Free Republic

The Hamas terrorist organization responded to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement outlining Israel's red lines in the negotiations with Hamas for the release of the hostages. "At a time when we are showing flexibility and a positive approach to facilitate reaching an agreement to end the aggression, Netanyahu is placing additional obstacles before the negotiations, escalating his aggression and his crimes against our people and continuing his attempts forcibly displace them in order to thwart all efforts to reach an agreement," the Hamas statement said. The terrorist organization continued, "We demand that the mediators intervene to put an end to...

I spent six months in Manhattan in the early 1970s. I remember New Yorkers as having an in-your-face, take-it-or-leave-it, “Are you talking to me?” attitude. Coming from the small-town, everybody-knows-everybody, “Hello, neighbor!” Midwest, I found this altogether strange, fascinating and refreshing. During the last few years, however, something has gone terribly wrong. That old attitude I came to admire is fading into extinction. Who can forget George W. Bush, surrounded by emergency response workers while standing on a pile of rubble that only hours before was the Twin Towers? With a bullhorn in hand, and an arm around the shoulder...

ABC News' Yunji de Nies reports: Speaking in Eisenhower Executive Office building this morning, President Obama touted the $17 billion in budget cuts as a step toward building, "a government of the 21st century –- a government that is more efficient and more effective. A government that does what we need it to do –- and nothing we don’t." Flanked by the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Peter Orszag and Rob Nabors, the president said Americans are tightening their belts and making tough decisions and that Washington must do the same. "We can no longer afford to spend as...

By Daoud Kuttab As the state of Israel celebrates its 60th birthday, Palestinians remember the naqba, or “catastrophe” - their story of dispossession, occupation, and statelessness. But, for both sides, as well as external powers, the events of 1948 and what has followed - the occupation since June 1967 of the remaining lands of historic Palestine - represents a tragic failure. Israel is most at fault for this failure, owing to its continued military occupation and illegal settlements. Despite paying lip service to peace, the Israeli refusal to leave the Occupied Territories continues to be in direct contravention to what...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., urged Europe to "get over" the fact President Bush was re-elected and work with the United States on common problems. "I spent a little time in Europe recently, and I have one simple message: Get over it. Get over it. President Bush is our president for the next four years, so get over it and start to act in your interest, Europe," Biden said during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing to confirm U.S. Secretary of State nominee Condoleezza Rice. "But that requires us to engage in the hoped-for diplomacy from...