air
White House says new Israeli settlements 'may not be helpful'
The statement is a break from Donald Trump s previously full throated defense of Israeli settlement building
Hidden away in Jakarta's back streets, refugees wait for years to live decently
Tucked behind malls and in small streets in Jakarta are refugees trying their best to hang on to hope – as they wait for a chance to start life anew
Israel authorizes 3,000 settler homes in West Bank – ministry
Since the January 20 inauguration of Trump Israel has approved the construction of 566 housing units in 3 settlement areas of east Jerusalem and announced the building of 2 502 more in the West Bank
Israel plans 2,500 settler homes in post-Trump expansion
The United Nations denounces the move stressing unilateral actions were an obstacle to peace
Palestinian parties agree to form unity government
The agreement between the top Palestinian parties comes after 3 days of reconciliation talks in Moscow
Paris summit warns against 'unilateral' steps in Mideast conflict
UPDATED Around 70 countries attending talks in Paris calls on the two sides to avoid moves that prejudge the outcome of negotiations on final status issues including inter alia Jerusalem borders security refugees
Abbas opens Vatican mission, warns over US embassy move
Abbas reiterates his opposition to the possible transfer of the US embassy to Jerusalem as pledged by US President elect Donald Trump
U.S. House votes to repudiate anti-Israel UN resolution
Incensed US lawmakers have assailed Barack Obama s outgoing administration for abstaining in the December 23 vote instead of vetoing the UN resolution essentially clearing the way for its passage
Israeli soldier guilty of manslaughter for shooting Palestinian
Sentencing is expected at a later date He faces up to 20 years in prison
#ThewRap: Things you need to know, December 29, 2016
Hello Here s a roundup of news you need to know this Thursday
Kerry warns Israel settlements threaten democracy
Trends indicate a comprehensive effort to take West Bank land for Israel and prevent any Palestinian development there says US Secretary of State John Kerry in a landmark speech criticizing Israel for its settler agenda
Israel says 'reducing' ties with nations over UN vote
Israeli media have reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked officials to visit the countries that voted for the resolution as little as possible for now
Netanyahu calls in US envoy in fallout over UN vote
Their meeting comes after Israel earlier Sunday December 25 called in 10 representatives of 14 other states that voted for the resolution
