Rappler's latest stories on West Bank
Palestinian rivals Fatah, Hamas pledge unity against Israeli annexations
The joint press conference is spurred by common opposition against US President Donald Trump's controversial peace plan, which paves the way for Israel to annex territory in the occupied West Bank

Palestinians rally as global opposition to Israeli annexation grows
With no announcement currently scheduled on Israel's self-imposed kick-off date, opponents of the plan – notably Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza – are mobilizing

Key dates in Israel since its creation in 1948
A chronology of important events in the history of Israel

Netanyahu hides cards on eve of Israel 'annexations' date
Right-wing premier Benjamin Netanyahu gives no indication as to his plans ahead of the possible July 1 kick-off date

Israel's annexation plans 'illegal' – U.N. rights chief
Michelle Bachelet urges Israel to shift course, warning that 'the shockwaves of annexation will last for decades, and will be extremely damaging to Israel, as well as to the Palestinians'

Hamas says West Bank annexation would be 'declaration of war'
Israel's proposal to annex its settlements in the West Bank and the Jordan Valley form part of a broader US peace plan published in January

European MPs demand halt to Israel's annexation plan
The European Union has been seeking to persuade Israel to back down and is weighing retaliatory measures as a response if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu goes ahead

West Bank plan will create 'apartheid' – U.N. experts
The United Nations experts say the annexation would be a 'serious violation' of the UN charter and the Geneva Conventions, and would only intensify human rights violations in the West Bank

Palestinian PM submits 'counterproposal' to Trump plan
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh says they proposed the creation of a 'sovereign Palestinian state, independent and demilitarized' with 'minor modifications of borders where necessary'

DNA research uncovers Dead Sea Scrolls mystery
Research on the texts has been ongoing for decades and in the latest study, DNA tests on manuscript fragments indicate that some were not originally from the area around the Qumran caves

West Bank poverty may double over pandemic as annexation looms
(UPDATED) The number of households living below the poverty line in the West Bank could rise from 14% to 30% in 2020, warns the World Bank

Palestinian head warns of total break in case of Israel annexation
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas says the annexation plans show Israel is no longer abiding by peace accords between the two

Pompeo in Israel for West Bank annexation talks amid new bloodshed
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also voice fresh condemnation of their common foe Iran, accusing the country of promoting terrorism during the coronavirus pandemic

Israel soldier killed in West Bank ahead of annexation talks
The US-Israel meeting, a day before a new Israeli government is due to be sworn in, will focus partly on President Donald Trump's controversial Middle East peace plan

Netanyahu pledges 'immediate' annexation steps if reelected
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been accused before previous elections of making last-minute plays to energize his right-wing base

Israel troops wounded in Jerusalem car-ramming as violence flares
A manhunt is underway for the driver in the car-ramming, who fled the scene in the heart of west Jerusalem after the attack

All agreements off if Israel annexes territory, Abbas warns at U.N.
'Our response, if any Israeli government is to proceed with this plan, is that all signed agreements with the government of the occupation and any obligations therein will be terminated,' says Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas

Q&A: What would Israel annexing the Jordan Valley mean?
Benjamin Netanyahu's pledge, a week ahead of a closely fought general election, is controversial but what would it actually mean?

Israel's Netanyahu faces criticism over annexation plan
'Any Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdictions and administration in the occupied West Bank is without any international legal effect,' says UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric

Anger at Netanyahu's West Bank annexation pledge
(3rd UPDATE) The preelection promise draws immediate condemnation from Arab powerhouses with many warning of disastrous consequences for the stagnant Israeli-Palestinian peace process

Netanyahu vows to annex West Bank's Jordan Valley if reelected
The prime minister also repeats his intention to annex Israeli settlements throughout the West Bank if re-elected

Israel's Netanyahu in controversial Hebron visit
The Palestinian Authority condemns Netanyahu visit as 'provocative' and politically motivated

Manhunt after stabbed Israel soldier found dead in West Bank
The stabbing occurs between Bethlehem and the flashpoint city of Hebron in the West Bank

Jared Kushner visits after Israel okays homes for Palestinians, settlers
Kushner, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, visits Jordan and Israel

Israel demolishes Palestinian homes in Jerusalem area
Residents and activists are dragged out of the homes, many of which are still under construction
Palestinian minister hits back at Israeli annexation talk
'We cannot accept the annexation of territories by any country because this is (a) violation of international law,' says Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki

U.S. envoy: Israel has 'right' to annex West Bank land
Palestinians have rejected the plan before it has even been unveiled, seeing US President Donald Trump as irredeemably biased for Israel

Palestinian killed in clash with Israeli military – ministry
The Israeli army says it will investigate the incident

Hamas calls for Israel to be held accountable after U.N. Gaza probe
A senior official for the Islamist movement that rules the Gaza Strip calls on 'the international community to hold the Israeli occupation accountable for the war crimes that it continues to commit against the Palestinians'

Turkey denounces Israel's decision over Hebron monitoring
Turkey has observers in the Norway-led team tasked with promoting security for Palestinians in Hebron, which is holy to both Muslims and Jews and has been a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Israel postpones demolition of Bedouin West Bank village
(UPDATED) The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor warns that Israel's planned 'evacuation by force' of the village could constitute a war crime

Israel approves 31 settler homes in flashpoint Hebron – minister
The upcoming Jewish neighborhood is the first to be constructed in 20 years

Israel gives Bedouin villagers until end of month to leave
The fate of Khan al-Ahmar has drawn international concern, with European countries calling on Israel not to move ahead with plans to demolish it

U.S. cut in aid amounts to 'cheap blackmail,' Palestinians say
'The rights of the Palestinian people are not for sale,' says a member of PLO's executive committee

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas leaves hospital
Abbas walk without assistance and gives a short statement before leaving the hospital near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank

Israel 'legalizing' rogue settlement in response to murder
(UPDATED) The vote comes as European nations voice growing concern over settlement expansion in the West Bank

Israel approves more than 1,100 new West Bank settlement homes – NGO
According to Hagit Ofran of the Peace Now NGO, the majority of the approvals are for settlements deep in the West Bank that Israel would likely need to evacuate as part of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Jerusalem tensions cast shadow over Holy Land Christmas
(UPDATED) Bethlehem is normally flooded by tourists at this time of year, but has at times appeared almost empty of visitors as nearby clashes between Palestinian protesters and the Israeli army keep people away
The week in photos: December 16-22, 2017
This week's selection of photo highlights here and around the world

Netanyahu faces pressure in Europe amid Jerusalem protests
Before leaving Israel, Netanyahu had taken aim at what he called Europe's 'hypocrisy'

Trump Jerusalem move triggers Palestinian unrest
(UPDATED) Sporadic clashes break out between Palestinians and Israeli forces, as Israel deploys hundreds more troops to the occupied West Bank amid uncertainty over the fallout

Israel army deploys more troops after Trump Jerusalem move
The deployments of Israel come amid uncertainty over the fallout from US President Donald Trump's speech recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
Palestinians outraged, Israel joyous at Trump's Jerusalem move
The declaration outrages Palestinian leaders who say it disqualifies the United States as a peace broker, but is hailed by Israel as historic

Trump recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital, sparks firestorm
Trump's defiant move, making good on a core campaign pledge, ends 7 decades of US ambiguity on the status of the Holy City vociferously claimed by Israelis and Palestinians

Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital
(UPDATED) This decision upends decades of careful US policy and ignores dire warnings of a historic misstep that could trigger a surge of violence in the Middle East

Arab League chief warns Trump Jerusalem move could fuel violence
Ahmed Abul Gheit: 'It is unfortunate that some are insisting on carrying out this step without any regard to the dangers it carries to the stability of the Middle East and the whole world'

Palestinian gunman kills three Israelis at settlement – police
The attack, which comes as US envoy Jason Greenblatt is in Jerusalem for talks on relaunching the moribund Middle East peace process, draws condemnation from Israeli officials who demand action from the Palestinian leadership

Israel builds settlements 'at high rate' – UN
Israel continues to build settlements 'at a high rate,' in defiance of UN Security Council demands for an end to the expansion of Jewish outposts

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

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
