David Shadrach

Egypt: Coptic pope cancels Pence meeting over Jerusalem NEWS / EGYPT Palestine marks 'day of rage' with deadly protests 'Jerusalem is the make it or break it' - UpFront Middle East Egypt Jerusalem Israeli–Palestinian conflict Pope Tawadros II said Trump's decision "did not take into account the feelings of millions of Arab people" [File: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images] The leader of Egypt's Coptic Church has cancelled an upcoming meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence, protesting against Washington's move to declare Jerusalem as Israel's capital . The move by Pope Tawadros II on Saturday came a day after Palestinian leaders also said that Pence, who is scheduled to visit the region later this month, was not welcome in the occupied territories. On Wednesdy, US President Donald Trump formally recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and said he would start the process of moving its embassy there from Tel Aviv. The controversial decision...

Iraq declares war with Islamic State is over Iraq has announced that its war against so-called Islamic State (IS) is over. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told a conference in Baghdad that Iraqi troops were now in complete control of the Iraqi-Syrian border. The border zone contained the last few areas IS held, following its loss of the town of Rawa in November. The US state department welcomed the end of the "vile occupation" of IS in Iraq and said the fight against the group would continue. Iraq's announcement comes two days after the Russian military declared it had accomplished its mission of defeating IS in neighbouring Syria. Is IS losing control of its 'virtual caliphate'? Which countries have fleeing IS fighters gone to? What should happen to IS fighters in Syria and Iraq? How real is the threat of returning IS fighters? The jihadist group had seized large swathes of Syria and Iraq in 2014, when it proclaimed a "caliphate" and imposed its rule ove...

Tense scenes as unrest over US Jerusalem move continues NEWS / JERUSAL EM OPINION Trump on Jerusalem: a quintessential Netanyahu by Marwan Bishara UPFRONT: 'Jerusalem is the make it or break it' (9:38) WATCH: Trump's Jerusalem move roundly condemned at UN (2:37) East Jerusalem Jerusalem Israeli–Palestinian conflict Palestine Middle East Israeli forces detain a Palestinian protester in East Jerusalem [Ammar Awad/Reuters] Protests have continued for a fourth day across the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip following a US decision to declare Jerusalem as the capital of Israel . The demonstrations on Saturday came as Palestinian leaders were to meet in Ramallah to firm up a response to US President Donald Trump's move. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces fired stun grenades and tear gas as they charged - some on horseback - through a crowd of at least 100 peaceful demonstrators in Salah Eddin Street. At least 13 Palestinians were detained and 12 injured as...

Fatal protests as Jerusalem plan heralds 'darker times' NEWS / PALESTINE PROTESTS OVER US JERUSALEM DECISION Two Palestinians killed in Gaza: health ministry At least 767 treated for injuries Palestinian schools declare strike over decision Hamas leader: US decision is a 'war declaration against Palestinians' US' Rex Tillerson: Embassy move 'won't happen for years' Jerusalem Palestine Israel East Jerusalem Middle East At least two Palestinians have been killed and hundreds injured as Day of Rage protests continue across the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip over the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. A 30-year-old Palestinian man was killed by Israeli fire during protests in Gaza on Friday, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported, citing the Palestinian health ministry. A 54-year-old man in Gaza later died from his wounds, WAFA also said. The Red Crescent also said on Friday that so far, they had attended to at...

US urges Saudis to allow humanitarian aid immediately NEWS / MIDDLE EAST READ MORE How did Yemen's Houthi-Saleh alliance collapse? READ MORE Saudi siege on Yemen: 'Hundreds will die within a week' Yemen Middle East Donald Trump According to Red Cross nearly 80 percent of Yemeni residents need humanitarian aid to survive [Anadolu] The US has urged the Saudi-led coalition to "facilitate the free flow of humanitarian aid" in Yemen as millions suffer in the war-torn country due to the land and air blockade imposed by the Saudis. "The United States is gravely concerned by the recent escalation in violence and continued dire humanitarian conditions in Yemen," the White House said in a statement on Friday. "We call on the Saudi-led coalition to facilitate the free flow of humanitarian aid and critical commercial goods, including fuel, through all Yemeni ports and to restore commercial flights through Sanaa Airport." In October, the Saudi-led coalitio...

Israel strikes Gaza Hamas sites after rocket attacks Israel says it has targeted sites in Gaza belonging to militant group Hamas in retaliation for rocket strikes. Israel's military said it hit weapons sites early on Saturday. Two people were killed, a Gaza hospital said, bringing the deaths in Israeli strikes and gunfire over the past day to four. Three rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza late on Friday. Israeli-Palestinian tensions have risen since President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Wednesday's decision reversed decades of US neutrality on the matter. Frank Gardner: Counter-terror efforts at risk? Israel has always regarded Jerusalem as its capital, while the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem - occupied by Israel in the 1967 war - as the capital of a future Palestinian state. In the latest developments: Israel's air force followed a number of raids on Hamas sites on Friday with more air strikes in the early hours of Saturday, targeting...