Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sits with US Middle East Envoy George Mitchell (l.) during their meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah January 22. (Mohamad Torokman / Reuters)
US pushes Israelis and Palestinians to 'proximity' peace talks
With the prospect for direct peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians bleak, US peace negotiator George Mitchell is pushing for "proximity" talks that would see him or an aide shuttling between the two sides.
Top Middle East (View all Middle East)
- On eve of Iran anniversary, talk of compromise
- How Iranian dissidents slip through Tehran's airport dragnet
- In Iraq, Karbala bombings spark fears of renewed sectarian violence
- In conservative Egypt, radio show targets stigma on divorced women
- What's behind renewed war jitters in Israel, Lebanon?
- Rights groups under fire for scrutiny of Israel's conduct of Gaza war
- Israel mulls freeing Hamas 'underwear bomber'
- Hamas threatens to take fight against Israel beyond Gaza
- Israel admission on white phosphorus doesn't settle larger debate
- Israel says white phosphorus use in Gaza "exceeded authority"
More Middle East
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Shiite pilgrims targeted as Iraq bombings intensify
A female suicide bomber killed at least 46 Shiite pilgrims as violence intensifies ahead of elections next month.
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Israel: Hamas commander killed in Dubai was key arms smuggler
Analysts and defense officials in Israel say that Mahmoud Mabhouh, who was found dead in his room in a Dubai luxury hotel on Jan. 20, was the point man for transferring weapons from Iran to Gaza.
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Briefing: Why Christians are declining in Mideast
The Iraq war, a declining birth rate, and discrimination are causing Christians to abandon a region they've lived in for two millenniums.
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African Nations Cup: Egyptian pride soars after win over Algeria
After Egypt vanquished Algeria 4-0 in the African Nations Cup, the country exploded in celebration.
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Why Hamas is denying it targeted civilians in Israel
Ahead of a Feb. 5 deadline to respond to war crimes charges in the UN-sponsored Goldstone report, Hamas said it had meant to hit military targets last winter. Human Rights Watch disagrees.
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View from Mt. Doud: Saudi Arabia says offensive against Yemen rebels over
Saudi Arabia took a group of reporters to what had recently been a raging front line with the Shiite Houthi rebels of Yemen. The Kingdom's defense minister said the Houthi's have been repelled from Saudi Arabia and that they are now an "internal problem" for Yemen.
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Iran Green Movement promising big February protests
The opposition Green Movement in Iran is planning a series of large protests in early February, culminating in an attempt to co-opt a massive pro-regime march to commemorate the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
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These Palestinians aren't happy about Israel settlement freeze
Many Palestinian construction workers were employed in building projects that Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu's 10-month settlement freeze has put on hold.
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Iraq bombings: Gen. Odierno blames a changing Al Qaeda
On the second consecutive day of major suicide bombings in Iraq, top US Gen. Raymond Odierno says Al Qaeda in Iraq had changed focus in the past six months.
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Palestinian parliament expires four years after Hamas electoral upset
New elections should have been held Jan. 24, according to the Palestinian Constitution. But Hamas, which trails its rival, Fatah, in polls, may benefit from delay.

