Guardian Middle East

Israel's evictions upset even its friends

Broad condemnation of the eviction of Palestinians in east Jerusalem reflects growing international anger over settlements

(...)It isn't necessary to be unduly cynical to wonder exactly what it takes for British diplomats to be "appalled" by anything. But that was the reaction to Israel's eviction of Palestinian families from the east Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah – the ugly face of ethnic cleansing and the creation of new "facts on the ground" that make nonsense of hopes for any movement in the moribund peace process. (...)

Reforming Fatah from the grassroots up

Four elements must be incorporated into a new, transparent structure if the Palestinian party's conference is to be a success

Fatah has long been the driving force of Palestinian nationalism but as a party of government it proved itself inept, divided and, in the early years especially, brazenly corrupt. It ran a disastrous parliamentary election campaign in 2006 which ended in a Hamas victory. This should have been a wake-up call but the party has struggled to reform. The conference in Bethlehem, which opened this morning, is the party's first real public test. (...)