President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas (left) and head of political bureau of Hamas, Khaled Meshal (file photo)

Fatah-Hamas agreement gives unity government control over Gaza

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, GAZA CITY - A unity government is to take control of the Gaza Strip, after a breakthrough in talks between Palestinian factions on Thursday which could strengthen their hand in talks with Israel next month. The Gaza ceasefire struck in August between Israel and the Palestinians called for the Palestinian Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, to take over...

Graphic shows a map f the divisions, barriers, and settlements in the West Bank.

Even worse odds than in 2008 for Mideast deal (1)

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JERUSALEM - The same negotiators, the same issues, a familiar venue: The sense of deja vu is overwhelming as Israelis and Palestinians start Wednesday, August 14, 2013 on their third attempt in 13 years to draw a border between them. But they face even longer odds than in the last round, which ended in 2008. Since then, at least...