settlements

Archbishop Atallah Hanna. Photo: al-Araby al-Jadeed. Israel arrested a prominent Palestinian Christian leader on June 27 during a demonstration in the Hebron area of the occupied West Bank.
The Abbott government has sunk to a new diplomatic low, with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop suggesting Israeli settlements should not be considered illegal. Bishop made the comments during a visit to Israel. In a January 15 interview with the Times of Israel, she argued 鈥渢he issue of settlements is absolutely and utterly fundamental to the negotiations that are under way and I think it鈥檚 appropriate that we give those negotiations every chance of succeeding鈥.