10 h. ago What does the Israeli proposal to annex the West Bank involve after JD Vance hits out at ‘stupid political stunt’

Over 250 settlements, considered illegal, are spread across the West Bank, with nearly a million settlers

Politics

11 h. ago Vance says Knesset votes on annexing West Bank are an ‘insult’ as Netanyahu halts progress

US vice-president suggests votes were ‘stupid political stunt’ as Israeli PM halts further work on billsMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has ordered a halt to the advancement of parliamentary bills linked to the annexation of the West Bank after the US vice-president, JD Vance, described a vote on two bills in the Knesset as an “insult”.The bills applying Israeli law to the occupied West Bank, which would be tantamount to the annexation of land Palestinians want for a state, won preliminary approval from Israel’s parliament on Wednesday, barely a week after Donald Trump pushed through a deal aimed at ending a two-year Israeli offensive in Gaza. Continue reading...

Politics

13 h. ago Vance lashes out at ‘very stupid’ Israeli vote to annex West Bank

Move by parliament prompts heated exchanges between US, Arab allies and Israeli far right

Politics

18 h. ago Annexing West Bank ‘would put Donald Trump’s Gaza plan at risk’, warns Marco Rubio

A bill applying Israeli law to the occupied West Bank won initial approval from Israel's parliament on Wednesday

Events

3 d. ago Vance’s motorcade hit by shrapnel during military exercise despite Newsom warning against ‘reckless’ stunt

Newsom has demanded that the Trump administration apologizes for allowing live ordinance to be detonated over an interstate

Events

8 d. ago JD Vance brushes off racist texts by adults in Republican group chat as ‘what kids do’

Vice-president downplays messages such as ‘I love Hitler’ in chat by 24 to 35-year-olds to ‘stupid jokes’JD Vance sought to downplay the revelation that leaders of a group called the Young Republicans exchanged hundreds of racist, sexist text messages – including one in which rape was called “epic”, and another in which someone wrote “I love Hitler” – as youthful indiscretions.Vance, speaking on a new episode of the Charlie Kirk Show, the podcast run by colleagues of the late conservative activist, suggested that the participants in the leaked chats were much younger than they in fact are. Some of the participants are barely younger than the 41-year-old vice-president. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Israelis and Palestinians celebrate as truce brings hope of ‘era of peace’

UN warns Gaza still needs ‘lifesaving aid’ as world leaders gather in Sharm el-Sheikh to discuss 20-point proposalThere was a rare moment of joy among Israelis and Palestinians on Monday as Hamas released the remaining 20 living hostages in Gaza as part of a swap deal for nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees, on a day world leaders met in Egypt to try to ensure the current limited truce is extended into a durable peace.Addressing the summit, the Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, called for the ceasefire in Gaza to usher in a new era in the Middle East. “Let the Gaza war be the last of wars in the region,” the president said, amid widespread anxiety over how long the current truce will last. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Trump’s Gaza plan hinges on security force yet to take shape

Thornier second stage of US president’s proposal includes Hamas’s disarmament and Israel’s withdrawal

Politics

2 w. ago Gaza ceasefire deal: What we know so far about the ‘first phase’ of the peace plan

US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the ‘first phase’ of his plan to pause fighting and release some hostages and prisonersFull story: ‘First phase’ of ceasefire deal to end war in Gaza agreed by Israel and HamasDonald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first phase” of a peace plan to pause fighting and release some hostages and prisoners held in Gaza.In a post on Truth Social, thanking mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey. He said: “This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace.”Hamas said it had reached the agreement, confirming the deal includes an Israeli withdrawal from the enclave and a hostage-prisoner exchange. The group said in a statement the deal came after “responsible and serious negotiations” over the Trump’s proposal.Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu than...

Economics

2 w. ago Trump announces Gaza peace deal as Israel and Hamas sign off on 'first phase' of landmark plan

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday night that both Israel and Hamas had signed off on his proposed peace deal - a substantial step in ending the war in Gaza.

Politics

2 w. ago JD Vance piles on Democratic candidate who likened rival to Hitler and said he should be shot

Jay Jones admitted that his text messages were ‘abhorrent’ and apologized, but said Virginians deserved a leader who would ‘accept when they’ve made mistakes’

Politics

2 w. ago Vance piles on Democratic AG candidate who likened rival to Hitler and said he should be shot

Jay Jones admitted that his text messages were ‘abhorrent’ and apologized, but said Virginians deserved a leader who would ‘accept when they’ve made mistakes’

Politics

3 w. ago Israeli troops press on in Gaza despite looming ceasefire deal

Donald Trump offered Hamas an ambitious, if not potentially unacceptable, deal to end the war in Gaza and gave Israel his full backing should the proposal be met with rejection

Politics

3 w. ago Uefa puts Israel vote on hold after Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan

National federations accept decision to pause Israel banMaccabi Tel Aviv due to face Dinamo Zagreb on ThursdayUefa has paused plans to ban Israel from European football after the announcement of Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan for the region.Expectation had been growing of a decisive intervention by Uefa this week, amid growing pressure within football and from outside groups, including the United Nations. But Trump’s announcement of his plan in a joint press conference with Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Monday put any measures on hold. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump gives Hamas ‘three or four days’ to respond to his peace plan for Gaza

US president warns militant group will ‘pay in hell’ if it rejects the deal, which seeks to end two-year-long warDonald Trump has given Hamas an ultimatum of “three or four days” to respond to his proposed peace and reconstruction plan in Gaza, warning the militant group would “pay in hell” if it rejects the deal, as the Israeli offensive continued, inflicting further civilian casualties.Trump’s proposal was announced in a joint press conference in Washington with Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and seeks a definitive end to the relentless two-year-long war. At least 31 Palestinians were killed across Gaza on Tuesday, local hospitals said. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump and Netanyahu to Hamas: accept Gaza peace plan or face consequences

Pair say proposal represents new chapter but Israeli PM threatens to ‘finish the job’ if Hamas officials fail to agreeDonald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, have delivered an ultimatum to Hamas, warning the militant group to accept their 20-point peace plan for Gaza or face the consequences.The two leaders met at the White House in Washington on Monday then held a joint press briefing in which they hailed their proposal as a historic breakthrough and new chapter for the Middle East. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump teases ‘something special’ on Gaza as Netanyahu returns to the White House

Israeli forces kill at least 77 more Palestinians to bring death toll since start of war to 66,000

Politics

3 w. ago Trump teases ‘something special’ on Gaza as Netanyahu urges caution ahead of talks

Israeli forces kill at least 77 more Palestinians to bring death toll since start of war to 66,000

Politics

4 w. ago Trump says he ‘will not allow’ Israel to annex West Bank after lobbying from allies

British officials said they feared Trump would recognise Israeli control over the West Bank in retaliation for the UK, Australia, France and other recognising PalestineDonald Trump has said he will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank, rejecting calls from some far-right politicians in Israel who want to extend sovereignty over the area and snuff out hopes for a Palestinian state.“I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. Nope, I will not allow it. It’s not going to happen,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, adding “There’s been enough. It’s time to stop now.” Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Washington backing plan for Tony Blair to head transitional Gaza authority

Proposal for international body to oversee Gaza for up to five years counters UN-backed plan for faster transition to Palestinian ruleThe White House is backing a plan under which the former British prime minister Tony Blair would head a temporary administration of the Gaza Strip, initially without the direct involvement of the Palestinian Authority (PA), according to reports in the Israeli media.Under the proposal, Blair would head a body called the Gaza International Transitional Authority (Gita) which would have a mandate to be Gaza’s “supreme political and legal authority” for as long as five years. Continue reading...

Culture