http://un-truth.com This blog hopes to shed some light on the workings of the United Nations and of issues that are discussed at the United Nations Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:16:17 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Paul Martin, detained nearly 30 days ago at the Gaza City courthouse when he was there to testify on behalf of a Palestinian member of a militant group who is charged with collaboration with Israel, was released today without having been charged. Hamas said they did it to make us happy. ... http://un-truth.com/human-rights/hamas-releases-british-freelance-journalist-paul-martin Fallout continues on Thursday, days after serial Israeli government announcements of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Israel's Kadima Party, led by former Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is considering calling a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. Kadima won the February 2009 elections by a narrow ... http://un-truth.com/israel/fallout-continues-in-reaction-to-israeli-announcement-of-settlement-expansion-in-east-jerusalem American Vice-President Joe Biden was received with red carpet treatment at the Palestinian Presidential Headquarters in the Muqata'a in Ramallah today -- by polite and mildly-friendly Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and an irritated and angry, even sullen, Palestinian negotiating team. As Biden was leaving the Muqata'a more than three hours later, ... http://un-truth.com/middle-east-peace-process/biden-meets-abu-mazen-in-ramallah In a sharp statement, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, currently on a visit to Israel in which there has been a lot of schmoozing going on (but tomorrow he visits Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah), said tonight that "I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance ... http://un-truth.com/israel/u-s-vp-joe-biden-condemns-israeli-govt-decision-to-plan-new-jewish-housing-units-in-east-jerusalem A shocking story: Ma'an News Agency reported from Chicago today that "Richard Falk, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, said on Monday the Palestinian Authority (PA) urged him to step down after he criticized the PA’s treatment of a UN war crimes report". ... http://un-truth.com/israel/why-is-palestinian-authority-against-richard-falk According to a report compiled by three senior Haaretz correspondents (Barak Ravid, Akiva Eldar, Avi Issacharoff) published today, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell, who met with the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah yesterday after two days of talks in Israel, "told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ... http://un-truth.com/israel/what-will-palestinians-do-now-u-s-reportedly-accepted-israels-position The U.S. State Department has just released the following statement in the name of U.S. Special Envoy George Mitchell: "I’m pleased that the Israeli and Palestinian leadership have accepted indirect talks. We've begun to discuss the structure and scope of these talks and I will return to the region ... http://un-truth.com/israel/glossing-over-the-differences Is that the whole point? Are these proposed U.S.-led "indirect" talks between Israelis and Palestinians intended only to keep a holding pattern until the Palestinian local and municipal elections scheduled for 17 July? Voter registration for these Palestinian elections began on Saturday 6 March, and will continue until 16 March. UPDATE: ... http://un-truth.com/israel/timetable-for-u-s-led-indirect-talks-brings-us-right-up-to-palestinian-municipal-elections Palestinian officials are saying that they were under too much pressure from the Europeans and the Arabs to resist any longer accepting an American proposal to undertake "indirect" or "proximity" talks with Israel after more than a year of no negotiations. "It's only for four months", Palestinian officials say, ... http://un-truth.com/un-secretary-general/its-only-four-months The 14-day detention order issued by a Gaza prosecutor for "security concerns" against British freelance film maker and journalist Paul Martin is due to expire today. There were reports yesterday that the prosecutor may ask to extend Martin's detention for another 14 days. Martin had returned to Gaza 14 days ... http://un-truth.com/israel/will-hamas-extend-british-journalist-paul-martins-detention-in-gaza