Amid mounting criticism of its decision to postpone elections scheduled for May 22, the Palestinian Authority is trying to talk to other factions to form a national unity government

28 Palestinians were arrested, most of them members of Palestinian political factions, including West Bank-based Fatah and the predominantly Gaza-based Hamas

Rushdi Abu Mokh was arrested in 1986 and charged along with three others with the murder of an Israeli soldier and membership of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine

The Palestinian embassy in Cairo welcomed the decision, calling it a “result of intensive bilateral discussions and contacts between the Egyptian and Palestinian leaderships”

The elections in the occupied Palestinian territories, if conducted as scheduled, would be the first to be held in 15 years. All groups in the country including Hamas and Fatah have agreed to respect and accept the results

The legislative elections encompassing all the occupied Palestinian territories, including West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, are scheduled to take place on May 22 while the presidential elections are to be held on July 31

Mike Pompeo became the first top US diplomat to visit an illegal Israeli settlement. He also said that the US government had historically been wrong about settlements and it could be done in a lawful manner

The PA had cut ties with Israel in May after it announced plans to annex parts of the West Bank. The proposal for restoration of relations comes after assurances by Israel of a return to the status quo before May

Representatives from both the groups met in Turkey and finalized the deal to hold the first Palestinian elections after 2006. The voting will take place in all occupied territories, including eastern Jerusalem.

The meeting is a follow-up of an earlier meeting in which their general secretaries took part earlier this month. The factions have agreed to adhere to a principle of peaceful transfer of power on the basis of fresh elections

In a press conference, senior Hamas official Salah al-Bardawil called for unity among all Palestinians amid increased threats against Palestinian sovereignty and land

This is the seventh time that Adnan Ghaith is being incarcerated in the past 18 months. On Friday, Israeli forces arrested Fadi al-Hidmi, the PA minister of Jerusalem affairs