Leaders from across the international community issued condemnations of an attack on European nationals in North Africa, as British Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed the “appalling terrorist incident in Algeria is now over”, following an Algerian army operation Saturday which is believed to have killed 32 and ended the four-day hostage standoff.
MEPs rejected the EU’s emphasis on a humanitarian response to the ongoing Syrian crisis at a European Parliament plenary debate on the international strategy in Strasbourg on Wednesday, as absent EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton’s representative, the new Irish presidency’s European Affairs Minister Lucinda Creighton insisted “we are working tirelessly every day to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people”.
A day after US president quoted as saying Netanyahu-led Israel ''doesn't know what best interests are,'' PM visits Gaza border, says over last 4 years Israel has stood up to strong pressure and will continue to do so.
US Defence Secretary-in-waiting Chuck Hagel took one step closer to confirmation of his nomination by President Barack Obama earlier this month, after determined lobbying of all 100 Senators appeared to have secured the support of the influential pro-Israel camp Tuesday.
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy made his first visit to Tunisia Tuesday to coincide with the country’s celebrations for the second anniversary of the popular uprisings which ousted longtime authoritarian ruler Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and led to its democratic transition, the results of which Van Rompuy said in a statement from Tunis had “fully justified the EU’s support of the process of democratic transition”.
EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy met with Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby Monday as part of his Egypt trip as he sought to increase the organisation’s “dialogue and cooperation” with the EU in order to solve current Middle East crises, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Syrian civil war.
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy on Sunday heralded “a new chapter” in Egypt’s history following a meeting with Mohammed Morsi in Cairo, as he called on the Islamist President to use his success in brokering November’s Gaza ceasefire as motivation “to take bold steps towards peace in the Middle East”.
Influential US columnist Jeffrey Goldberg reports that US president says in private conversations that Netanyahu leading Israel down a path toward near-total isolation by advancing settlement plans.
