UN: 2022 likely deadliest for Palestinians in West Bank
The U.N. Mideast envoy says 2022 is on course to be the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since the U.N. started tracking fatalities in 2005 and called for immediate action to calm โan explosive situationโ and move toward renewing Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
20 migrants dead off Tunisia after boat sinks, more missing
Tunisian authorities say 20 African migrants have been found dead after their boat, which was trying to reach Europe, sank in the Mediterranean Sea. Five survivors were rescued Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020 and authorities are searching for up to 20 others believed missing. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios, File)TUNIS โ About 20 African migrants were found dead Thursday after their smuggling boat sank in the Mediterranean Sea while trying to reach Europe, Tunisian authorities said. Five survivors were rescued and the Tunisian navy is searching for up to 20 others still believed missing. According to survivors, the migrant smuggling boat was carrying about 40 or 50 people heading toward Italy, Ben Zekri said.
German FM warns unilateral action could hurt Mideast talks
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, right, speaks as his Palestine counterpart Riyad al-Maliki, left, listens during a news conference following their meeting, in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020. (Hannibal Hanschke/Pool Photo via AP)BERLIN โ Germany's foreign minister warned Tuesday against unilateral steps that could hurt Mideast peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians following the change in administration in the United States. President Donald Trump has strongly backed Israel during his four-year term, declaring Jerusalem the Jewish state's capital, tolerating Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories and pushing Arab countries to normalize relations with Israel. โCreating facts unilaterally won't help us in this already difficult situation,โ Germany's top diplomat, Heiko Maas, told reporters after meeting with his Palestinian counterpart in Berlin. โBut no doors should be slammed shut either, in view of developments in the United States.โMaas didn't spell out what unilateral measures he was concerned about.